Lent is an opportunity to return to the spiritual basics. Conversation with God, or prayer, is as basic as it gets. Yet, how often do we feel that we do all the talking while never allowing God in on the dialogue? One sure way to let God get His Word into us is through Sacred Scripture. Yet Scripture is unique literature in that it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, cannot be read like any other human work.
First and foremost, Scripture is like an onion.
“According to ancient tradition, one can distinguish between two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual, the latter being subdivided into the allegorical, moral and anagogical senses. The profound concordance of the four senses guarantees all its richness to the living reading of Scripture in the Church.” Catechism of the Catholic Church-115
The literal sense of Sacred Scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is the most direct meaning of the text. This differs from a literalistic style popular today, in that the literal meaning of Scripture also includes symbols and metaphors. Once again, the first sense, the literal sense conveys the most direct meaning of the text. The allegorical sense (or typological sense) shows us how stories in the Bible point toward other events and people. For instance, the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham is allegory, or a type of the sacrifice of Christ. The moral sense conveys the pattern of life (holiness) we should follow, best exemplified by Jesus in the New Testament. And finally, the anagogical sense conveys heavenly realities through earthly circumstances.
“The Letter speaks to deeds; Allegory to faith; The Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny.” CCC-118
Next in importance in reading (and praying with) Sacred Scripture is the necessary guidance of the Church. Let’s face it. Non-Catholic Christianity is full of diverse opinions on the meaning and interpretation of Sacred Scripture. Catholics, however, have the Church and its teaching authority given by Jesus and guided by His apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit and exercised in the Pope and the Bishops. Jesus, in the Spirit, has left us a sure means to interpret Scripture in the infallible teaching authority --on matters of faith and morals—of the Catholic Bishops.
“Hence, there exists a close connection and communication between Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end…Therefore, both Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence…But the task of authentically interpreting the Word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church…” Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation—Dei Verbum
St Jerome once said: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Therefore, a good starting point in reading the Bible is choosing one of the gospels. Yet every book found within Sacred Scripture is for our benefit; every story a revelation of God’s Merciful Love in Jesus Christ.
“Christians therefore read the Old Testament in the light of Christ crucified and risen. Such typological reading discloses the inexhaustible content of the Old Testament; but it must not make us forget that the Old Testament retains its own intrinsic values as Revelation reaffirmed by our Lord himself (Mk 12:29-31). Besides, the New Testament has to be read in the light of the Old. Early Christian catechesis made constant use of the Old Testament (1 Cor 5:6-8; 10:1-11). As an old saying put it, ‘the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New (St. Augustine).’” CCC-129
Finally, we must go back to our first intention, growth in our prayer life. The Bible, first and foremost, must be approached like no other book. For within those pages is the Spirit inspired Living Word of God. Personal reading of Scripture will surely be beneficial to ones prayer life; Sacred Scripture, however, is the Word of God which springs from His Church, and finds its most proper place alongside the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist. Unity in the communion of the faithful, Jesus’ strongest wish while on earth, is most fulfilled as disciples of the Lord gather to hear his written word and receive his Body and Blood in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This unity of Word and Sacrament must truly be understood as the purest presence of Jesus in the world, and the strongest power for change in the heart of the human person.
And this is what Lent is for. Let me know what you think.
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