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There are those times at Mass, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, or reading Holy Scriptures that we hear or read a verse that is thought provoking and intrigues to a point of wanting to know more about its deeper meaning. 

One such verse which we have all heard during Mass and really reached out to me when I was reading the Liturgy of the Hours morning prayers for the Common of Pastors, Antiphon 3,  that states, “God’s word is alive, it strikes to the heart, it pierces more surely than a two-edged sword.”  I wanted to learn more about this verse which comes from St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews 4:12.

Let us first look at the weapon that is mentioned, a double-edged sword.  We can all imagine a sword and how one side is sharp which is a single edge sword.  A double-edged sword has both edges sharpened as opposed to one. Thus, it is much easier to cut and penetrate in either direction versus a single edge sword that can only cut in one direction.

Scripture refers to the word of God as a double-edged sword since the word of God penetrates our souls and cuts through excuses and sins.  The word of God separates the truth from the lie by sharply cutting to the heart of an issue, problem, dispute and/or question.  God’s word can provide reason and truth with suddenly changing the direction of one’s life. Just as a sword can save a life in battle, so can the application of God’s living word save our lives.

A great application in scripture of God’s word being used as a two-edge sword is Jesus being tempted in the desert.  In that temptation, the devil first states, “if you are the son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  Jesus answered “it is written that man shall not live by the bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  Swoosh – first pierce!  The devil then said, “if you are the Son God, throw yourself down; for it is written, He will give his angels charge of you and on their hands they will bear you up lest you strike your foot against a stone.”  Jesus answered, “Again it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.”  Swoosh – second pierce!  Finally, the devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and said to Jesus, “All these I will give you if you fall down and worship me.”  Jesus said, “Be gone Satan for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”  Swoosh – third pierce, and the devil is defeated and departed Jesus.

The word of God is active, living through and speaking to us, in every moment of every day.  For God’s word to become an effective weapon against evil that strikes to the heart and pierces more surely than a two- edged sword, it must be honed and sharpened by us reading, discussing, understanding and knowing holy scripture, especially the Gospels. We must allow the Word of God into our souls and allow it to provide an azimuth, when confronted, with defeating the devil while glorifying God the Father, God the Son – Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. 

The devil and evil are always prepared to attack our souls.  Living the Word of God daily assists us with overcoming any obstacle, helps each of us with reaching earthly holiness, and provides us that two-edged sword to help us to attaining everlasting happiness with God our Father!

Blessings – Dcn Jim