Our second Annual Bible Sunday will take place on Sunday, February 3, 2019.
The focus of our observance this year will be Listening to God’s Word at Mass.
To highlight this theme we have invited Father Michael Patella, O.S.B, a monk of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville to be our guest speaker at two special celebrations to be held on February 3rd, one at St. Michael Church, Waterloo at 2:00 p.m., and one at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, Hamilton at 7:00 p.m.
Father Patella will be speaking on the Gospel of Luke which we will be hearing during the coming Liturgical Year C. In particular, Father Patella will be inviting participants to consider what to listen for as the Gospel of Luke is proclaimed at Sunday Mass during the coming year. The Gospel and Acts Volume of the Saint John’s Bible will be available for viewing at each presentation. Mark your calendars now! All are welcome.
The inspiration for #TheBibleSpeaks comes from Pope Francis' letter for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy, Misericordia et misera, #7, in which he states, "It would be beneficial if every Christian community, on one Sunday of the liturgical year, could renew its efforts to make the Sacred Scriptures better known and more widely diffused. It would be a Sunday given over entirely to the word of God, so as to appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people."
Bishop Crosby and the Diocese of Hamilton has chosen the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time each year as our day to emphasize how #TheBibleSpeaks and how #WeListen.
While reading the Scriptures, ask yourself these four basic questions.
Determine as closely as possible the literal meaning of the text. What do the words say? What is the range of meaning in the words?
The meaning of a text is determined not simply from the words but also from the context in which the words exist.
How does this apply to my life? How does this apply to the life of the Church?
...to do about it? What difference does this text mean for my life? What is my response to God’s word?
Begin with a prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Read through the passage once at a normal pace.
Digest the words. Get a sense of the phrases.
Allow the Word to seep more deeply into your consciousness.
Read the passage through, section by section.
How does this Word speak to me at this time, in this context?
What emotions are evoked by the Word?
How does this Word speak to me of God and how does it impact my life?
Conclude with a brief prayer of thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit.
Le Pape François nous dit: “Il serait bon qu’un dimanche de l’année liturgique chaque communauté puisse renouveler son engagement à diffuser, faire connaître et approfondir l’Écriture Sainte : un dimanche entièrement consacré à la Parole de Dieu pour comprendre l’inépuisable richesse qui provient du dialogue permanent entre Dieu et son peuple. La créativité ne manquera pas pour enrichir ce moment par des initiatives qui stimuleront les croyants à être de vivants instruments de transmission de la Parole. Parmi ces initiatives, il y a certainement la diffusion plus large de la lectio divina, afin que la vie spirituelle trouve un soutien et les moyens de sa croissance dans la lecture priante du texte sacré. La lectio divina, sur les thèmes de la miséricorde, permettra de toucher du doigt quelle fécondité jaillit du texte sacré lorsqu’il est lu à la lumière de toute la tradition spirituelle de l’Église, et qu’il débouche nécessairement sur des gestes et des œuvres concrètes de charité. » (Lettre Apostolique, Misericordia et misera, le 20 novembre 2016).