You'll never know how much I really love you; you'll never know how much I really care. Great Beatles lyrics yes but these words are something you will never hear from the mouth of Jesus as proclaimed by Holy Scripture. That got me thinking; what else is not in Holy Scripture yet many think is in the Bible? God helps those who help themselves; nope, that's not in Scripture and it's not really very Christian. How about God won't give you more than you can handle; not in Scripture. God may give us more than we can handle so we will realize how dependent we are on Him. God works in mysterious ways; surprisingly it's not in Scripture. Finally, the sinner's prayer; you know those words a tele-evangelist says simply repeat and you are saved. Please.
Now as Catholic we do know that not all revelation comes from Scripture alone. In fact Scripture alone is incredibly not in Scripture! While we cherish the Word of God and encourage everyone to get more deeply into His Holy Word, we know that the entire deposit of faith, the fullness of truth depends on three things: Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition and the teaching office of the Church known as the Magisterium. This is our Holy three-legged stool. If we take away just one leg of a three-legged stool we know the stool can't stand and will fall.
Our love for Scripture is so profound that the entire Mass is full of Scriptural elements and that's not even counting the actual readings. At every Sunday Mass we normally hear a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a Psalm and the Gospel. At daily Mass we have one reading, psalm and Gospel. In a three year cycle, especially if you are blessed enough to attend daily mass, you will hear a substantial amount of the Bible proclaimed. And add to that the additional readings in Liturgy of the Hours for all those who pray any part of the Breviary. So much do we revere Scripture that we recall the words of Catholic Saint, Jerome, who translated the Bible to Latin: ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
By the way, the Bible, as most know it today, is possible only because of the Holy Catholic Church. While the Word of God is inspired there was no inspired Table of Contents, that is until the Catholic Church convened in early councils to discuss the matter. It was Catholic Bishops and Archbishops, under guidance of the Holy Spirit and in full cooperation with the Pope that decided what books would become the Bible, and what books and writings would not. This was completed under the watch of Pope Damasus. And remember; the Bible was comprised of all 73 books, not the 66 peddled to the world because Luther and others did not like the 7 they deleted. Never let anyone tell you the Catholic Church added 7 books; it just didn't happen that way. In fact, if anyone want's to debate all things Bible with you because you are Catholic simply say your welcome; glad we were able to make that available for you.
Here at home we study the Bible in formal adult faith formation Bible studies. Currently we are in a continuous pattern of studying Scripture for over 3 years now. We do take a nice break during the summer months. But today I recall the very first time I decided to get active with a Bible study class. It was offered by our own Deacon Don and wife Dottie and this was some 20 years ago. They offered these studies both at St. Jane's and at the mission at St. Michael's. As we learned of Deacon Don's passing this week, I recalled these Bible studies with great fondness and great memories. In part, these Bible studies and the praying for one another that came with them helped me in my long, on-going discernment for preparing/studying for the diaconate. Just a reminder: we will bid our final farewell to Deacon Don this coming Wednesday.
So today we heard from the 21st chapter of Revelation and our Bible studies class just completed studying these passages. Chapter 21 of Revelation is ultimately about God's victory where the old is wiped away and the new - where there is no uncertainty, no pain, no suffering - is transformed; the old is made new! We also learned that a new Jerusalem comes from Heaven and replaces the earthly Jerusalem; not a story of construction, of stones and structures, but a story of the restoration of the people of God. We are being prepared to be the bride for the return of the Bridegroom who is Jesus the Christ.
Since we cherish the Word of God how do we react to the words of today's Gospel where Jesus gives us a new commandment: Love one another! And how do we do this: Love as I have loved you. How did Jesus love us? Jesus loved us totally, completely, he loved us with his all, dying on a cross for us, rising to new life so for us sin and death are conquered. This is kenosis; kenotic love: total and complete self giving; loving with our all the other always before the self. This is how we are to love too! We are to love as Jesus loved in all cases; everyone; those we love already, those who are easy enough to love and those too who are not so easy to love; the unlovable, those not love perhaps by anyone else. Love! So Jesus gives us a new commandment: Love one another and He gives us His example: His life of self giving love!
So this week our homework is simple: perhaps as we pick up the Bible and reread this passage from John we will prayerfully reflect on how we love, on how Jesus loves me and how that love of Jesus is manifest in our love for one another. Love one another as I have loved you.
So we will never hear those Beatles lyrics from Jesus in the Bible because we can know how much He really loves us, we can know how much He really cares.
Because Jesus love us this I know, for the Bible tells me so!
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