Scripture Is Alive and Speaks to Us Today

I once had a class where we had to memorize multiple Scripture passages every week. Most of those passages have long since floated out of my conscious memory, but there is one that has become an anchor in my life—Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

This particular passage has completely reshaped how I interact with the Bible. The author of the letter is perfectly clear: Scripture is alive. Not only is it living, but it acts and has effects on us and in our lives. Scripture pierces our innermost being and speaks directly to our hearts.

The Bible Is Like a River (And Even Disney Knows It!)

This has been best illustrated for me with an image—one that mixes theology with, of all things, a Disney princess.

St. Gregory the Great describes Scripture as a vast and dynamic river: “Scripture is like a river…broad and deep, shallow enough here for the lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim.”

Even Disney touches on this timeless truth. In Pocahontas, the princess sings: “What I love most of the river is / You can’t step in the same river twice / The water’s always changing, always flowing.”

Put those together, and you have a beautiful analogy of the Bible: words that have multiple layers of meaning and the ability to be ever-new for us.

The beauty of Scripture lies in its inexhaustible richness. Each time we read it, we do so through the lens of who we are in that moment—shaped by our experiences, joys, and struggles. Because Scripture is “living and effective,” it meets us exactly where we are, offering a new insight or comfort that we may not have been ready to see or receive before.

When we come back to any passage, even if we read it yesterday, there is a new truth lying in wait for us to discover. The text doesn’t change, but the beautifully dynamic Word of God interacts with our ever-changing hearts and lives when we honestly open ourselves to what we are reading.

God’s Word Always Has a Purpose

The Church teaches that “all Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Tim 3:16), who breathed the Holy Spirit upon the human authors to inspire them, as true authors using their own faculties, to write what God wanted and nothing more. (CCC 106) That means, the words, when we let them, may leap off the page and speak into our heart in exactly the way that God meant for us to hear them.

In fact, God himself asserts that as He sends His word into the world, He gives it a purpose. He speaks through the prophet Isaiah and says, “Yet just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Is 55:10-11)

I love imagining those sacred authors, writing words that would speak to me today. Did they know how powerful the words they were writing would be?  Did God reveal to them that each passage had the potential to pierce hearts and draw people closer to the Lord? Were they aware that they had a hand in reaching countless individuals over many millennia?

You see, that’s what happens. The words of Scripture are a vehicle for God to speak to us. So as we read, we have to keep in mind that God knew each of us would read that word at that time, and somehow he imbued those words with his love for us in that particular moment.

How to Read Scripture the Right Way

While God speaks to us personally through His Word, Scripture isn’t open to just any interpretation we feel like applying. The Bible has layers of meaning—both literal and spiritual—but all of it must be understood in light of God’s truth as revealed through His Church. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, helps us interpret Scripture faithfully so we don’t take it out of context or twist it to fit our own ideas. We must always bear in mind that the word of God will never lead us to anything outside the Truth that He reveals through His Church.

Like most things in theology, this is a both/and situation. The Church shares her interpretation of Scripture with us and puts guidelines on what Scripture doesn’t say (for example, it most certainly will never tell us to murder anyone), but the Church does not limit Scripture to only one meaning.

On the contrary, the second Vatican council clearly says, “For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them.” (DV 21)  It is only acceptable for us to believe that God wants to speak to each of us, in our own hearts, in our time and place, through His living Word.

St. Jerome reminds us, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ,” emphasizing that the Word of God reveals not just truths about our lives, but also about Christ himself, the Word made flesh. The Spirit, who inspired the writing of Scripture, now breathes life into it as we read, helping us to encounter Jesus in deeply personal ways. So when we pick up our Bibles, we can be confident that we are indeed interacting with God himself, just in written form rather than in spirit or flesh.

How I Made Bible Reading a Habit (And How You Can Too!)

And let me tell you, Scripture can be a powerful vehicle to move us into a closer relationship with God. In the past couple of years, I’ve made a daily habit of praying with Scripture. I use journals and books to help me, and I have now read the entire Bible and am on my second time through.

I’m excited this time around because I know that in this second reading (and every subsequent one), God has different things in store for me. I’m not in the same place I was the last time I read those words, which means that Scripture—because it is alive—will speak to me anew in this present moment the words I need right now. Which is basically the coolest thing ever.

And if you’ve ever sat down with a week-by-week reading plan, started a podcast, joined a Bible study, downloaded a Scripture app, or tried any number of ways to make Bible reading a habit—only to find it hard—I get it.

When I first set out to start this daily habit, I failed – often. The most important thing I learned, though, was that I wasn’t striving for perfection. I was striving toward God, and every time I read even a little bit, that was forward motion. This helped me to keep picking up my Bible even if I was discouraged that it sat untouched for a week (or more).

Simple Tips to Start Your Own Scripture Habit

If you’re looking for some quick tips on how to start your own habit of Scripture reading, I offer you what works for me.

First of all, pick a realistic time and place to read your Bible. For me, it’s first thing in the morning in my comfy chair by the window.

Second, find a tool to help. There are multiple resources such as journals, reading plans, and even periodicals to help you read Scripture daily. Whether you’re looking to complete the entire Bible in a year, follow along with each day’s Gospel, or read one verse per day, there’s something for you. Just make sure you’re looking for Catholic resources, since other sources don’t include all of the books. (And who wants to leave out Tobit?!)

Finally, don’t get discouraged if every word of Scripture doesn’t speak to you every time. Yes, it is the word of God. But like all relationships, some conversations just need to go slow. So, when a passage doesn’t move your heart, remind yourself that God is playing the long game and will reveal His truth in time. Keep reading; He certainly has a message for you.