Posted by Word Alive — Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD
January 29, 2023 / 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time A / National Bible Sunday
A man once bragged that he read the Bible from cover to cover several times. But someone remarked, “People who read the Bible from cover to cover, know only the cover.”
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Just reading the Bible is not enough. What’s most important is to ponder God’s message or what He is telling you, then applying it in everyday life.
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For instance, after reading Jesus’ messages to forgive not just seven times but 70 times 7 (meaning unlimited) or “Honor your father and mother,” or “You shall not kill or steal,” you should then reflect and put them into practice when they apply to you, considering these as the will of God.
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There’s a story about a priest and his friend, who owned a soap factory. As they were out taking a walk, the soap maker said cynically, “What good is religion? Look at all the troubles, violence, and miseries of the world after thousands of years of preachings and exhortations about goodness, justice, and peace.”
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The priest said nothing. They continued walking until they noticed children playing in a muddy canal. Then the priest said, “Look at those kids. You say that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on those youngsters. Of what good is your soap?”
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The soap maker got peeved and sharply reacted, “But, Father, you ought to know that soap cannot do any good unless it is used.”
“Ah exactly,” replied the priest. “So, it is with Christianity and its teachings. They are ineffective unless they are used or put in action.”
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January 23-29 is National Bible Week and culminates this Sunday. Let us remember that the teachings of God as contained in the Bible are there not as a burden or restriction of our freedom but rather serve to guide us and work for our own personal good and, collectively, as a nation.
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Take, for instance, God’s command of fidelity to one’s spouse. Some men feel restricted of their freedom to enjoy the company of other women or, worse, disregard the vows they professed in marriage. Infidelity, however, inflicts deep emotional wounds, bitter quarrels, which can lead to a broken family.
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Moreover, God’s command, “You shall not steal,” is imposed not only to curb greed or shun graft and corruption but also the unabated violation of the commandment leads to the country’s economic poverty and eventual perdition.
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When you think about it, there’s no other choice but to follow God’s will since it shows us the path to eternal life and true happiness.
Thus, Jesus said categorically, “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” (St. Luke, 31,23).
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. A small boy asked a friend why his 80-year-old grandma was always reading the Bible.
“Because she’s cramming for her Final Exam!” he replied.
Note: The Bible should not be read only when one is already in the “pre-departure area” but must be read constantly as guide to our journey to God’s kingdom.
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BIBLE is acronym of: BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH.
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“The Bible should be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions.” – Anon.
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BIBLE QUIPS. Q. Which servant of God was the greatest sinner/flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? A. Moses. Because he broke all 10 Commandments at once. (That is, when he threw down the stone tablets inscribed with the 10 Commandments)
Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds.
