Pope Francis issued the apostolic letter, Aperuit Illis, on 30 September 2019 instituting the annual observance of the Sunday of the Word of God on the third Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is specifically aimed at celebrating, reflecting on and disseminating the Word of God. The observance also bears ecumenical significance because happens within the time when the Chridtians worldwide mark the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to 25.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, shares the concern that “the overwhelming majority” of Catholics are not familiar with sacred Scripture. For many, the only time they hear the word of God is when they attend Mass.
“The Bible is the most widely distributed book, but it also perhaps the one most covered in dust because it is not held in our hands,” the archbishop said. With this apostolic letter, the pope “invites us to hold the word of God in our hands every day as much as possible so that it becomes our prayer” and a greater part of one’s lived experience, the archbishop said.
The Bible shows us the path to unity and the Sunday of the Word of God exhorts us to pray for Christian unity.
When the Word of God is proclaimed during Masses, God speaks to us in person. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments states that pastors are responsible for explaining the Scriptures to the laity so that they may understand it. It also advises clergy to conduct formation meetings before this particular Sunday to amplify the importance of the Bible in the liturgy.
God’s Word has the power to open the eyes of human hearts. We can leave behind the reticent individualism, being sharing with others and build solidarity. The pope emphasises that devoting the third Sunday to the Word of God does not mean that Christians are only attentive to God’s Word during this event, instead it is a year-long exercise because God speaks to through the gospel; he is also with us through his self-revelation.
Due to the recent suspension of public Masses and religious meetings in response to the emergence of some Covid-19 clusters in the community, many parishes implemented corresponding pastoral measures. Some conduct daily Bible reading and sharing online, where the priests explain and reflect on the meanings of the scriptures. Some conduct online prayer meetings on parish websites, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms to connect to parishioners and disseminate messages. Hopefully, people will be encouraged to nurture the habit of reading the Bible.
We may feel bewildered, worried and unsure about the future in this difficult time of fighting against the pandemic. Nevertheless, we can still connect with God by listening to his Word via various media. We can continue to receive this spiritual bread, and nourish and strengthen our hearts. SE
