On September 30, 2019, on the liturgical memorial of St. Jerome, Pope Francis announced that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time would be celebrated as the Sunday of the Word of God. This new celebration was instituted in his Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illus, which you are encouraged to read. Pope Francis writes:
At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, I 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). Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world … May the Sunday of the Word of God help his people 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” (Duet 30:14).
On this Sunday of the Word of God, parishes, families and individuals are all encouraged to bring attention to the Word of God in our lives and to deepen our relationship with the Word. Here at COTLF, we regularly make use of the special Book of the Gospels at our Sunday liturgies and other major celebrations. Recently, thanks to your generosity, a beautiful new cover was purchased for it, and was used for the first time last weekend. If you look up into our spectacular dome, you’ll find stained glass windows of the four Evangelists pointing in the four cardinal directions, a visual reminder that we are called to proclaim the Gospel to all the ends of the earth. The weekly Scripture readings are printed prominently in our Sunday bulletin and among our ministries, we’ve been blessed to have various Bible Study groups meet to discover the depth, beauty and richness of Scripture.
As you incorporate the Word of God into your own life, some things you can do include:
- Enthrone and Bless a Bible at Home
- Learn the practice of Lectio Divina
- Discover the Liturgy of the Hours
- Participate in a Bible Study Ministry
- Take a class or workshop on the Bible
- Haven’t signed up for Formed yet? Register for FREE!
- Consider volunteering as a Parish Lector
- Pray with the Word of God daily through various apps or websites available
- Try to read the entire Bible in a year or set some time aside to read Scripture regularly
Click the above links to discover resources to help you encounter the Word of God!