Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God. It is a day that is dedicated to the entire Bible. On more than one occasion I have heard the Bible referred to as “B-I-B-L-E, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”. There is definitely truth in that. It has much to teach about morality. But it is so much more than that. It is a love story.
Odd as it may seem, the Bible reminds of a date to a pizza place. It wasn’t our first date, but it was early in our relationship. We sat down to eat and began to talk. After what felt like a few minutes, four hours had passed, and it was closing time. In that time, we both revealed much about ourselves. My date from that night ultimately became my bride.
There is a parallel to scripture in this. It is through Sacred Scripture that God reveals himself to us, and as church we ultimately become his bride. The Bible is a really a love story. Sacred Scripture is nothing less than the story of God’s love for us, his creation, from the beginning of time until the end. It is God teaching us. It is God revealing himself to us. It is God telling us who we are to him. “In His goodness and wisdom God chose[s] to reveal Himself. [He] make[s] known to us the hidden purpose of His will.”[1] It is no less than this, that “[t]hrough Christ, the Word made flesh, [we] might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature.”[2]
In the Chapter 8 of the Book of Nehemiah, we read about the Jews who have returned from exile. First they rebuilt their Temple, and then they rebuilt their city. Now, they are listening to the Word of God. Ezra, their preacher did read the entire scripture to them! Now that was some undertaking! Scripture tells us the some of them wept as they heard the Word of the Lord. I suppose that some wept with sorrow because when they heard God’s law, they realized that they were not obeying it in their lives. I expect that some wept with joy that the chosen people had been restored and were once again reading scripture as their ancestors did. I also suspect that there were more than a few who wept simply because they were in the presence of the Lord. They realized that they were listening to the word of God spoken to them in the words of men. Perhaps they realized that the all powerful God had condescended to teach them – to lead them personally, to enter into relationship with them. Sacred Scripture, God’s word, is all of these things! The Bible tells us the story of God walking with us, caring for us, teaching us, and ultimately redeeming us in Christ Jesus. That is what makes the Bible such a special gift. They, like us, heard the words of God in the words of men!
The Bible is a love story for the ages. It tells us of God’s great love for us! Every book tells us of Christ. The entire Bible points us to Christ. When we read the Bible, we see God working in history, we do receive basin instructions on how to live, and we see Christ in each story either indirectly or directly. We are also filled with hope as the Bible points us to our ultimate destiny – union with God most high in our heavenly homeland![3]
Today, on Word of God Sunday, I wonder what would happen if we set aside an entire day for Sacred Scripture. How might that look? What if all of us who could understand, from the young to the old, spent a day immersed in God’s word. What if we spent a half-day, or even an hour listening to all that God might have to say to us through his word? I am absolutely convinced that we would be changed for the better. We would very likely treat one another better, and be more hopeful, more joyful.
Is a “first-date” event like I described earlier possible with God? Of course it is! He wants us to want him. In scripture he is constantly revealing himself so that we can get to know him! All we have to do is ask the Holy Spirit to lead us as we pick up this book and read! We can make the Bible a part of who we are in any number of ways! We can study it together in any number of Bible studies. We can allow scripture to guide our daily prayer. We can even listen to the whole Bible in a year, if we are so inclined! However that may look for you, I am asking you to take the first step! You will not regret it! Let us respond to God’s love for us by immersing ourselves in the story of salvation – in sacred scripture. It is a love story between God and us, his people. It is, after all, our story! We can not only read it! We can live it!
[1] Second Vatican Council. Dei Verbum, The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, 1965. §2.
[2] Dei Verbum §2.
[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1993. Paragraphs 115-118 describe the various senses of Scripture. The literal captures the acts of the story and the intent of the inspired author. The moral refers to its application in our daily life; the allegorical relates the text to Jesus Christs, and anagogical points forward to our destiny in end of time. These senses are discussed in far less scholarly terms in the preceding two sentences.