Power of the Word

One of the rites of passage in second grade at St. Mary’s in Pontiac was A to Z Scripture memorization. Each student had the entire year to memorize 26 Bible verses that were organized alphabetically. Papers would be sent home in the child’s folder so they could work on memorization at home as needed. When the kiddo felt confident, they would speak the Word of God to Mrs. Duffy. If recalled accurately, then the student would move on to the next verse in the A to Z listing.

Each school year, the children ranged from extra-absorbent, sponge-like memorizers to those sweeties who on the final days of the school year were being cheered on by their classmates to complete the recitation of X, Y and Z of Scripture. It was really precious to see the competitive spirit (mostly) in the name of God. 

It was also really heartwarming to hear my own children try to memorize and recite Scripture. I still remember the first verse: 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

I love that verse and the simple, visual scenario it creates in our minds. If we reach out to God and seek Him, He will answer us. Add a child’s voice to that calming verse, and it’s transformed. There’s something about hearing God’s Word spoken by a child. We all notice it at Catholic Schools Week Masses or during a school Mass. Their greater intimacy with innocence brings them that much closer to Jesus. “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them…” Matthew 19:14

Have you ever tried to recite God’s Word back to Him during prayer? First of all, it makes the devil shake, so keep doing it. Secondly, it brings the Truth closer to our hearts and minds. I believe what I say. And when I repeat Scripture, recitation leads to remembrance. Remembrance builds wisdom and knowledge so that I’m equipped with the Truth. ​

I didn’t have a heavy teaching of Scripture growing up. In fact, I squirmed when people brought up “Didn’t Jesus say…?” or “Didn’t (blank) happen in the Bible?” Little by little, verse by verse, just like Mrs. Duffy’s second graders, we can recite and connect with God’s Word. Thankfully for us, there’s no pressure to memorize 26 lines and which books and verses they came from. We can simply speak the Word of God back to Him. He will always listen, and we will believe and become what we speak.

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.” 

St. Augustine of Hippo