Readings Between the Lines

As a young boy, my exposure to Sacred Scripture was, as in the case of most “cradle Catholics,” during the liturgy. At the prompting of a religion teacher when I was in junior high school, I started reading the Scriptures on my own and fell in love with God’s word. My love for Scripture was reinforced in my seminary studies, where I learned a great deal more about Scripture and enjoyed doing in-depth study of it. After I was ordained, (the late) Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, first bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux,  allowed me to fulfill my dream of doing an advanced degree in Scripture at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. To this day, I have enjoyed the opportunity to help Catholics come to a better understanding of God’s word through various media.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Pope Francis’ declaration of a “Sunday of the Word of God” in his apostolic letter, Aperuit Illis, was exciting news to me. He established this observance on Sept. 30, 2019, the feast of the great 4th-5th Century A.D. biblical scholar, St. Jerome. In particular, the pope says, “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (this year, the weekend of January 23-24) is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God” (No. 3). Sifting through the document, I identify several statements that appear to represent the Holy Father’s motives for calling attention to God’s word. First of all, he thinks it important that we all “appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people” (No. 2). Secondly, he admits that he has received many requests “that the entire church celebrate, in unity of purpose, a Sunday of the Word of God” (No. 2). Furthermore, this observance 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” (No. 2).

Establishing a Sunday to focus on God’s word is a way of further implementing the decrees of the Second Vatican Council. The Constitution on Divine Revelation (hereafter, CDR) called for both a greater use of Scripture in the liturgy and to enable the faithful to have greater access to Scripture. In addition, all the Christian faithful, clergy, religious and laity alike are exhorted “to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (CDR No. 25). Since the Scriptures are divinely inspired, to read them reflectively is to enter into dialog with God.

What kind of activity is the “Sunday of the Word of God” intended to generate in the church?  On the Sunday of the Word, the proclamation of the word should be highlighted, and those who proclaim the word regularly could be given further coaching in effective proclamation of God’s word. Pastors could give out Bibles to their congregations and the faithful could be instructed in the Medieval practice of Lectio Divina, a method for reflecting on God’s word meant to lead the one who does so into contemplation of the Divinity. Pastors are reminded of their responsibility to help their parishioners understand the Scriptures better and are reminded of their duty to prepare diligently to preach the word of God in the liturgy (No. 5). Also, catechists are reminded that they cannot perform their ministry effectively unless they make the reading of God’s word a regular part of their spiritual diet. Also, “renewed efforts should be made to provide members of the faithful with the training needed to be genuine proclaimers of the word” (No. 3).

Pope Francis also desires that we emphasize the importance of the reading of God’s word in the liturgy. The key biblical text, which he cites several times in the document, is Luke 24:13-35, the story of two disciples of Jesus unknowingly encountering the risen Lord on the road between Jerusalem and Emmaus and in the breaking of the bread. This story, more than any other demonstrates an integral connection between word and sacrament. The Liturgy of the Word in the Mass should never be minimized, taken for granted or seen as unconnected to or as less important than the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Indeed, the Holy Father states “Sacred Scripture and the sacraments are thus inseparable. When the sacraments are introduced and illumined by God’s word, they become ever more clearly the goal of a process whereby Christ opens our minds and hearts to acknowledge his saving work” (No. 8). Regarding the importance of the proclamation of God’s word in the liturgy, the Holy Father echoes the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy No. 7 when he says, “The proclamation of God’s word at the celebration entails an acknowledgment that Christ himself is present, that he speaks to us, and that he wishes to be heard” (Endnote No. 2).

The pope identifies several fruits of the church’s deeper reflection and giving of attention to God’s word. Not only do the Scriptures provide necessary spiritual nourishment for us, but they foster unity in the Christian community (No. 8). In addition, the reading of the Scriptures forms ecumenical and interfaith bridges between the Catholic Church and Protestants, on the one hand, and the Jewish people, on the other hand (No. 3). As stated above, understanding the relative importance and integral connection between word and sacrament will give us a better grasp of the liturgy.

As Pope Francis points out, the story of the risen Lord and the two disciples journeying to Emmaus demonstrates that the death and resurrection of Christ cannot be understood apart from the Scriptures, for the risen Lord enlightens the two disciples as to how the Scriptures (much of what we know as the Old Testament) point to the necessity of the Messiah’s dying and rising.

Finally, the pope does not intend that our renewed focus on God’s word be something we indulge in for just one Sunday per year. “A day devoted to the Bible should not be seen as a yearly event but rather a year-long event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word and to break bread in the community of believers” (No. 8).

Reflection Questions
● How does your listening to the proclamation of God’s word in the first part of Mass lead you to a deeper appreciation of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist later in the Mass?

● How can daily reading of the Scriptures provide spiritual nourishment and guidance for your life?

● What is your favorite Scripture passage and why does it inspire you?  What Scripture passage challenges you the most and why does it do so?