Hearing the Word

Prior to the Second Vatican Council, most Catholics didn’t read the Bible, nor was reading it encouraged. Church authorities believed allowing Catholics access to the Bible would be dangerous. They were afraid the laity wouldn’t know how to interpret Scripture, or worse, would interpret it incorrectly.   

Vatican II changed that thinking. As the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, (Dei Verbum) says, “Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful.” #22

What used to be a one-year cycle that included two readings in the liturgy has now been expanded to a three-year cycle that includes three readings.

“The treasures of the bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's word. In this way a more representative portion of the holy scriptures will be read to the people in the course of a prescribed number of years.” Sacrosanctum Concilium #51.

Scripture scholar Margaret Nutting Ralph says we have come a long way, “I think people find Christ’s presence in Eucharist, and we say ‘the table of the Eucharist,’ when we say ‘the table of the Word,’ we are saying you should expect to find Christ present in the Word too. It’s not that Christ comes late to Mass and only arrives at Eucharist.”

Ralph, who has written a dozen books on Scripture, was in Atlanta recently for a workshop hosted by the Archdiocese. She challenged her listeners to delve more deeply into the Scriptures. “Don’t think familiarity with the lectionary is familiarity with the Bible,” said Ralph.

Since the lectionary includes only portions of Scripture, Ralph advises reading the entire book, letter, and Gospel. When we read what comes before and after the portion proclaimed in the liturgy, we can better understand the context. This, Ralph says, helps us to understand the intent of the author, which often reveals a new and deeper understanding of God.

Whether we read and meditate on the Scriptures on our own, study them via a Bible class, or share their meaning for our lives with others, such as in a small faith community, we enhance our experience of hearing the Word proclaimed at the Liturgy. Then Scripture truly becomes for us a living Word, a lamp for our feet and a light for our journey.

Happy Mother's Day

Very few of us wear a corsage on Mother’s Day. When I was a child I remember going to church on this day and seeing a myriad of women and children wearing either a red or white flower. A red flower meant your mother was alive, a white flower meant your mother had died. My mother passed away years ago, but I still feel her presence whenever I follow in her footsteps and do what she would do: cook one of her recipes, go places that she and I frequented together, spend time with family, send thank-you notes or plant flowers in the spring. Ironically, I can sense my mother’s spirit now more than when she was alive.

Perhaps this is what Jesus was trying to get across to his disciples in today’s gospel, that he would continue to remain with them even after his death. Jesus assured them the presence of his Spirit, but only after his death and ascension to the Father. The disciples didn’t quite understand. They wanted his physical presence to remain close to them. But Jesus promised something greater. Once unbound by time or space, his Spirit could dwell not just with his disciples in a particular time and place, but with the entire human race until the end of time. This is why he said, “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

So whenever we follow in the footsteps of Jesus and do the works he would do: feed the hungry, care for the sick, show compassion, be merciful, or give of ourselves, we know the Spirit of Jesus is alive and well, working through and within us.