Sunday of the Word of God

Pope Francis has declared this 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Sunday of the Word of God and is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.

It is an opportune moment for us at St Thomas Parish to reflect on what ways is the Word of God a part of our daily life. It is important to remember that all Sacred Scripture (all 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament) is but one book, and this one book is Christ, “because all divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ”

For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body. If we look at our sanctuary here at St Thomas, we have the Ambo (where the Word of God is proclaimed) and the Altar on which we celebrate the Eucharistic prayer and on which the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The Ambo and the Altar are two tables from which we are fed. We are fed and nourished by God’s living Word and we are fed and nourished by the Christ really and truly present under the appearance of bread and wine.

We read these words in the New Testament “For the word of God is living and active” (Heb. 4:12) and “it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13). What are the ways in which we make Scripture a part of our daily life? First of all, do I own bible? Do I read it?

For the last two years, one of the most popular podcasts has been “Bible in a Year” presented and read by the American priest Fr Mike Schmitz, you can listen to it on any podcast platform. We can use the daily Mass readings as part of our prayer. The monthly booklet, “Bible Alive” and “My Day by Day” are available at the back of the church. They are a great help with our daily reflection on the readings. There is a group of parishioners that meets every Thursday after 12 noon Mass who reflect together on the following Sunday’s Gospel.

The Jesuits have some good resources. I have found the weekly resource on the next Sunday’s readings helpful. The Jesuits also have a podcast that will introduce you to praying with scripture known as Lection Divina

Here is a prayer we can say before we read the Scriptures.

Lord, as I read Your Word, please help me to know, love, and understand You better.
Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my life.
Holy Spirit, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my
family and in the world as I read Your Word. Amen.