Scripture

Many have begun spending an hour on Sunday evenings watching the History Channel’s epic 10-part miniseries, “The Bible”.  Some people have said that this earthy portrayal of stories from Sacred Scripture is helping to bring them closer to the Bible.  Others say that they prefer the well-scrubbed characters in movies like 1956’s “The Ten Commandments.”

Whatever style you like your Bible characters portrayed in, the reality is that most of us know more about Scripture from watching movies or TV series than from actually reading the Bible itself.

Average Catholics asked how often they read the Bible say that they do not read it regularly.  However, if asked how often they read Scripture, the answer would be different.  Practicing Catholics know they read and hear Scripture at every Mass.  Many also recognize that basic prayers Catholics say, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, are scriptural.  But for most Catholics, the Scripture they hear and read is not from the Bible.  It is from the missalette in the pew.

Many of us know that we are not to interpret Scripture ourselves, because our understanding of what the Scriptures mean has been handed down to us by the teaching authority of the Church.  But we are encouraged to read and study the Bible.  Pope Leo XIII in 1893 challenged Catholics to take advantage of the truths found in Scripture and to defend it from the attack of those who twist it to fit their meaning.  In his 1943 encyclical titled, Under the Inspiration of the Spirit, Pope Pius XII called Sacred Scripture a “heaven-sent treasure” that the Church has “kept with all care.” 

Scripture awareness grew after the Second Vatican Council.  Mass was celebrated in the vernacular and so the Scripture readings at Mass were read entirely in the language of the people.  Adult faith formation programs began to develop, and the most common program run at a parish was and is Scripture study.  The Charismatic movement and the rise of prayer groups exposed Catholics to Scripture even more.  All of this contributed to Catholics becoming more familiar with the Bible and more interested in reading the Scriptures and praying with them.

We can become uncomfortable when we’re around someone who quotes Bible passages.  Don’t let the ability of people who can quote a dozen or so favorite verses discourage you from opening the Bible.  It’s not about memorizing passages or reading the Bible from front-to-back — it’s about letting God speak to us through Scripture and allowing Him to transform our hearts.