HOPE IN THE SCRIPTURES: THROUGH READING AND LIVING

The words of St Paul in his letter to the Romans are apt for us as a parish particularly this Season of Advent when he says, ‘Brothers and sisters: whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope…’ (cf Rm 15:4-9). This is in line with our Advent challenge as a parish to read the Scriptures this season, more than ever before and to persevere in doing so even after. 

Beloved people of God, ignorance of the word of God is ignorance of Christ, says St Jerome and rightly so, for Christ is the word of God. It is this Word that takes flesh and dwells among us. However, there is more to this undertaking to read the word of God this season. It is in what Jesus says to his disciples that: ‘…not all those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven…’ (cf Mt 7:21). That is why the encouragement this season is to allow the word to take flesh and dwell in us too. As many were not prepared to receive or accept him at his first coming, so are many, in our time, not ready or willing to let him in, to take flesh and to dwell. An acid test of this becomes manifest in the way we treat one another as people created in the image and likeness of God.

Therefore, we unite our prayers to those of St Paul, ‘may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with the voice of Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf Rm 7:24-27).

     Fr. Ted