Last week’s column related how jubilees highlight important aspects of our faith. In reality, the Church’s calendar shows that the best way to enter more fully into the mystery of God revealed in Jesus Christ is to return to the sources of our faith over and over again. Faith isn’t just an individual’s journey to God. It is a community of faith reflecting, celebrating, and living the truths of revelation together.

Next Sunday’s celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God is a perfect example of this. On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis issued the document Aperuit Illis, (“He opened to them”) on the 1600^th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome. St. Jerome was the one who gave the Church a Latin translation of the Scriptures, giving access in the West the entire Bible in the language of the people. 

In instituting this day of celebrating the Word of God in the midst of the Church, Pope Francis ensured that the Church would regularly recall the important work of the Ordinary Synod on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. The Holy Father also continued the work of Pope Benedict XVI who summarized the teachings of the Synod in his apostolic exhortation Verbum Domini. While Pope Benedict’s exhortation was a masterful synthesis of catechesis, it also included very practical instructions based on suggestions from the Synod on how to ensure that the Sacred Scriptures retain an integral role in everything we do as Church. Here is one such practical directive which we have incorporated into our worship:

67. Another suggestion which emerged from the Synod was that the proclamation of the word of God, and the Gospel in particular, should be made more solemn, especially on major liturgical feasts, through the use of the Gospel Book, carried in procession during the opening rites and then brought to the lectern by a deacon or priest for proclamation. This would help the people of God to realize that “the reading of the Gospel is the high point of the liturgy of the word”. Following the indications contained in the Ordo Lectionum Missae, it is good that the word of God, especially the Gospel, be enhanced by being proclaimed in song, particularly on certain solemnities. The greeting, the initial announcement: “A reading from the holy Gospel” and the concluding words: “The Gospel of the Lord”, could well be sung as a way of emphasizing the importance of what was read.

This year, I find myself at the threshold of the Sunday of the Word of God with little new to offer in terms of programs or activities. Our parish does integrate Scriptures into our catechesis and has a long tradition of scripture study groups. We do provide devotions with the daily readings so that people can make regular meditation on the Scriptures a foundation of their spirituality. Getting an Education Commission up and running will ensure that we are more intentional in carrying out what these documents envision regarding the role of the Scriptures in the Church 

The Worship Commission has been discussing this day and are discerning how best to implement one of the practical directives from Verbum Domini.  Our liturgical practices seem to manifest a respect and love for Scriptures. Many of our songs are scriptural based.  Our readers understand and put into practice the values necessary for a worship proclamation of the Scriptures. Most of the time the psalm is sung from the ambo. We use the Book of Gospels and in general at least chant the dialogues before and after the proclamation of the Gospel. And as witnessed by our celebration of Epiphany last week, the Gospel is frequently sung on days of Solemnity.

There is one directive that we are working toward implementing and that is setting up “a place of honor to the sacred Scriptures, even outside of liturgical celebrations. It is good that the book which contains the word of God should enjoy a visible place of honor inside the Christian temple, without prejudice to the central place proper to the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament.” [Verbum Domini 68]. You will note next weekend a table set up near the ambo on which we will place the Book of Gospels. That will be the designated place of honor within the Church and the Book of Gospels will remain there, even when no liturgies are being celebrated. 

The Worship Commission is considering what would be the appropriate permanent fixture or stand that would harmonize with the architecture and furnishings of the Church. It’s a bit of a problem given the small size of our Church and existing furnishings, fixtures and art, and considering that there are other furnishings that require the same attention, namely a permanent spot for the baptismal font.

I’ll conclude with perhaps the most important point we need to consider. We understand quite clearly that the Eucharist is a sign of unity and communion. We, though many, are the one Body of Christ. We live in times where our unity as brothers and sisters in the Lord are compromised in so many ways. 

The Eucharist is Word and Sacrament. Before we celebrate our unity in Christ, we are called together by God to listen to His Word. The Sunday of the Word of God reminds us that we need to be faithful to Mass attendance. Each Sunday is the Sunday of the Word of God. Each Sunday is the day of the week we are called to set aside our human project and hear what plans God has for us. And by “us” I don’t mean us as individuals. I mean us as God’s People. What are we called to do as a Church?

Faithful attendance to the Word of God means faithful attendance at the privileged time and place to listen to the Word:  the Liturgy of the Church. If we all attend church together, God has a much better chance at keeping us united in heart and mind. We know God’s Word is living and effective, but we do have to open our ears and listen.