The Bible is the living word of God which truly gives spiritual nourishment. It can give us life and healing if we will but let it do so for us.
Jesus mastered the Sacred Scriptures.
KEY REFERENCES (Write out):
Luke 4:16-21
Matthew 4:1-11
Luke 24:25-27
II. How to read the Scriptures.
When reading Scripture, there are two aspects to keep in mind: the literal meaning and the spiritual meaning.
The
literal meaning refers to what the sacred author is saying, what he intended when he wrote the Scriptures.
The
spiritual meaning refers to the deeper level or meaning of Scripture.
It is important to attend to both meanings: what the writer intends for us, and
what the spiritual meaning is, that is, as it applies to us.
St. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16f that --
"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the
man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
St. Paul tells us two things in this passage:
All Scripture is inspired by God.
The Scriptures can be profitably used:
-for teaching: teaching us the basic truths we must know in order to be saved;
-for refuting error: error within ourselves, for that which is wrong will be corrected;
-for correction: for guiding our lives; and
-for training in righteousness: leading us to be holy.
Some mistakenly read only the New Testament. This is wrong. For as St. Paul tells us: all Scripture is profitable. It is important, therefore, to read all of the Books of the Bible.
Quotes from some of the Fathers:
St. John Chrysostom says that the Scriptures are "an inexhaustible treasury
of heavenly doctrine."
St. Athanasius says that the Scriptures are an "overflowing fountain of salvation."
St. Augustine warns, "vainly does the preacher utter the Word of God
exteriorly unless he listens to it interiorly."
St. Gregory the Great instructs us first ''to find in Holy Scripture the knowledge of ourselves, and then to carry it to others, lest in reproving others, we forget ourselves."
St. Jerome tells us that the attitude that we should have when we approach Scripture is one of prayer and humility of mind. Once we have done this,
St. Jerome invites us to study the Bible.
St Jerome says "to be ignorant of the Scripture is not to know Christ." In its pages, His image stands out, living and breathing; diffusing everywhere around: consolation in trouble, encouragement to virtue, and attraction to the love of God.
Clement of Alexandria says that the reading of Sacred Scripture is the way of perfection. Scripture leads us into prayer.
Cassian says our minds and hearts should be occupied with Scripture throughout the day.
The Fathers of the early Church tell us that we should read the Sacred Scriptures in an attitude of prayer.
From the early Fathers, we are told that we should read the Scriptures in the manner of eating.
First, we are to read, that is, bite it.
Then, we are to reflect upon it, that is, chew it.
Then, we are to swallow it, our hearts begin to be warmed within.
Then, we are to ruminate over it, that is, to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed.
And finally, we are to digest it.
A help to reading the Scriptures every day is to establish a definite habit of
place and time each day.
The Document on the Laity, n. 4 says:
"Since Christ in His mission from the Father is the fountain and
source of the whole apostolate of the Church, the success of the
lay apostolate depends upon the laity's living union with Christ."
One of the sources for becoming like Jesus is Sacred Scripture.
In the same paragraph 4 of the Document mentioned above, we read:
"0nly by the light of faith and by meditation on the word of God can one always and everywhere recognize God in
whom 'we live, and move, and have our being' (Acts 17:28), seek His will in every event, see Christ in all men
whether they be close to us or strangers, and make correct judgments about the true meaning and value of temporal
things, both in themselves and in their relation to man's final goal."
When we approach the Scriptures, we need to come with the attitude of a converted heart.
We are to read the Scriptures with our heart, prayerfully in the presence of God.
In approaching the Scriptures, then, we need to turn to the Spirit of Jesus and ask Him to remove the veil, so that
we will be able to receive the living Word
into our hearts.
KEY REFERENCE (Write Out):
2 Corinthians 3:12-17
VI. How to approach the Sacred Scriptures.
Approach the Sacred Scriptures with an openness to being converted.
Come to the Word, Jesus, in faith.
KEY REFERENCE (Write Out):
John 16:13
Listen! Read very slowly and ask questions.
Respond to the Word!
KEY REFERENCE {Write Out):
Isaiah 55:10f
Enter more and more into the Spirit of Jesus through this living Word.
Experience the freedom of Jesus.
Enter into life.
KEY REFERENCE (Write Out):
John 10:10b
VII. Sacred Reading (Lectio Divina).
Sacred Reading or Lectio Divina: the way of prayer that the early monks used.
They distinguished
four aspects to sacred reading --
Reading:
Reflection:
Prayer:
Contemplation:
This way of prayer needs to be done in an atmosphere of wasting time.
Some days your sacred reading may take in only one aspect of this way of prayer. You read 30 minutes and receive no
insights. Just to let the Wordof God pass through you is a healing.
Another day, you just sit down, open the Bible, hardly look at a passage
and are filled with a sense of God's presence contemplation.
1. Write out KEY REFERENCES for Sessions One and Two.
2. In 2 Timothy 3:16f, Paul tells us that the Scriptures are useful for equipping the disciple for mission. To what
extent have you made use of the Bible for your personal growth in the Lord and for your evangelizing mission? Explain.
3. Does your daily schedule have to change in order for you to have time to pray the Scriptures? What are you
going to do to make time for this?
ACTS II EVANGELIZATION LEADERSHIP TRAINING GUIDES AVAILABLE HERE