The American Bible Society’s mission statement is “to transform lives through God’s word” and in his greetings to members of the society in the Vatican, His Holiness Pope Francis encouraged them to pursue and even intensify their commitment, to that mission. The Pontiff went on to stress that “truly the word of God has the power to transform lives, and quoting from the Letter to the Hebrews, he said, it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.
As reported by Vatican news, The Pontiff underlined that “no other book has the same power.” In its word, he continued, “we recognize the Spirit who inspired it: for only in the Spirit can Scripture truly be received, lived and proclaimed, for the Spirit teaches all things and reminds us of all that Jesus said.” His Holiness Pope Francis explained to those present that God’s word “is honey, offering the comforting sweetness of the Lord, but also a sword bringing a salutary unrest to our hearts. For it penetrates to the depths and brings to light the dark recesses of the soul. As it penetrates, it purifies.”
The Pontiff concluded his remarks by highlighting that “God’s word judges thoughts and intentions. The word of life is also truth and his word creates truth in us, dissipating every form of falsehood and duplicity. Scripture constantly challenges us to redirect our path to God.”
