Father Koch: The disciples could respond to Jesus because they knew the Scriptures
January 22, 2020 at 11:07 p.m.
Gospel Reflection for Jan. 26, 2020
In the Motu Proprio “APERUIT ILLIS,” Pope Francis designated the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Sunday of the Word of God.” The Pope foresees this emphasis as a time to reflect the deep connectedness between Catholics and our separated brothers and sisters, as well as to the Jewish community. The Bible serves to unite all Christians in a particular bond and to connect us to our Jewish roots. By placing a particular emphasis on the Word – which in real ways we do every time we celebrate the Mass – we are celebrating the Word made Flesh who becomes present to us in the Eucharist.
The Gospel for this Sunday is the call of the first disciples. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, emerges from the desert proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven. When he encounters the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John by the sea at Capernaum, his invitation to them to follow him and become “fishers of men” did not come without some preparation on their part. These men, steeped in their Jewish roots, were well-aware of the prophecies and promises of the coming kingdom. It is because they knew the Scriptures and the traditions of the interpretation of those Scriptures that they were able to respond to Jesus as they did: they left their nets and everything familiar to follow him.
When they heard Jesus preach, they heard and understood the many references he made to the Law, the Prophets, and the other writings sacred to the Jewish people. Jesus often quoted from and utilized imagery from the Jewish Scriptures. The apostles quickly began writing and formed their own tradition of Scriptures, with the New Testament emerging by the close of the first century.
But the Bible – either the Old or the New Testament – did not emerge on its own. It was men prepared by the Holy Spirit, who preserved for us that which is necessary for our salvation.
While some outside of our Catholic tradition muse that we are not grounded in the Bible, it is because they do not understand the richness of our liturgical traditions. The Mass is replete with biblical imagery and language. Virtually the entire Mass comes from the Bible.
Pope Francis writes: “Sacred Scripture and the sacraments are thus inseparable. When the sacraments are introduced and illumined by God’s word, they become ever more clearly the goal of a process whereby Christ opens our minds and hearts to acknowledge his saving work. We should always keep in mind the teaching found in the Book of Revelation: the Lord is standing at the door and knocking. If anyone should hear his voice and open for him, he will come in and eat with them. Christ Jesus is knocking at our door in the words of sacred Scripture. If we hear his voice and open the doors of our minds and hearts, then he will enter our lives and remain ever with us.”
At Mass the Lord knocks gently on our minds and hearts through the Liturgy of the Word to prepare us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As any meal is not satisfying if we merely ravenously gorge ourselves in without savoring the smell and enjoying the flavor, so the Eucharist is incomplete without the savoring of the Word of God.
Therefore, it is a good spiritual practice to have at least a passing familiarity with the Scripture passages for Mass before Mass begins. Then as we listen to the Word proclaimed and explained in the homily, we can be best prepared for the reception of the Eucharist – the Bread come down from Heaven – the Bread which is the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Biblical study in groups is also a beneficial practice. While it is true that many Catholics do not faithfully read the Bible or engage much in biblical study, there are many who do, and that number is steadily increasing.
Reading, knowing, and praying on the Word of God best prepares us for the Liturgy, and also prepares us to understand the Lord more fully in our own lives. To be faithful to the Word, then, prepares us like Simon Peter and the other disciples, to respond to the Word of God when the Lord invites us to follow him more closely.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
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Gospel Reflection for Jan. 26, 2020
In the Motu Proprio “APERUIT ILLIS,” Pope Francis designated the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Sunday of the Word of God.” The Pope foresees this emphasis as a time to reflect the deep connectedness between Catholics and our separated brothers and sisters, as well as to the Jewish community. The Bible serves to unite all Christians in a particular bond and to connect us to our Jewish roots. By placing a particular emphasis on the Word – which in real ways we do every time we celebrate the Mass – we are celebrating the Word made Flesh who becomes present to us in the Eucharist.
The Gospel for this Sunday is the call of the first disciples. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, emerges from the desert proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven. When he encounters the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John by the sea at Capernaum, his invitation to them to follow him and become “fishers of men” did not come without some preparation on their part. These men, steeped in their Jewish roots, were well-aware of the prophecies and promises of the coming kingdom. It is because they knew the Scriptures and the traditions of the interpretation of those Scriptures that they were able to respond to Jesus as they did: they left their nets and everything familiar to follow him.
When they heard Jesus preach, they heard and understood the many references he made to the Law, the Prophets, and the other writings sacred to the Jewish people. Jesus often quoted from and utilized imagery from the Jewish Scriptures. The apostles quickly began writing and formed their own tradition of Scriptures, with the New Testament emerging by the close of the first century.
But the Bible – either the Old or the New Testament – did not emerge on its own. It was men prepared by the Holy Spirit, who preserved for us that which is necessary for our salvation.
While some outside of our Catholic tradition muse that we are not grounded in the Bible, it is because they do not understand the richness of our liturgical traditions. The Mass is replete with biblical imagery and language. Virtually the entire Mass comes from the Bible.
Pope Francis writes: “Sacred Scripture and the sacraments are thus inseparable. When the sacraments are introduced and illumined by God’s word, they become ever more clearly the goal of a process whereby Christ opens our minds and hearts to acknowledge his saving work. We should always keep in mind the teaching found in the Book of Revelation: the Lord is standing at the door and knocking. If anyone should hear his voice and open for him, he will come in and eat with them. Christ Jesus is knocking at our door in the words of sacred Scripture. If we hear his voice and open the doors of our minds and hearts, then he will enter our lives and remain ever with us.”
At Mass the Lord knocks gently on our minds and hearts through the Liturgy of the Word to prepare us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As any meal is not satisfying if we merely ravenously gorge ourselves in without savoring the smell and enjoying the flavor, so the Eucharist is incomplete without the savoring of the Word of God.
Therefore, it is a good spiritual practice to have at least a passing familiarity with the Scripture passages for Mass before Mass begins. Then as we listen to the Word proclaimed and explained in the homily, we can be best prepared for the reception of the Eucharist – the Bread come down from Heaven – the Bread which is the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ.
Biblical study in groups is also a beneficial practice. While it is true that many Catholics do not faithfully read the Bible or engage much in biblical study, there are many who do, and that number is steadily increasing.
Reading, knowing, and praying on the Word of God best prepares us for the Liturgy, and also prepares us to understand the Lord more fully in our own lives. To be faithful to the Word, then, prepares us like Simon Peter and the other disciples, to respond to the Word of God when the Lord invites us to follow him more closely.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.