“The Bible: Hope of the Community’s Progress”

BIBLE MONTH CELEBRATION CULMINATES TODAY

How often do you read the Bible? Did you know that majority of the books in the Bible are read during the Holy Mass over the span of three years? This means that if you have attended Mass everyday for the last three years, you have listened to most books in the Bible!

READINGS AT MASS
The Sunday Mass readings are covered in three years, Cycle A, B & C. The daily Mass readings are covered in a two year cycle. The Liturgy of the Word, the first part of the Mass, comprises 2 readings from Monday through Saturday and on Sundays and Solemnities we hear 3 readings: one each from the Old Testament (except during the Easter Season when the first reading is mostly taken from the Acts of the Apostles) and the New Testament, and a Gospel reading, all relating to a central theme. In addition, a psalm or canticle is sung.

BIBLE MONTH
Reading the Bible every day is highly recommended. It helps to prepare ourselves for Mass by reading ahead the assigned Scriptures for the day. Besides, there are many benefits to reading the Scriptures. Its value is emphasized by the issuance of Proclamation No. 124 by President Duterte declaring the month of January of every year as National Bible Month culminating in the last week thereof as National Bible Week. In its signing he acknowledged “the profound impact of the Bible on the life of nations, and to how it has moved and inspired many people, including statesmen and social reformers, to work for the betterment of their fellow human beings even at great cost to themselves. Whereas, it is fitting and proper, for the moulding of the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry, that national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible.”

Giving support to the National Bible Week celebration are secular agencies such as the KBP, the National Press Club of the Philippines and Philippine Press Institute. The Philippine Bible Society likewise in its press release says that Bible-related events such as Bible enthronement, Bible distributions, fun runs, Bible quizzes, and Bible reading called the I-Proclaim among others have been lined up across the country by churches, schools, Local Government Units and Non-Government Organizations.

VIEWS
If the secular society has recognized the Bible’s prominence, what about the faithful?

Lolita Ponting, 59 years old, a parishioner from the San Pedro Cathedral appreciates the decision of the President. She said, “Ang bibliya misyon nga matun-an gyud nato. Mas powerful, mass effective. In every family, in every home there’s a need to study the bible.”

“Ang bibliya maoy dalan sa kaayo. Matud pa sa Santo Papa ang dili magtuon sa bibliya ignorante sa bibliya. Ang ignorante sa bibliya ignorante pud sa langit. Ignorance of the bible is ignorance of the truth,” she added as Saint Jerome used to say.

Parishes all over the country have prepared various activities to highlight this year’s theme: “The Bible: Hope of the Community’s Progress.”

In the local Church, Archdiocesan Bible Apostolate of Davao Coordinator Mila Punzalan bared that the Bible Month in Davao was launched last January 7. She said in a text message, “a float designed like a large Bible, prepared by the Assumption Parish, led the motorcade around the city, which was participated by 18 parishes. It culminated with a Mass presided over by Archbishop Valles and concelebrated by Fr. Ritsche Gamaya and Msgr. Jimmy Gamboa.”

The Bible Month celebration will be capped with a Holy Mass to be aired via ABS-CBN today, January 29. Parishes and GKKs are encouraged to hold activities such as Bible adventure, Bible Quiz, poster-making, symposium, and family Bible enthronement. In the schools, gospel song writing, quiz bee, extemporaneous speaking contests, and many others are some of the cited events. (Nena Quijano | Claudine Chicote | Freza May Momo)