I was in my mid teens when my Dad gave a Catholic Bible to my Mom, as a Christmas present.
As a Catholic kid in the 1950s I had actually never seen a Bible. The closest thing we had in appearance was a Catholic Missal. It was bound in black leather and had gold edges on the pages, with red bookmark ribbons, but it was not the Bible.
I still remember stealing a look into my Mom’s Bible on occasion, and feeling a remarkable change in my outlook after a few minutes of reading. The entrance of His Word really did bring light! I am so grateful the Catholic Church loosened its restriction on the availability of the Bible. Although I gained bits of scripture in the Liturgy every week, having the whole Bible available filled the Liturgy with light and meaning.
As I’ve grown in my knowledge of the Bible through many years, I can attest that it is not a static element. Jesus said, “The words I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life.” The Bible is dynamic. When I read the Bible, I am aware of this fact. The Bible is reading me.
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
– John 1:1
PEACE
♞