Most often our brethren of other denominations accuse us by saying "Catholics do not read the bible"; "Catholics do not know the bible"; "Catholic clergy hide the truth of the bible from their congregation" and so many other similar criticisms.
Anyway, I don't blame them when they don't know the true history and use of the bible.
Quite alright, I admire how our protestant brethren's show interest in carrying, reading and quoting the bible,but their claim that Catholics do not read or know the bible is wrong and a blatant lie. It is very discouraging that so many Catholics listen and assume this accusation as right.
However, this is to enlighten, educate and strengthen my fellow Catholics on the knowledge of the bible as it concerns the Catholic church. It is therefore to appeal to our senses towards understanding the bible and how the Catholic church holds it.
Hitherto, the bible is the most popular, printed and distributed book, published in many languages and versions, though in contrast most misunderstood. The bible is not a literature book as many people regard it, nor is it a matter of individual interpretations. This is because no prophecy is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy is ever came through human will, but rather human beings moved by the holy spirit, spoke under the influence of God (2Pt 1:20-21). Some portions of the bible however are easy to understand while some others need clarification.
Earlier in the church (early church),faithful's were not allowed to read the bible partly because the bible is not a literature which anyone can read and understand without background history. This is because "no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation (2Pt 1:20). Only the few that were educated as clergy, that have studied the scripture could give the true meaning of the sacred words written therein.
The Catholic church through the sacred liturgy offers the sacred words to the faithful's. In the celebration of the Holy Mass, readings are taken from the old, new testaments, psalm and from other parts of the scripture. This reading is therefore explained by a certified authority ( Priest). Imagine how many bible passages anyone who attends the Holy Mass every Sunday for a whole year would be conversant with. What of morning Masses? The bible readings do not only feature in the Holy Mass but also in the celebration of all the sacraments.
Think of this; today in our society, many of us though literate allow the lawyer interprete the law, allow the medical doctors to give answers to our health problems, allow teachers teach our children in school, allow accountants to see to our monetary issues, but the reverse is the case when it comes to interpreting the bible. Here everyone is a master and expert. Do you wonder the havoc many people have caused in their bid to interprete the bible? Forgetting that some passages are difficult to understand (2Pt 3:16). Do you not think that the bible should be interpreted by those who have studied the sacred scripture as their profession?
Please to this self acclaimed men of God who mention that Catholics do not know the bible, Catholics do not read the bible and so on; How did we get the bible? When was it written and by who? When was the bible codified and by who? How were the books that formed the bible selected? What was in use before the bible?
Await Part 2..........
Comments
Post a Comment