The relationship between Jesus Christ, his followers, and Sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians. By listening to and reflecting on God’s Word, we deepen our understanding of the faith and grow in our relationship with the Lord.
In 2019, Pope Francis instituted the Sunday of the Word of God through his apostolic letter Aperuit Illis. Celebrated annually on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, this observance encourages Catholics to recognize the importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church.
Pope Francis explained that the celebration helps us “appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in that constant dialogue between the Lord and his people.” By setting aside a special Sunday each year to focus on the Word of God, the Church invites us to discover more fully the treasures found in Scripture.
As St. Ephrem the Syrian wrote:
“Who is able to understand, Lord, all the richness of even one of your words? There is more that eludes us than we can understand. We are like the thirsty drinking from a fountain. Your word has as many aspects as the perspectives of those who study it. The Lord has colored his word with diverse beauties, so that those who study it can contemplate what stirs them.” —St. Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on the Diatessaron, 1:18
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers a series of videos in English and Spanish featuring Catholic biblical scholars. Topics include the authorship of the Bible, the canon of Scripture, a Catholic approach to reading the Bible, the practice of Lectio Divina, and the Synoptic Gospels. The videos are accompanied by discussion guides and suggestions for further reading. You can them here.
Read a reflection on Word of God Sunday from Deacon Ray Ferreris.