do871 - word of the lord
DESCRIPTION
The recent Synod of Bishops in Rome which reflected ‘The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church’ was a grace-filled occasion to consider progress made since the Council and action to be taken in the years ahead. This study guide to the Synod document, Verbum Domini, takes you through each section, offering explanations, activities and reflections.TRANSCRIPT
Department of Evangelisation and Catechesis Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
Discovering verbum Domini
The Word of the Lord
The Word of the Lord.indb 1 15/03/2013 14:29
ForeworD by bishop Kieran conry
First published in 2013 by The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society, 40-46 Harleyford Road, London, SE11 5AY. Copyright © 2013 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
www.ctsbooks.org
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without either prior permission in writing from the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying.
In the United Kingdom such licences are issued by the Publishers Licencing Society Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9HE.
ISBN 978 1 86082 851 5
The Word of the Lord.indb 2 15/03/2013 14:29
ForeworD by bishop Kieran conry
It gives me great pleasure to introduce this Study Guide on the Synod
Document Verbum Domini, prepared by the Scripture Working Group of the
Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Bishops’ Conference
of England and Wales. The recent world-wide Synod on ‘the Word of God
in the Life and Mission of the Church’ considered how knowledge and
love of the Bible have grown since the Second Vatican Council. This Study
Guide will help promote a deeper appreciation of the place of the Bible
in our faith, and assist us in the new evangelisation which is being taken
up with such enthusiasm. As we celebrate the Year of Faith marking fifty
years since the Second Vatican Council, the teaching of Pope Benedict in
Verbum Domini will increase our confidence in proclaiming the Good News
of Jesus Christ, God’s word to the world of today. I am very grateful to Bible
Society for supporting this initiative, and to the Catholic Truth Society for
their collaboration in producing it. I recommend this Guide to all those who
yearn for a deeper understanding and love of Christ as they read the pages
of Sacred Scripture.
Bishop Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Chairman of the
Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Bishops’ Conference
of England and Wales
The Word of the Lord.indb 3 15/03/2013 14:29
The synod on the word of god
(paragraphs 1-5)
InTroducTIonconTenTs
INTRoDUCTIoN
The Synod on the word of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
PART oNE:
Verbum Dei The word of God
Section 1: God’s word and our response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Section 2: Understanding God’s word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
PART TWo:
Verbum in Ecclesia The word in the Church
Section 1: The word in the Liturgy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Section 2: The word in the life of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
PART THREE:
Verbum Mundo The word for the world
Section 1: The mission to proclaim the word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Section 2: outreach to cultures and religions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
CoNCLUSIoN
The word and joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
The Word of the Lord.indb 4 15/03/2013 14:29
5
The synod on the word of god
(paragraphs 1-5)
InTroducTIon
The Word of the Lord.indb 5 15/03/2013 14:29
6
inTroDucTion: The synod on the word of god
(paragraphs 1-5)
Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the
Catholic Church has held no fewer than twelve ‘ordinary
Synods’ and several ‘Extraordinary Synods’. These are
gatherings of Bishops and other Catholic delegates, as
well as ecumenical representatives, who come together
from all parts of the world to discuss specific issues in the
life of the Church. In october 2008, two-hundred and fifty
bishops and many others gathered in Rome to consider
the topic ‘The Word of God in the Life and Mission of
the Church’.
The Synod document, Verbum Domini (‘The Word of the
Lord’), is officially described as a ‘post-synodal apostolic
exhortation’. In it Pope Benedict gathers together the work
of the Synod, and examines it more fully.
The Word of the Lord provides a summary of the document
of the Synod. It was prepared by a working group established
by the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the
Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. It was written
by Fr Adrian Graffy, with the assistance of Dannie Firth,
Geoffrey Poulter, Molly Styant, Matthew van Duyvenbode
and Clare Ward. We gratefully acknowledge the support
of Bible Society in taking this work forward, and of the
Catholic Truth Society, who agreed to publish and promote
The Word of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord presents the Synod document in six
sections, two sections for each of the three major parts of
Verbum Domini. Each of these three parts has a Latin title:
Verbum Dei (‘the Word of God’), Verbum in Ecclesia (‘the
The Word of the Lord.indb 6 15/03/2013 14:29
7
Word in the Church’), and Verbum Mundo (‘the Word for
the World’).
As well as summarising the Synod document, each section
of The Word of the Lord offers material for group reflection.
Biblical readings are taken from the New Revised Standard
Version, and numbers in brackets refer to specific sections
of Verbum Domini. For further assistance in getting to
know the Synod document please go to our website
www.thewordofthelord.co.uk
In reflecting on the word of God, the participants of the
Synod were ‘conscious of dealing in a certain sense with the
very heart of the Christian life’ (3). In particular, they were
building on the document of the Second Vatican Council on
Divine Revelation, commonly known by its Latin title Dei
Verbum (‘the Word of God’), which is acknowledged as ‘a
milestone’ in the Church’s history (3).
The Synod took place during the ‘Year of St Paul’, which
commemorated two thousand years since the birth of the
Apostle of the Nations.
Pope Benedict writes:
How can I fail to mention that throughout the Synod we
were accompanied by the testimony of the Apostle Paul!
It was providential that the Twelfth Ordinary General
Assembly took place during the year dedicated to the great
Apostle of the Nations on the two thousandth anniversary of
his birth. Whenever we reflect on the word of God in the life
and mission of the Church, we cannot but think of Saint Paul
and his life spent in spreading the message of salvation in
Christ to all peoples. (4)
The Word of the Lord.indb 7 15/03/2013 14:29
god’s word and our response (paragraphs 6 to 28)
ParT oneVerbum Dei
The worD oF goD
secTion 1
The Word of the Lord.indb 8 15/03/2013 14:29
9
god’s word and our response (paragraphs 6 to 28)
This section explores:
• what‘thewordofGod’means
• thewordofGodasthefoundationforlifetoday
• JesusthewordofGod
• theHolySpiritandthetraditionoftheChurch
• theinspirationandthetruthofScripture
ParT oneVerbum Dei
The worD oF goD
secTion 1
The Word of the Lord.indb 9 15/03/2013 14:29
10
How widespread is the idea that God reaches out only in dogmas and rules? Why do you think people perceive God in this way?
God seeks a dialogue, a relationship with us. This is clear
throughout the Bible. The Prologue of the Gospel according
to John teaches us that it is through the word of God that all
things were made and that, in the fulness of time, this word
was made flesh in Jesus. In sending Jesus to us, God reaches
out in an act of love. only by realising this can we recognise
the truth of our human situation. Every act of God is an act
of love: we are created by God out of love and called by
God to respond in love (6).
Pope Benedict explores the different ways in which the
phrase ‘Word of God’ is used. The Bishops at the Synod
referred to ‘a symphony of the word’. This means that the
word of God is expressed in many different ways. It is
spoken by God at creation and throughout biblical history,
what is known as the history of salvation. The word reaches
its fullest expression in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.
(Note the capital ‘W’ whenever Jesus is described as ‘the
Word’.) The word of God is preached by the disciples of
Jesus, and it is handed on to new generations in Scripture
and in the teaching of the Church (7).
All things were made through the word of God, which is
‘the foundation of all reality’ (8). The proclamation of the
word of God brings freedom, inviting us to acknowledge
God as our origin. Things do not exist by chance but
are willed by God. The word thus provides the ‘solid
foundation’ we need (10).
In the word of God we experience God’s reaching out to
us, what the Fathers of the Church in the early centuries of
Christian faith called God’s ‘condescension’. This term is not
used to stress God’s superiority to human beings, but God’s
willingness to stand alongside us in the joys and sorrows of
life. This is shown above all in the Incarnation of the Word,
How is the life of Jesus a word of God for you? Has the encounter with the person of Jesus changed your life?
What do you think the Synod means by describing the word of God as a word of freedom, and a solid foundation?
The Word of the Lord.indb 10 15/03/2013 14:29
11
in the fact that the Son of God became a human being.
The word of God finds expression therefore not in lengthy
discourses, concepts or rules, but in the very person of Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the Word God speaks to the world (11).
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
The realist is the one who recognises in the word of God the
foundation of all things. This realism is particularly needed
in our own time, when many things in which we trust for
building our lives, things in which we are tempted to put our
hopes, prove ephemeral. Possessions, pleasure and power
show themselves sooner or later to be incapable of fulfilling
the deepest yearnings of the human heart. In building our
lives we need solid foundations which will endure when
human certainties fail. (10)
What does Jesus the Word say to us? His mission is
ultimately fulfilled in ‘the word of the cross’, and in the
extraordinary mystery of the resurrection (12). The mystery
of Easter is the deepest fulfilment of the sacred Scriptures.
The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is God’s
greatest word of love to the world (13).
The assistance of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the authors of
the sacred Scriptures, is essential for a proper understanding
of the Christian faith (15).
The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father in Jesus’ name, leads
the Church to deeper understanding. This gives rise to
the Tradition of the Church, the continuing growth in
understanding, which is a living and dynamic reality in the
Church, and develops through study and prayer, through
experience and preaching (17).
How are the life, death and resurrection of Jesus God’s most important word to the world?
What can we do to increase our openness to the Holy Spirit? Do we recognise that the Spirit guides the Church in reaching new insights in changing circumstances?
The Word of the Lord.indb 11 15/03/2013 14:29
12
Does God really speak through silence? Do I cherish silence in my life?
The Scriptures are inspired by God, set down in writing
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge
the importance of the human authors who wrote the
inspired texts, and of God as their ultimate author (19).
We are reminded of the teaching of the Second Vatican
Council that the books of Scripture ‘firmly, faithfully and
without error teach the truth which God, for the sake of our
salvation, wished to see confided to the sacred Scriptures’
(Dei Verbum 11).
God, who speaks by the word, also speaks by silence.
Jesus himself experiences the distance of the Father on
the cross. This silence has also been the experience of
saints throughout the centuries. In God’s mysterious ways,
silence appears as ‘an important expression of the word
of God’ (21).
God hears us and responds to our questions. The word of
God points the way for us, and God waits for our response
to the word. The proper response to God who speaks to
us is faith, which arises from an encounter with Christ,
and is experienced both personally and in the Christian
community (25).
Sin is ‘a refusal to hear the word of God’ (26). our God-given
freedom brings with it this tragic possibility. The Scriptures
constantly stress that sin is disobedience and a refusal to
listen, but Jesus offers us the possibility of forgiveness and
new life. It is important to understand that the root of all sin
lies in refusal to hear the word of the Lord. The Synod puts
before us the example of Mary, who was completely open to
the word and responded to it in generosity (27).
What does Mary the mother of Jesus teach us about openness to the word of God? In what ways is she truly ‘Mother of the Word’?
The Word of the Lord.indb 12 15/03/2013 14:29
13
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
The word of God does not stifle our authentic desires, but
rather illuminates them, purifies them and brings them to
fulfilment. Sad to say, in our days, and in the West, there is a
widespread notion that God is extraneous to people’s lives
and problems, and that his very presence can be a threat to
human autonomy. We need to make every effort to share the
word of God as an openness to our problems, a response to
our questions, a broadening of our values and the fulfilment
of our aspirations. (23)
What struck you most about this section?
What action might you now take?
In addition to reading paragraphs 6-28 of Verbum Domini,
you are invited to read from The Gift of Scripture, the
document of the Bishops of England and Wales, and of
Scotland, paragraphs 8-16.
The Word of the Lord.indb 13 15/03/2013 14:29
god’s word and our response
Group SeSSion one
The Word of the Lord.indb 14 15/03/2013 14:29
15
This session explores the word of God as the foundation
for life today.
Opening Prayer
Father, send your Holy Spirit to turn our words into prayers
and our seeking into finding.
(Liturgy of the Hours)
Period of silence
god’s word and our response
Group SeSSion one
The Word of the Lord.indb 15 15/03/2013 14:29
16
A reading from the Gospel of John
In the beginning was the Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him, and without him not
one thing came into being. What has come into being in him
was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome
it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming
into the world. He was in the world, and the world came
into being through him; yet the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, and his own people did not
accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his
name, he gave power to become children of God, who were
born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will
of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived
among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a
father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (1:1-5, 9-14)
Pause to reflect
The word of God is expressed in many different ways. It is
spoken by God at creation and throughout biblical history,
what is known as the history of salvation. The word reaches its
fullest expression in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. (Note
the capital ‘W’ whenever Jesus is described as ‘the Word’.)
In what ways can we encounter Jesus in our daily lives?
How might an encounter with Jesus, the Word of God,
enrich your life?
The Word of the Lord.indb 16 15/03/2013 14:29
17
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
The realist is the one who recognises in the word of God the
foundation of all things. This realism is particularly needed
in our own time, when many things in which we trust for
building our lives, things in which we are tempted to put our
hopes, prove ephemeral. Possessions, pleasure and power
show themselves sooner or later to be incapable of fulfilling
the deepest yearnings of the human heart. In building our
lives we need solid foundations which will endure when
human certainties fail. (10)
All things were made through the word of God, which is
‘the foundation of all reality’. The proclamation of the word
of God brings freedom, inviting us to acknowledge God as
our origin. Things do not exist by chance but are willed by
God. The word thus provides the ‘solid foundation’ we need.
In the word of God we experience God’s reaching out to us
and God’s willingness to stand alongside us in the joys and
sorrows of life. This is shown above all in the Incarnation of
the Word, in the fact that the Son of God became a human
being. The word of God finds expression therefore not in
lengthy discourses, concepts or rules, but in the very person
of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word God speaks to the world.
What do you think the Synod Bishops mean when they
speak of the word of God as a solid foundation for
everyday life?
Does the word of God form an important part of
your life?
The Word of the Lord.indb 17 15/03/2013 14:29
18
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
The word of God does not stifle our authentic desires, but
rather illuminates them, purifies them and brings them to
fulfilment. Sad to say, in our days, and in the West, there is a
widespread notion that God is extraneous to people’s lives
and problems, and that his very presence can be a threat to
human autonomy. We need to make every effort to share the
word of God as an openness to our problems, a response to
our questions, a broadening of our values and the fulfilment
of our aspirations. (23)
God hears us and responds to our questions. The word of
God points the way for us, and God waits for our response
to the word. The proper response to God who speaks to us
is faith, which arises from an encounter with Christ, and is
experienced both personally and in the Christian community.
Has the word of God spoken to you in specific
circumstances? If so, how?
How do you respond to God’s word in your life?
What has struck you most about this session?
The Word of the Lord.indb 18 15/03/2013 14:29
19
A Prayer of St Bede
I pray you, good Jesus, that as you have graciously granted
me to take in with delight the words that give knowledge of
you, so you will grant me in your kindness to come at last to
you, the source of all wisdom, and to stand for ever before
your face. Amen.
This week:
• AtmealtimesconsiderhowGod’sword
nourishes you.
• ReadthetextfromJohn’sgospelinyourBible
and reflect on it.
• ReadthefulltextofPartOne,Section1.
The Word of the Lord.indb 19 15/03/2013 14:29
Part OneVerbum Dei
the word of God
Section 2
Understanding God’s word (Paragraphs 29 to 49)
The Word of the Lord.indb 20 15/03/2013 14:29
21
This section explores:
• howtoreadthewordofGod
• difficultpassagesintheBible
• thedangeroffundamentalism
• ChristiansreadingtheBibletogether
• theexampleofthesaints
Part OneVerbum Dei
the word of God
Section 2
Understanding God’s word (Paragraphs 29 to 49)
The Word of the Lord.indb 21 15/03/2013 14:29
22
The Bible is best understood in the Church and by
peopleof faith, for thesimple reason that itwaswritten
bypeopleof faith.TheEthiopianeunuch in thepassage
fromtheActsoftheApostlesgivenlatersays:‘Howcan
Iunderstandunlesssomeoneguidesme?’Ifweinterpret
theBiblewithoutguidancewemayfailtounderstandits
message.‘TheBiblewaswrittenbythePeopleofGodfor
thePeopleofGod.’(30)
TheBishopsattheSynodexpresstheirgratitudetoscholars
whodedicatetheirlivestothestudyofthesacredtext.The
studyof thewordofGod is ‘the soulof theology’, for it
providesthefoundationfortheunderstandingofChristian
faith(31).OurunderstandingoftheBiblemustbeginwith
thewrittenword.Tograsp the textcorrectlyhasbeen the
constant concern of Christians, as is seen particularly in
theancientmonastictradition.Godspeakstousinhuman
language. By careful attention to the written words of
Scripture we reach ‘the meaning of the biblical text as
God’swordfortoday’(33).
PopeBenedict recalls the teachingof theSecondVatican
Council,that,havingexploredthemeaningofaparticular
passage,weshouldthenseeitwithinthewholeBibleand
withinthedevelopingTraditionoftheChurch(Dei Verbum
12).Theword is tobeunderstood in thecompletenessof
Catholicfaith,bywhatisdescribedas‘theanalogyoffaith’,
which is theway thevarious truthsof faithrelate toeach
other(34).
If thereadingof thewordsofScripture isseparatedfrom
faith, the Bible will simply be a book of the past and its
message for the present will be lost. We need both faith
andreasoninapproachingtheBible.Reasonprotectsfaith
fromwhatismistakenanduntrue,whilefaithleadsreason
Why is scholarly study of the Bible so important? Does it not distract us from the message of God’s love?
What can we do to ensure that we read the Scriptures in the context of the whole Bible and of the Tradition of the Church?
The Word of the Lord.indb 22 15/03/2013 14:29
23
How can you increase your familiarity with the Old Testament, so that you can appreciate its inherent value as well as seeing its fulfilment in the New Testament?
toanewopennessbeyondthelimitsofwhatisimmediately
apparent (36). To understand the Bible is to unleash
the transforming power of the word of God in our lives.
Fromengagementwiththeliteralsensewemoveontothe
discoveryofthespiritualsenseofScriptureanditsrichness
aswordofGodfortoday(38).
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
In the passage from letter to spirit, we also learn, within the
Church’s great tradition, to see the unity of all Scripture,
grounded in the unity of God’s word, which challenges our
life and constantly calls us to conversion. Here the words
of Hugh of Saint Victor remain a sure guide: ‘All divine
Scripture is one book, and this one book is Christ, speaks of
Christ and finds its fulfilment in Christ.’ (39)
IftheBibleisonebook,howdoestheNewTestamentrelate
totheJewishScriptureswhichwecallthe‘OldTestament’?
The Old Testament finds its fulfilment in the life, death
andresurrectionofChrist.Fulfilmentshowsthatwhatwas
longedforandforeseenfromadistance is realised,but it
alsoreveals thingsnewandunexpected(40).At thesame
timetheSynoddocumentremindsusthattheOldTestament
‘retainsitsowninherentvalueasrevelation’,whichmustbe
respected(41).
Reading the Bible can present serious difficulties. The
SynoddocumentacknowledgesthepresenceintheBibleof
‘darkpassages’,whichreflectearlierstagesofhistoryand
thedifferentunderstandingsofdifferenttimes.Thesetexts
mightseemtoapproveactsofviolenceandimmorality.Such
textsdonotgounchallengedbyotherbiblicalpassagesand
canneverbeamodelforhumanbehaviour.Theirpresence
Would it be better to disregard the difficult passages of the Bible, described here as ‘dark’ passages?
The Word of the Lord.indb 23 15/03/2013 14:29
24
intheBibleshowsthatweneedtimetodiscoverthetruth,
and thatGod ispatient inpreparingpeople to receive the
Gospel(42).Thecorrectinterpretationofdifficultpassages
requiresacertainexpertise,andtheyarefinallyunderstood
only‘inthelightofthemysteryofChrist’(42).
AspeopleoftheBible,ChristiansandJewshaveaspecial
bond. Blessed John Paul II referred to the Jewish people
as‘ourbelovedbrothersandsisters’.Theywerethefirstto
receivetheword,andsotheyhavemuchtoteachusabout
loveforGod’sword(43).
AmajordifficultyinreadingtheBibleisfundamentalism,
which may be understood as a refusal to acknowledge
thewordofGodasGod’sword inhuman language.The
fundamentalist is reluctant to enter into the depths of the
text,andresortsto‘subjectiveandarbitrary’interpretations
(44).Textscanevenbemanipulatedinsuchawaythatthey
seemtostandinoppositiontothetruthsoffaith,andeven
encouragediscriminationandviolence.Thefundamentalist
approach disregards the place of the passage within the
wholeBible,andthedevelopmentofunderstandinginthe
sacredtext.‘Thetrueresponsetoafundamentalistapproach
isthefaith-filledinterpretationofsacredScripture.’(44)
The Synod gives strong encouragement to reading the
Bible together with other Christians, which offers a real
experienceofcommunionaswelistentothewordofGod
together.Biblicalstudieshaveacrucialplaceinecumenical
dialogue, and celebrations of the word of God among
Christiansadvancethecauseofecumenismandbuildunity.
Theworkofproducingcommontranslationsisanimportant
partofecumenicalcollaboration(46).
What do you think the Jewish people can teach us about reading the Bible? How can dialogue with them be promoted?
How would you assist a person who is struggling with a fundamentalist way of reading the Bible?
How can we foster the reading of the Bible with other Christians? What should be done to encourage this experience of communion?
The Word of the Lord.indb 24 15/03/2013 14:29
25
AsthisfirstpartofVerbum Dominidrawstoaclose,Pope
BenedictrecallshowfaithfullisteningtothewordofGod
hasgiven rise toholiness throughoutChristianhistory.St
Anthony of Egypt, Saint Benedict, Saint Francis, Saint
TeresaofAvila,SaintThereseofLisieux,andmanyother
saints are remembered (48). Saint Therese, for example,
‘discoveredthatlovewasherpersonalvocationbyporing
over theScriptures’ (48).The saints ofmodern times too
bear witness to the transforming power of the word of
God.‘Everysaintislikearayoflightstreamingforthfrom
the word of God.’ (48) Holiness inspired by God’s word
becomes a prophetic witness. ‘Holiness in the Church
constitutes an interpretationofScripturewhichcannotbe
overlooked.’(49)
A reading from the Synod Document Verbum Domini
Listening together to the word of God, engaging in biblical
lectiodivina, letting ourselves be struck by the inexhaustible
freshness of God’s word which never grows old, overcoming
our deafness to those words that do not fit our own opinions
or prejudices, listening and studying within the communion
of the believers of every age: all these things represent a
way of coming to unity in faith as a response to hearing the
word of God. (46)
What struck you most about this session?
What action might you now take?
Inadditiontoreadingparagraphs29-49ofVerbum Domini,
you are invited to read from The Gift of Scripture, the
document of the Bishops of England and Wales, and of
Scotland,paragraphs17-23and41.
How can we allow the power of the word of God to be unlocked in our lives, as it was in the lives of the saints?
The Word of the Lord.indb 25 15/03/2013 14:29