Revolutionary Advances and Freedom from Labour

Throughout history, humanity has undergone successive revolutions: the introduction of the horse in medieval agriculture; the printing press; the steam engine; antibiotics such as penicillin; electricity and domestic appliances (fridge, washing machine, etc.); micro-chips; the computer; the personal computer; medical equipment; nanotechnology; the internet; smartphones; tablets; and now AI—alongside countless other unlisted innovations. There is, generally speaking (with exceptions, of course), no return to a prior age. Each of these inventions undeniably “freed us from a certain painful labour.” With each human innovation comes the potential for liberation. Yet such freedom carries deeper meaning and consequences: to be released from physical or menial hardship is to gain time and energy for pursuits more specific to us as beings created in the image and likeness of God. Some argue for the need to maintain effort and closeness to the earth—“you will eat from the fruits of your labour.” Indeed, monastic traditions remind us that spirituality need not reject manual labour, simple tasks, or cultivating the earth. That point remains vital. But we now face a new dimension of freedom, one that can lead either to sloth, addiction, and loss of meaning—or to a higher, more profound calling in line with our divine likeness.

Emergence of “Higher” Human Work

The issue is not that jobs become obsolete forever, but that new, more “higher” jobs arise—“higher,” that is, in terms of tasks uniquely human. One great author asserted that “the highest activity of the human mind is to pray.” This is surely true. Yet the Church’s tradition of prayer has suffered damage—particularly from the 1960s—despite the emergence of new forms such as the ones we can find in the Charismatic Renewal, Centreing Prayer, Lectio Divina, and others. Still, much remains to be done. Prayer is sometimes dismissed as time wasted or dismissed as a path to illusion. Moreover, some subtly “cancel” prayer by insisting that “contemplation in action” suffices, or that “silent prayer is not for me.”

AI: Enthusiasm, Fear, and Misplaced Labels

Some today are exuberantly enthusiastic about AI; others, deeply fearful. Even the word “intelligence” is misleading. Some speak of AI “taking over,” as though it might suddenly embody—or surpass—human behaviour.

AI’s Role: Why It Isn’t a Threat

Moreover, at present (a situation that changes every few months), AI surpasses humans in areas such as diagnosing illnesses and legal analysis. Why should this be seen as threatening? AI frees us from certain tasks while urging us into ventures that only humans can undertake. The pressing question becomes: Do I perceive my own uniqueness in light of AI? In what ways am I unique? Is AI an adversary, or a “servant,” a “tool,” a “machine” that assists? AI is nourished by all publicly available information; algorithms enable it to “think” in ways that resemble ours.

The Word of God and Human Authorship

Let us now explore the field of the Word of God.

AI has many capacities—writing being foremost: the act of thinking steered towards writing. Does not the Priest, the Theologian, the Preacher, the Evangelist, the Monk deal constantly with the Word of God? The Word became “Words”—human words imbued with meaning, healing, light, and truth.

The Power and Sacredness of Words

We cannot escape the fact that we deal in words. One may say, “we are called to love, not to speak; one is judged by actions, not words.” Easy to say—but not wholly true. Words can encourage, shed light, bring comfort and healing—or kill. A word falling into the human soul carries profound power. To utter a word is a sacred act, imbued with value and measured against Truth—Jesus, who is Truth. As Jesus instructed: “Let your words be succinct… say yes or no… don’t swear.” Every word we speak matters. Utterance is sacred.

Returning Mind to Heart and Divine Transformation

Christian Masters of Eastern spirituality teach: “Bring your mind into your heart.” (see the article) Our mind has left its proper house and grown wild; its home is the heart, in which God dwells. Saint Paul proclaims, “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me”—and we might add: “It is not I who speak, but Christ speaking in me.” The saints live this transformation and pray for it—“Father, I pray for those who will hear these words” (John 17). As mind, through sanctification, returns to the “sheep-fold” of the heart, it functions differently—enlightened, moved, and transformed by the Word of God. Utterance, again, remains sacred.

Scripture: Letter, Spirit, and Sacramental Word

Theological tradition distinguishes between Scriptures and the Word of God, between letter and Spirit, text and divine intention and light. The written word is sacramental: visible (letter), yet signifying invisible grace (the living Word of God). When we practise Lectio Divina, we face the letter—much like a person gazing at stained glass—yet behold the light shining through. We cannot bypass the letter. The Eternal Word became flesh, spoke human words—words that are spirit and life, Holy Spirit and divine life. In doing so he re-sacramented the Word into human speech. He re-sacramented the human words.

Our words may be empty, dull, deceitful, destructive, or perverse. Or, when nourished and moved by God, they can liberate, Heal, convey light, mercy, and compassion.

Lectio Divina: Unique, Spirit-Led Encounter

In practising Lectio Divina, we listen to Jesus—present here and now, drawn by the Scriptures—to speak and transform us, using a few readings common to all. Scripture is inspired and versatile; the Holy Spirit may use it—without distorting the letter—to speak uniquely to each of us today. In essence, two inseparable layers exist—just as the human and divine natures of Jesus cannot be disentangled.

AI and Exegesis: Useful, but Not Lectio Divina

Surprisingly, AI today is especially strong in exegesis—textual analysis—with Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish resources widely available. It’s remarkable how much is accessible online.

When teaching Lectio Divina, I have always urged attention to the letter: its context, words, original language, authorial intent, and cross-references. We cannot shortcut this—otherwise we fall into deviation. Some is needed—the use of our mind, perhaps twenty to twenty-five minutes of effort.

Throughout history, this effort to study of sacred texts has been aided by various tools, each one building upon the last to make the process more accessible and efficient. This progression shows how technology can serve our pursuit of deeper understanding without replacing the essential spiritual work required. We have moved from a time of laborious physical research to an age of instant digital analysis, all of which ultimately aims to free us for our core purpose.

1. Consulting physical resources: Traditionally, understanding the biblical text required significant time and effort. Scholars and lay readers alike had to consult numerous physical commentaries and dictionaries, a process that was often slow and difficult.

2. Using computer software: A subsequent step involved the use of computer software installed via CD-ROMs. These programs digitised a vast collection of biblical texts, lexicons, and commentaries, allowing for faster searches and cross-referencing than was possible with physical books.

3. Using online tools: More recently, online resources like BibleHub offered a massive leap forward. These platforms provide interlinear versions of verses with hyperlinks to dictionaries and cross-references, saving a great deal of time and making detailed analysis much more accessible.

4. Harnessing AI: Today, artificial intelligence represents another major advancement. We can now use AI to quickly get a thorough exegetical answer, saving even more time and freeing us to focus on the truly unique human task of spiritual discernment and prayer.

The journey from dusty tomes to powerful AI demonstrates a clear trajectory: technology is a powerful servant that helps us with the scholarly work, but it is ultimately a means to an end. The ultimate goal remains the same—to free our minds and hearts for the transformative work of encountering the living Word of God.

Now, is AI conducting our Lectio for us? No. Understanding text is not the same as Lectio Divina, which enacts the sacramentality of the Word. It is to see Jesus, by faith, seated before us, speaking to us, illuminating us, prompting our will toward something never before done. The Holy Spirit breathes life into the text; the letter becomes alive. AI can offer the best explanation, illuminating insight, luminous analysis, and suggested thoughts—they are useful. But they are not Lectio Divina. AI can never replace Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or our act of faith. It may lighten the path and save minutes spent researching—but not more.

AI helps with the research, but it doesn’t replace the ultimate goal of Lectio Divina: a personal encounter with Jesus through the text. As an incredible tool, it can ease the way, freeing us to engage in our sublime vocation: meeting Jesus, listening to Him, and being changed by Him. This transformative interaction is unique and can’t be replicated.

If we understand the two levels of the sacramentality of the Word—the letter and the Spirit—AI becomes an incredible tool. If we get lost in the excellent insights AI provides, it is our fault for not rising to our true identity as beings capable of a direct relationship with God.

AI as Liberator, Leading Us to Our Vocation

Is AI’s help detrimental? On the contrary, it saves time and frees us to pursue our sublime vocation: meeting Jesus, listening to Him, and being transformed. No one can replace this; none can replace the Holy Spirit’s active presence. The Holy Spirit does not just give general Scripture understanding—He makes the Word of God penetrate heart, mind, and will, transforming us deeply.

Letter and Spirit: Identity and Divine Communion

Here is an example: if we grasp the twofold layers of sacramentality (Pope Benedict mentions the Sacramentality of the Word in Verbum Domini n°56) letter and Spirit, AI becomes an incredible tool. Yet if we drown in its insights, the fault lies with us—we fail to rise to our identity as beings able to engage directly with God. In the Old Testament, Moses spoke face-to-face with God, whom the people feared; yet in Christ, “the least in the kingdom is greater than Moses,” because each believer may have direct access to God through the “liturgy of the Word” and its inner digestion—Lectio Divina.

Homiletics: Sacred Bread, Not Mere Commentary

Now consider homiletics. We must retain the sacramental duality of letter and Spirit. What is a homily? It is the “breaking of the bread” of the Word for our brothers and sisters—not a personal commentary, nor a shedding of light on God’s Word, nor mere application of Scripture to daily life. It is a sacred act in which we utter words. From where do these words come? Are they from Jesus—received in personal prayer and light for the community—or merely from our brain illuminated by faith?

If the homily’s content is purely intellectual, AI will likely surpass us. AI frees us to pursue what is uniquely human—but if preaching is reduced to analysis, AI will beat us. Instead, I hear the call to genuine prayer—the prayer of someone enflamed by the Word of God. Saint Paul confessed his Greek and style were rough—and we know it is why Hebrews (written in polished Greek) was not his. Yet Paul proclaimed that despite stylistic weaknesses, “what I say,” coming from a heart aflame with Jesus, is God’s Word. If the preacher meets Jesus in prayer, the resultant homily becomes incomparable.

AI’s Role: Aids to Human Praying, Not Replacement

Should I fear AI? On the contrary—AI will help me, save me time, and spur me toward what is unique to me: prayer. AI cannot pray, cannot meet Jesus. It can write a superb text—surely better than mine—but it cannot pray, find today’s light, or be “ignited by the fire of the Word of God.” What the faithful perceive in a homily is the contact of a person in prayer with the Lord. This cannot be faked. We are not merely speaking words—we are offering prayer, encounter with Jesus, being deeply moved by the Word. Style may be imperfect—but the heart is aflame. This is what truly touches others.

Final Exhortation: Rise Above, Embrace Wisdom

Let us rise! Let us rise above AI. Let us neither despise it nor fear it. It is an incredible tool, offering help, time-saving, and energy-saving. Let us use it wisely—but let us not be consumed by it. Let us reclaim our unique human vocation. No one can fake our prayer or authentic encounter with Jesus. Mimicry may fool some—but it will not fool the Spirit.

Writing and preaching are not domains of cleverness—but of one who is moved and transformed by the Fire of the Word of God.