The WORD became flesh

 Happy World Book Day!  Or perhaps you didn’t know it was!

Living with a teacher means I pick up on these things.  Actually, as Rachel teaches Maths rather than English, she has this cheeky T-Shirt (opposite) that she, somewhat provocatively, wears every World Book Day – I think it is a lost cause, but it gets a smile!

They say we’ve all got a book inside us, and perhaps you have already written yours!  Statistics from the publishing world tell us that of the 4 million titles that come out each year, 1.7m are from the self-publishing sector.  In Britain around 188,000 titles hit the shelves annually, 85,000 of these published by Penguin Random House, the biggest producer of books anywhere.

Even with the advent of Kindle I still love physically holding a book and reading it by turning the pages; Luddite that I am!  I’m also, I’m ashamed to say, a great underliner, even writing comments in the margins expressing my appreciation (or otherwise) at what is being said.  It means I’m a little reticent to pass my books on, as they say far too much about my reaction to them at the time of reading!

Most religions have a sacred text and, in a way, we have two; the combined Jewish and Christian scriptures.  We value these so much that, as ministers, we walk behind them every Sunday as we enter church.

Interpreting God’s Word revealed to us in Scripture is one of the most important, exciting and sometimes challenging aspects of our faith.  I’m constantly thrilled that after 36 years of standing in a pulpit Sunday by Sunday there always seems to be more to preach about.

Maybe that’s why the writer to the Hebrews talks of the Word of God as something that is living, and sharper than a two-edged sword. 

And, of course, for Christians, there is that understanding that we hear the voice of God in a special way through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, described by St John as The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.