Word to the Wise
Friday, June 6, 2008 - Friday in the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time
[2 Timothy 3:10-17 and Mark 12:35-37]All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs toGod may be competent, equipped for every good work.
One of the most important achievements resulting from the Second Vatican Council is the Lectionary. This presentation of scripture with its triple cycle for Sundays and dual cycle for weekdays makes it possible for Catholics to hear a considerable portion of the bible over those years. Furthermore, the Lectionary serves as a basis for catechesis in religious education programs and in the RCIA experience which has been the avenue for so many to enter the church. Prior to its invention, Catholics were noted for their lack of knowledge of and acquaintance with the Bible. We still have a long way to go, but the Lectionary has helped many to at least broaden their knowledge of scripture beyond the minimum. Even so, the goal should be for all Catholics to go to the whole bible and read from it regularly. If the Bible is the Word of God, then what appears to be a book is really like a tabernacle. God is truly present in the words of Scripture. Not every chapter or verse will be equally inspiring to today's readers, but it is all part of understanding how God has worked in human events over the centuries. The Lectionary is a highly edited piece of work. Reading from the full Bible is necessary to obtain a grasp of the wisdom and hope we need. There are books that have a daily reading that will take one through the entire bible in a year. Some find it helpful simply to read a chapter a day, no matter what the particular book or content is. Slowly but surely the whole thing seeps into one's religious consciousness. The gospel for today shows Jesus refuting the scribes in a scriptural interpretation. Many has been the time a student or other parishioner has asked me about how to read the Bible because friends of theirs who were not Catholic were quoting from the scripture in ways that seemed hostile to Catholicism. I recommend buying a good "study bible" and reading it (including the notes) on a regular basis. Eventually one's comfort level with God's Word will grow into a genuine affection for the Bible and a great enrichment of one's Sunday (and everyday) prayer and worship. As 2 Timothy puts it, we become "equipped for every good work." AMEN
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