GET READY FOR LENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD

 

GET READY FOR LENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD

            You may remember that three years ago Pope Francis designated the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Sunday of the Word of God.”  The Holy Father explained that “Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world” (Aperuit illis, n. 2).  Just as the annual celebration of Easter fosters a year-round devotion to the Lord’s Resurrection, which is celebrated in every Mass, so a special annual celebration of the word of God is meant to foster a daily love and devotion to God’s word.  Sacred Scripture must be the solid foundation upon which every Christian’s spiritual life is built.  Lent is an especially good time to re-dedicate ourselves to hearing more of what God has spoken.

            The word of God is always relevant and cannot be exhausted.  After some forty years of daily reading, studying, and meditating on it, I continue to be constantly surprised.  There are always new insights and new perspectives.  By his word God speaks to the heart, instructs the mind, and guides the soul.  He encourages, corrects, humbles, and exalts.  Our understanding of Scripture, of course, is always subject to the teaching office of the Church (the magisterium), whom God has given as its authentic interpreter.  But the same word that reveals God and the saving truth to the world also speaks into our personal lives and opens the way for a deeper conversion.  “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). 

            Like the Sacraments, the Scriptures exist to make us holy.  For this reason, Pope Francis states that “The Bible cannot be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books for the benefit of a privileged few. It belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves in its words” (Aperuit illis, n. 4).  Formal training in Sacred Scripture is not a pre-condition for benefitting from them, just like you don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy sports.  Reading and listening to the word of God has been compared to stepping into the ocean.  It is shallow enough for a child to wade in and deep enough for the most skilled swimmer. 

            There are two basic senses of Scriptural interpretation: the literal and the spiritual.  The literal sense is always prior.  It is the meaning which the sacred author intended to convey to a particular audience, in given historical circumstances, using a specific literary form (such as a narrative, a poem, a letter, etc.).  Starting with the literal sense helps one to avoid flights into fancy and subjectivity.  The spiritual sense is grounded by the literal sense, but it conveys truth of which even the original author might not have been aware.  For example, from a Christian perspective, the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites, recounted in the Book of Exodus, was a prefiguration of Baptism.  The spiritual sense finds Christ in every passage of the Bible.  It teaches us how to live like him and prepares us for the glorious things to come when he returns in power.

            The Scriptures have the Holy Spirit as their author and therefore are an essential component of Christian prayer.  Faith is the first thing which is required to understand and value the Scriptures.  But the intellect is important, also.  Today, many resources are available to help us appreciate the literal and the spiritual senses of Scripture.  If someone wants to know more about Scripture, my first recommendation is to read the section in the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Bible (see paragraphs 101-141).  My second recommendation is to obtain a good Catholic Bible, such as The Didache Bible, The Navarre Bible, and/or the New Catholic Answer Bible.  Via the internet I recommend Catholic Answers and The Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology.  They provide excellent books, videos and podcasts.  Finally, take advantage of our parish subscription to FORMED (www.formed.org).  It is free to parishioners.  Hit “sign up” and then “sign up as a parishioner” and type in the name of our parish and provide an email address.  Then you will able to view excellent Catholic content for the whole family, including Bible studies.

            Lent will begin in less than two weeks.  Making Scripture an integral part of your Lenten devotions will enhance your prayer and open the way for a joyful celebration of the Resurrection.