The Pope of the Bible

and the power of the spoken Word:

...The pope announced last week [a few years ago] that he would begin a televised reading of all 73 books of the bible beginning yesterday. Spare me notes arguing about the number of books in the bible – I’m not going to get mired down in apologetics – and just stick with me.

So, think about it – right now GOING OUT OVER THE AIR – from Rome, is The Word. In its entirety, whole and complete, without any books tossed aside or neglected.

Who rules the air? Who does St. Paul call “the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now works on the children of unbelief…” in Ephesians 2:2?

That’s right.

This is a battle. There are things seen and unseen. Right now we see a battle being played out, politically, economically and socially. But there is another battle being played out as well – all around us, borne on the invisible air. I think Benedict is brilliant in doing this. The Word being breathed into the air, unabridged, and the Holy Spirit rides on the breath. This is very cool.

And then today, the whole world financial picture runs precarious, and Benedict steps up and says, essentially, “it is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in princes…” (Psalm 118;9)...

I love that: “only God’s words are a solid reality…” and this very day the Pope has people reading that Word out to the world.

It doesn’t really matter if no one listens. Some will, some won’t. The major portion of the Word will be read to no audience at all. But by the very act of reading it – of sending those words forth, on the air – the power of the Word is unleashed, and will still be efficacious. Just as a prayer said when one is tired, distracted and woebegotten is as much a prayer as one said fervently, there is power in this act of Benedict’s, as the prophet Isaiah foretold: So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)...