Introduction to Scripture

The past thirty years in Ireland have seen a rediscovery of the word of God in the life of our church. Rediscovering the word of God, we also rediscover our Lord and Saviour. Reading the Bible and hearing the Scriptures read in church is about getting to know a person. We do not read the Scriptures merely to find out what to do; we read the Scriptures to meet a person — and that person is Jesus of Nazareth.

We approach the word of God like a letter from a loved one. We come to the word, waiting to hear the word of someone who is precious to us and for whom we are precious. In the word, it is God who speaks with us, who nourishes us and who shares with us his life.

For most people, it is in the Liturgy — at Mass — that this encounter takes place. I ask all of you to remember that truly effective reflection on the Word comes from within. Until we make the text our own, we will always be proclaiming words outside of us, and words outside of us remain cold and distant.

The word of God was not given to be locked up; it has been given “so that the Good News might be proclaimed to everyone” (Matt 11:5).

+ BILL MURPHY

Bishop of Kerry

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