Word to the Wise
Friday, June 8, 2012 - Friday in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Tim 3:10-17 and Mark 12:35-37]But, you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy]
Many were the times in my campus ministry years that a student would come to my office in confusion because a non-Catholic acquaintance had posed some scriptural question that he or she could not answer. The problem is not one just for college students. Despite some wonderful programs like the Little Rock Scripture Program and other similar efforts, Catholics are still woefully ignorant of the Sacred Scriptures. The "lectionary" used at Mass is designed to give a broad exposure to the bible over a period of two (daily) or three (Sunday) years. But that is a basically "passive" acquaintance. Active and intentional reading of scripture on a daily basis, as our Protestant friends do, is necessary to become truly "acquainted!" The "scriptures" mentioned in 2 Timothy are the Old Testament writings! We have the benefit of both Old and New Testaments!
Why should one bother to do this? Aren't the sacraments enough for any Catholic? My basic response to this is that Christ is truly present in his word. This is the teaching of the church. I consider the bible to be like a tabernacle. One of the greatest documents of the Second Vatican Council is the one on Sacred Scripture, DEI VERBUM, and I urge all my Beloved Congregation to read that document. It is better than any argument or reasons that I could give. The sacraments, themselves, are designed around the Word of God. Celebrants who rush through the biblical content of a sacramental celebration are not doing anyone a favor. The frequent complaints that I hear from folks in the pews about the quality of preaching means that the scriptures are being "short circuited" even when they are heard in the church! A legendary Dominican novice master in this country, who was noted for his unintentionally amusing comments, is quoted as saying to the novices once: "Read the bible, boys! It's chock full of scripture!" I agree! AMEN