Questions for Reflection for January 14, 2023 HD

Reflection for Reading 1, Hebrews 3:7-14 1. In the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (In Latin, Dei Verbum) a beautiful teaching document from the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council on the Word of God, we read this explanation of the Bible: "(I)n the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life." (Paragraph 21) The insight is the also a key to fruitfully reading the Bible. The Living, Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, speaks to us through the written word found in the Bible. Understanding the Bible depends upon having a living relationship with the Risen Lord and, through Him and in the Spirit, with the Father. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews, our first reading appointed for today’s Mass, tells us: "The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts more incisively than any two-edged sword: "It can seek out the place where soul is divided from spirit, or joints from marrow; it can pass judgement on secret emotions and thoughts." Do we read, pray, and study the Bible? Is there a Bible in our home? Or do we simply hear it at Mass on Sundays? Reflection for Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11 2. God has entrusted the Bible to the Church. It was first received by the early Church in the form of the Old Testament books, the Gospels and the letters of the apostles that were "circulated" (that is what the word "encyclical" means) among the early Christian communities. Later, the "Canon" (which means "measuring stick"), was finalized within the Church. It is intended to govern her life and worship. It is the guide for her in carrying forward the redemptive work of Jesus on earth until He comes again. The Bible is an invitation, given to each one of us, into an encounter with the living God. Its words are not a formula to obtain some notion of success in life, but an invitation into a communion of Love with the Living Word. The Bible is not some-thing but reveals "Some-One" - Jesus Christ the Living Word of the Father. In those words of St. Paul to Timothy, "all Scripture is inspired by God." (2 Tim. 3:16) The Greek word translated inspired means "God-breathed". The Psalmist tells us in our response today: "The precepts of Yahweh are honest, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is pure, light for the eyes." A "precept" is meant to regulate and inform our way of living, our behavior. Like the ten commandments. Do we know the precepts of the church? Do we know what the Bible says about how we are to live our lives? Reflection for Gospel, Mark 1:40-45 3. In today’s Gospel, Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, calls Levi, or Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, and he does. He reaches out to everyone even the tax collectors and sinners whom the religious leaders in this account had rejected. When we encounter Jesus, the Living Word, we are meant to change, to be converted. The Greek word for conversion means to actually turn around and start walking the other way. We are called, like Matthew, to leave what we are doing, turn away from sin, turn toward Jesus and follow Him. The written word, the Bible, is intended to become for us an encounter with the LIVING WORD, Jesus the Christ. It is about more than words on a page. Years ago, a gathering of scripture scholars was held in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. The group encouraged what they called a "kneeling exegesis". Exegesis is a word which refers to the study of the bible. I loved the phrase kneeling exegesis because it speaks to what should be obvious, but sadly is not; only through prayer can we encounter the living Word of God in the written words of the Bible. The Bible is at the heart of the Church's worship, faith, and life. It is the "Book of the Church." Christianity is not about "me and Jesus" but me in Jesus. Through Baptism we come to live in His Body, the Church. We are incorporated into the living, Risen Christ when we are baptized into His Church. We become members of His mystical body and we enter into that New Creation, beginning right now. When God chose to reveal Himself, He did not throw a book out of heaven. Rather, the Word was made Flesh. He became one of us. Support Catholic Online by Subscribing to our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/catholiconl... More on Daily Readings: https://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_... Catholic Online School: Free World Class Catholic Education for Anyone, Anywhere https://www.catholiconline.school/ Catholic Online: World's Catholic Library https://www.catholic.org/