The Bible transforms and unites the nation

This year’s theme for the celebration in January for the Bible month is special in the sense that we also celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Year of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples. This is also the first year of celebrating the Sunday of the Word of God as declared by Pope Francis to be celebrated every third Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Reflecting on Luke 24:45, here are some points we need to remember from Pope Francis Motu Proprio “Aperuit Illis”, declaring the Sunday of the Word of God: 1) the Sunday of the Word of God has ecumenical value, since the Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity; 2) In this unity born of listening, pastors are primarily responsible for explaining the sacred Scripture and helping everyone understand it through the homily; 3) catechists, too, in their ministry of helping people to grow in their faith, ought to feel an urgent need for personal renewal through familiarity with, and study of, the sacred Scriptures; 4) a day devoted to the Bible should not be seen as a yearly event but rather a year-long event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures; 5) sacred Scriptures and the sacraments are thus inseparable; and 6) along our path of welcoming God’s word into our hearts, the Mother of the Lord accompanies us.

May the Bible transform and unite us as one nation.