Dear Parishioners,

In today’s second reading, St. Paul says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) It is a great reminder why we all need to know our sacred scripture. We believe as Catholics that the Bible is inspired by God and therefore it is God’s message to us for our salvation.

God uses the sacred writers to express His truth. But, the meaning of these texts can be obscured because they were written so long ago in foreign cultures. So, it takes diligent effort to understand these texts. The meanings behind them and how they relate to our faith will not always be apparent. Yet, there are so many great ways to learn about the Bible. Someone could simply read any book by great authors like Scott Hahn (I highly recommend the Lamb’s Supper and A Father Who Keeps his Promises) or John Bergsma (Bible Basics for Catholics is great) to unlock the treasures found in scripture. Or, someone could subscribe to the Bible in a Year podcast to work through all the scriptures over the year.

However, another way to learn about scriptures is through the Great Adventure Bible Study which is being offered in our Parish starting later this month on Wednesdays. Kim Dibiase has been doing a great job organizing this study and I am very glad that we can offer it for the good of the parish. (See the advertisement in the bulletin for details.) It is going to be a long study this time around. But since the other three shorter sessions went so well, I think we can really handle something that requires commitment. I really do believe that God blesses any good effort to understand Him and that this study will be even more fruitful than the last three. So, please consider signing up or at least asking Kim after Mass about the study.

We live in a world where everything seems so shaky and up in the air. So, it is more important than ever that we as Catholics root ourselves in what is good and eternal. We cannot take on this world until we are equipped, and like the reading says, it is through scripture that God prepares us.

God has blessed us by revealing Himself in His Word. May we listen to the Lord and learn to love Him more and more.

God bless!

Fr. Carter