The Bible is a Catholic Book: part 1 (opening thoughts)

As Catholics, we have an obligation to not only be familiar with the Bible, but also to be well versed in the teachings contained within it. We are blessed that Holy Mother Church nourishes us with the Holy Scriptures when we attend daily and Sunday Mass. During the week we typically will hear two reading, along with the Psalm of the day, while on Sundays and Holy Days we are given an additional reading to contemplate. (This does not mention that the entire Mass is full of Biblical quotes and allusions.) The Church also highly encourages us to read the Bible prayerfully every single day of our life. There may have been times in the past, in various areas of the Church, where Bible reading was not encouraged much, due to the perception that one would fall into protestantism, but this is no excuse today. Holy Mother Church exhorts her children to be nourished by daily reading of the Bible. With so many versions available and in various formats, let us answer the call! The Bible is indeed a Catholic book!

So why so much Scripture?

Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men (CCC101).""

Did you catch that all important phrase "in his goodness"? The Church teaches that God, in his goodness, expresses himself to us in human words. God certainly did not have to do this! Yet God "so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believed in him might not perish, but have eternal life (Jn 3:16)." The Catechism goes on to say further: "God, who "dwells in unapproachable light," wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son. By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity." Therefore, God loves us so much that he provides us the Bible, along with Sacred Tradition, which is meant to guide us during our pilgrimage here on Earth: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth!

So, if indeed the Bible is the Word of God, then we should not treat it like a once-read Stephen King novel or a book which "we have heard all the stories before." The Bible is the inspired word of God, which means: "God is the author of Sacred Scripture. The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (CCC105)." God also inspired the human authors to compose the books of the Bible. Therefore, there is an awesome dynamic between the Holy Spirit and the human authors which is behind the Bible you own. I think this is very exiciting! The Bible is no dead word!

What does all this mean? The inspired books teach the truth. What is the truth? Jesus Christ! As the Catechism, quoting from Vatican II, teaches: "Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures."

Therefore, if the Bible is what the Church says it is, then we should desire to read it daily. We should never let our heads hit the pillow before spending at least a few moments with the Word of God. Remember: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth!