“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” // Luke 11:28

I cringed and was filled with discomfort as I flipped through my childhood Bible; it was full of pink highlighting, some scribbled notes, and a few designs I probably copied from Pinterest. When flipping through, all I could focus on was how immature I was at the time that I received the Bible. I assumed that the verses that stood out to me as a child, didn’t apply to me as a young adult. It was easy to become dismissive of my younger self, and I assumed that I was being careless with the verses that stood out to me. 

In today’s Gospel Acclamation, we hear, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28). 

Sister, maybe you’ve experienced a similar situation, where you were dismissive towards the younger version of yourself, reflecting on your past brokenness or immaturity. As you read those captivating verses when you were younger, the Lord wasn’t thinking of your brokenness or immaturity, but He was using His word to communicate to your heart. The Word is alive and active. The verses that stuck out to you as a child are not immature, but they are the very foundation of your relationship with Him. They entail all the pieces that add up to the story between you and Him. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “In sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them” (source).

Friend, I want to gently encourage you to reflect on a verse that captivated your heart when you were younger. Allow the Lord to pour out His love upon you through His living Word. May your heart be filled with the joy that you experienced when you first discovered Him. Allow Him to take you back to that place of intimacy. 

Lord, I love You. Thank You for Your Word. Lord, take me back to that place of intimacy. Allow my heart to be filled with Your love for me, Your beloved daughter. Amen.