Paul on Paul – 10th October 2021

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Hebrews 4:12-13

The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.

Continuing with the Letter to the Hebrews, we have a fairly short passage this week – but, if we take the time to pray and engage with it, it is a warning to us that we are accountable to God.

We’re reminded that Christ, who is the Word of God “…can slip through the place wher the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow…” – that is, the smallest of places. He is able to reach us if we gave him just a small enty into our lives; he can enter in and cut them up, transforming them completely. He can enter without us – but he seeks our co-operation.

But the flip-side of that is that is that, at the end of our earthly lives – we cannot hide from Him either. We are alive in God, and Him in us – he knows us intimately, but that means that he knows all of us. and this meands that, at the end of our time – we must submit ourselves to His judgement and we “…must give account of ourselves”.