“Once again, the reading of God’s Word triggered a renewal of God’s people, and this Word was intended to be heard by all God’s people, not just the professional religious or experts.”
From Ezra’s example, Bishop Conley drew three lessons:
First, if we want to “hear” God’s Word in Scripture we must listen with “reverence” and a “sincere and humble piety.” Second, God’s Word is always delivered “within the context of the believing community” and cannot be fully understood outside of the “ecclesial context,” the Church. And third, to understand the meaning of our own lives requires that we must first “grasp the plot of God’s story.”
“This means that we can’t approach Scripture as if it were something that needs to be interpreted by us, but rather quite the opposite -- we need to let Scripture interpret us, our lives, and our world,” he explained. “To read the world in light of Scripture, as opposed to Scripture in light of the world, is the hallmark of a Christian reading of the Word of God.”
The bishop also noted the example St. Francis of Assisi, who heard the Gospels not as something in the past or as something meant for others but as “God’s Word spoken to him personally.” This motivated Francis to begin an “adventure” of recovery and renewal.
“The best way to evangelize is to burn, like St. Francis did, for the love of God. To sustain that kind of zeal you need constant contact with the fire of God’s Word.”
While much Scripture is simple enough to be understood without expertise, the bishop noted, he strongly recommended Catholics find “trustworthy guides” and pointed to the example of the graduates of the Denver Catholic Biblical School.
“The Church desperately needs many such guides to bring about the recovery of Scripture,” the Denver auxiliary said.
Pointing out that Catholics believe that the Eucharist and the Scriptures should both be reverenced, Bishop Conley said, “The Word of God listened to with obedience and lived with simplicity can still make news for those willing to hear.”
As he drew his talk to a close, the bishop urged his audience to help the Church make the Word of God spread “vigorously” in a culture that “desperately needs light to dispel its present darkness.”
“This is your task, beginning today: Be witnesses of the one, true and loving God. Be faithful sons and daughters of the Church. And like Josiah, Ezra and St. Francis, be disciples of the Word.”
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