
A Special Celebration of the Scriptures
by Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F. | 02/02/2025 | Weekly Reflection“Sola Scriptura” (The Scriptures alone) is one of the doctrines propagated by Martin Luther when he nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg on the 30th of October 1517. This doctrine became a rallying cry during the Reformation and thus, a foundational doctrine for our separated brethren. The great repercussion following it is that it became a continuing source of rift and division to the Body of Christ.
Hinging on that, our separated brethren usually howbeit falsely, regard us as a people who disregard the Bible since we believe that the Scriptures alongside the Sacred tradition accounts for the single deposit of faith (Dei Verbum, 10; Verbum Domini, 7).
It is in the wake of the unending inability to agree among the Body of Christ with regards to the Scriptures that Pope Francis at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016, proposed setting aside “a Sunday given over entirely to the word of God, so as to appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people” (Misericordia et Misera, 7). Subsequently, on 30 September 2019, during the liturgical Memorial of Saint Jerome ( the Saint who translated most of the Bible into Latin, and who famously said: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ"), Pope Francis issued the motu proprio (a document given of his own accord) entitled “Aperuit Illis” instituting the Sunday of the Word of God. The title of the papal document, "Aperuit Illis", is taken from Luke's Gospel, where the Evangelist describes how the Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples, and how “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). More so, this Sunday is specifically “devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God.” (Aperuit Illis, 3).
The Holy Father’s intentions for instituting this Solemn feast is clear. First, Pope Francis wishes to respond to the many requests he had received from the people of God that the entire Church celebrate, in unity of purpose, a Sunday of the Word of God that will enable the Christian community to set aside moments to reflect on the great importance of the word of God for everyday living. Second, he wishes to foster ecumenism and improve the relationship between us and our separated brethren. Thus, he states that “the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God has an ecumenical value, since the Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.” (Aperuit Illis, 3). Third, it is his desire to demonstrate against Luther’s weighty allegations that “The Bible cannot be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books for the benefit of a privileged few. It belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves in its words.” (Aperuit Illis, 4).
What are the lessons Pope Francis wants us to learn as we celebrate this Sunday of the Word of God with special solemnity? Pope Francis wishes to remind the bishops, priests, and deacons, the importance of preparing adequately for their homilies with attendant devotion and prayer, ensuring not to give long, pedantic homilies or wandering off into unrelated topics. Further, the catechists called to journey with the people of God must feel the urgent need for personal renewal through familiarity with, and study of, the sacred Scriptures. Additionally, every member of the People of God must learn to appropriate the Scriptures in their daily prayer not just during the liturgy. Since a profound bond links sacred Scriptures and the faith of believers; and faith comes from hearing, and what is heard is based on the Word of Christ (cf. Rom 10:17). Furthermore, we must learn that there is an unbreakable bond between the sacred Scriptures and the Eucharist since the journey that the Risen Lord makes with the disciples of Emmaus ended with a meal. Our personal meditation and reading of the Scriptures must lead us to adore Christ in the Eucharist and thus recognize him deeply in the breaking of the bread, not otherwise. To be more practical, we learn from reading, meditating, and listening to sacred Scripture how to practice works of mercy. God’s word has the power to open our eyes and to enable us to renounce a stifling and barren individualism and instead to embark on a new path of sharing and solidarity.
May the Sunday of the Word of God help us to grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the sacred Scriptures. For as the sacred author taught of old: “This word is very near to you: it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance” (Dt 30:14).
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