SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD. In 2019, Pope Francis made the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (next Sunday) The Sunday of the Word of God. This joins many other Sundays that highlight various aspects of our Faith: Respect Life Sunday is the 1st Sunday in October; World Mission Sunday is the 4th Sunday in October; the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is Good Shepherd Sunday or the 4th Sunday of Easter, etc. Why do we need The Sunday of the Word of God? In his Apostolic Letter, ‘Aperuit Illis’ – Latin for ‘He opened their (minds to the meaning of Scripture’) (Church documents are often ‘named’ by its first few words), the Holy Father explains its purpose. It is a very short Letter; type Aperuit Illis into your search engine to read the whole document.
To begin with, in our fractured, divided world, the Bible is a great source of unity! All Christians (except Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses) accept 27 New Testament books and have similar translations. While Catholics give canonical status to seven Old Testament books that Protestants reject, and Jews differ in number, arrangement, and the placement of some biblical books, most Christians and Jews, for the most part, find common ground in the Word of God!
His Holiness is also concerned, as am I, that we Catholics are strangers to the Bible; it is estimated that only 13% of the Old Testament, not counting Psalms, 55% of the non-Gospel New Testament, and 90% of the Gospels – only 71% of the New Testament – is proclaimed throughout the year at holy Mass. Yet, as seen in the image above: the Risen Lord opens our “minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45) most profoundly during the Breaking of Bread, which we now call the holy Mass! In fact, one of the Risen Lord’s first actions on Easter night, and among His last actions before His Ascension, was to open the disciples’ minds to how He fulfills sacred Scripture, whereupon He vanished from their sight.
Then, quoting the Patron Saint of Bible Study, Saint Jerome, Pope Francis reminds us that: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” For how can we say we love the Lord if we do not read, study, and strive to understand the ‘Love Letters’ He sent to us in and through His holy Word? That’s why we reverently carry the Book of the Gospels and Ordained Ministers spend so much time in seminary formation being trained in preaching God’s Word. For at every liturgical celebration God’s People rightfully expect our prepared reflections or homilies on God’s Word, which is ‘required reading’ at every Sacrament and ritual. All Lay Readers, Catechists and other Lay Ministers are also required to know the basics about sacred Scripture.
Understanding Scripture is so crucial, for without it, nothing makes sense! Jesus’ identity as our God in human form is only understood through Old Testament prophecies. Without the firm basis of biblical revelation, everything is a ‘free-for-all’ as we see in those communities that permit, and even celebrate, any and everything under the sun! Without the firm foundation of God’s Word, we build on sand, not on Rock!
The challenges we face in upholding ‘revealed Truth’ is nothing new; even Jesus was opposed by those who questioned or rejected His teachings on faith and morals. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance and assurance, Church dogmas and doctrines keep us true to all biblically based ‘revealed truths’ – which are increasingly rejected as old-fashioned ideas and outdated teachings. By better understanding what God has revealed to us via Scripture, the better equipped we are to know, defend, and live by divine truths.
Without sacred Scripture, we would never know the depth of God’s mercy and love, or know how to hear, to serve and to please God. As Jesus so powerfully presented in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: when the Rich Man sought more help for his brothers, lest they also be condemned, Abraham replied: “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.” (Luke 16:29) Obviously, ignorance of Scripture has eternal consequences! Conversely, by accepting and struggling to understand and live by God’s Word, our Blessed Mother and the Saints achieved eternal glory. May The Sunday of the Word of God help us grow in our knowledge of and ability to live by the sacred Scriptures.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD. In 2019, Pope Francis made the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (next Sunday) The Sunday of the Word of God. This joins many other Sundays that highlight various aspects of our Faith: Respect Life Sunday is the 1st Sunday in October; World Mission Sunday is the 4th Sunday in October; the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is Good Shepherd Sunday or the 4th Sunday of Easter, etc. Why do we need The Sunday of the Word of God? In his Apostolic Letter, ‘Aperuit Illis’ – Latin for ‘He opened their (minds to the meaning of Scripture’) (Church documents are often ‘named’ by its first few words), the Holy Father explains its purpose. It is a very short Letter; type Aperuit Illis into your search engine to read the whole document.
To begin with, in our fractured, divided world, the Bible is a great source of unity! All Christians (except Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses) accept 27 New Testament books and have similar translations. While Catholics give canonical status to seven Old Testament books that Protestants reject, and Jews differ in number, arrangement, and the placement of some biblical books, most Christians and Jews, for the most part, find common ground in the Word of God!
His Holiness is also concerned, as am I, that we Catholics are strangers to the Bible; it is estimated that only 13% of the Old Testament, not counting Psalms, 55% of the non-Gospel New Testament, and 90% of the Gospels – only 71% of the New Testament – is proclaimed throughout the year at holy Mass. Yet, as seen in the image above: the Risen Lord opens our “minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45) most profoundly during the Breaking of Bread, which we now call the holy Mass! In fact, one of the Risen Lord’s first actions on Easter night, and among His last actions before His Ascension, was to open the disciples’ minds to how He fulfills sacred Scripture, whereupon He vanished from their sight.
Then, quoting the Patron Saint of Bible Study, Saint Jerome, Pope Francis reminds us that: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” For how can we say we love the Lord if we do not read, study, and strive to understand the ‘Love Letters’ He sent to us in and through His holy Word? That’s why we reverently carry the Book of the Gospels and Ordained Ministers spend so much time in seminary formation being trained in preaching God’s Word. For at every liturgical celebration God’s People rightfully expect our prepared reflections or homilies on God’s Word, which is ‘required reading’ at every Sacrament and ritual. All Lay Readers, Catechists and other Lay Ministers are also required to know the basics about sacred Scripture.
Understanding Scripture is so crucial, for without it, nothing makes sense! Jesus’ identity as our God in human form is only understood through Old Testament prophecies. Without the firm basis of biblical revelation, everything is a ‘free-for-all’ as we see in those communities that permit, and even celebrate, any and everything under the sun! Without the firm foundation of God’s Word, we build on sand, not on Rock!
The challenges we face in upholding ‘revealed Truth’ is nothing new; even Jesus was opposed by those who questioned or rejected His teachings on faith and morals. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance and assurance, Church dogmas and doctrines keep us true to all biblically based ‘revealed truths’ – which are increasingly rejected as old-fashioned ideas and outdated teachings. By better understanding what God has revealed to us via Scripture, the better equipped we are to know, defend, and live by divine truths.
Without sacred Scripture, we would never know the depth of God’s mercy and love, or know how to hear, to serve and to please God. As Jesus so powerfully presented in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: when the Rich Man sought more help for his brothers, lest they also be condemned, Abraham replied: “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.” (Luke 16:29) Obviously, ignorance of Scripture has eternal consequences! Conversely, by accepting and struggling to understand and live by God’s Word, our Blessed Mother and the Saints achieved eternal glory. May The Sunday of the Word of God help us grow in our knowledge of and ability to live by the sacred Scriptures.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS