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Fr. Jim Lowe 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 1/24/2021
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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“God ‘desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’ that is, of Christ Jesus. Christ must be proclaimed to all nations and individuals, so that this revelation may reach to the ends of the earth”. (CCC 74) This proclamation is done through the Word of God written in the Sacred Scriptures.
The Word of God is so important that Pope Francis recently declared the 3rd Sunday of ordinary time to be dedicated as the “Sunday of the Word of God”. Pope Francis quotes Luke 24:45, “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”. Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection, broke bread with them, and then He “opened their minds to the understanding of the Sacred Scriptures”.
Jesus wants to open our minds to understand the Sacred Scriptures today. He does this by sending us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspired the authors of Sacred Scripture to write down all the accounts contained in the Bible. Before listening to or reading Sacred Scriptures, we ought to ask the same Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to hear what God wants us to hear. Before coming to Mass, we ought to prayerfully reflect on the Scriptures that are going to be proclaimed.
Friends, as we celebrate this Sunday dedicated to the Word of God, I encourage you to make a commitment to read three very powerful documents that help us understand the Sacred Scriptures.
First, read the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis, Aperuit Illis, which explains why Pope Francis declared the third Sunday of Ordinary time the Sunday of the Word of God. Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio of the Supreme Pontiff Francis "Aperuit illis" (30 September 2019) | Francis (vatican.va)
Second, read paragraphs 74 to 141 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It very clearly explains everything we need to know about Sacred Scripture from a Catholic perspective. Catechism of the Catholic Church (vatican.va)
Finally, read the Second Vatican Council Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum. Dei verbum (vatican.va)
As we move forward as a parish to grow as joyful missionary disciples being sent out on mission, let us resolve to become more immersed in Sacred Scriptures each day!
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Jim Lowe, CC
