The idea that modern Catholics do not read and study the
Holy Scriptures is a terribly misconceived notion. We are, in fact, exhorted to
read and study the Bible. “The Church forcefully
and specifically exhorts all the
Christian faithful … to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by
frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is
ignorance of Christ.”[1]
A group of Catholic faithful meet in the hall at our small Saint
Robert Bellarmine parish every Tuesday evening following Mass for Bible study.
The study is specific, pointed, and directed. We are there to study the
Scriptures readings that will be part of the upcoming Sunday Liturgy.
Our teacher, a biblical scholar[2],
comes to us via our satellite connection. He takes us through the readings to help
us internalize and integrate the Scriptures in a way that honors Saint Paul’s
exhortation to Timothy. “Remind them of
this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words,
which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be
ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.”[3]
The Old Testament and Gospel Scripture texts that we studied
last night came from Sirach and Luke.
Sirach was written by a Jewish scribe who lived in Jerusalem
in the early third century BC. His name
was Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sirach.
He is often called "Ben Sira."
The book has taken several different titles including "The Wisdom
of Jesus Ben Sira" and "Liber Ecclesiasticus" (Church
book). Ben Sira wrote in Hebrew, but his
grandson later translated the book into Greek.
The Hebrew of Sirach was lost about a thousand years ago, but in the
late 19th century and early 20th century Hebrew fragments of Sirach were found
which comprise about two-thirds of the book.
Sirach is a deuterocanonical book of wisdom literature.
Deuterocanonical is a big word. It is used to describe sacred books or literary
works that form a secondary canon.
Most modern Bibles used in the majority of the Protestant
arena no longer include the deuterocanonical books. This was not the case in
1611 when the King James Version was first published. The deuterocanonical
books were part of the original KJV.
When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears;
so do a person’s faults when he speaks.
The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the
test of a person is in his conversation.
Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a
tree; so a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of his mind.
Do not praise anyone before he speaks; for
this is the way people are tested.[4]
The Gospel reading says,
“He also told them a parable: Can a blind person lead a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye’, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good
fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from
thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the
good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil
treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the
mouth speaks.” [5]
My first inclination, as we watched and listened, was to
immediately start weighing others on the balance scale. My first inclination
was, however, abruptly cut short. In the depths of my heart, listening with the
ear of the heart, I had to hang my head with the realization that it is not
others, but myself, that I need to keep on the scales. Finding fault in others
is not my responsibility. Searching my own heart and soul is my responsibility.
Do I truly see and understand clearly? Do I resemble Christ
in all of my thoughts and actions toward others?
I have to continually remind myself that it is the log in my
own eye that I need to first be concerned with before trying to help others
with the splinters (or logs) in their eyes. I have to keep reminding
myself that it is me, and my own fruit, that I need to be focused on,
inspecting, and testing. I cannot forget that it is cultivating the condition
of the soil of my own heart that I must continually remain attentive to lest
the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart betray the confidence and
expectation that the Teacher places on me as one of the least of his disciples.
I am reminded of something that a dear old Protestant
preacher of fond memory said to me. He was not an eloquent man, but he had a
lot of wisdom. He asked the question, “Do you know the best way to prove that a
board is bent?” Then he immediately answered the question saying, “Lay a straight board down beside
it.”
Conversatio Morum, continual … ongoing … ever deepening …
conversion of heart is both a calling and a challenge. I can neglect it. I can
deny it. Or, far better, I can yield to it, grow in grace, and thank God for
the Light that makes his way into the dark spots of my heart to show me where I
yet have room to grow in my own modeling of Christ.
As we watched and listened, I could not help but to think
about something that is familiar to those of us that read and attempt to live
by the precepts contained in the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Let us do what the
Prophet says: "I said, I will take heed of my ways, that I sin not with my
tongue: I have set a guard to my mouth, I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept
silence even from good things" (Ps 38[39]:2-3). Here the prophet
shows that, if at times we ought to refrain from useful speech for the sake of
silence, how much more ought we to abstain from evil words on account of the
punishment due to sin.[6]
Lord, straighten out the remaining twists in my own grain
and make me a straighter board. Amen
[1]
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #133, p.43
[3] 2
Timothy 2:14-15
[4]
Sirach 27:4-7
[5]
Luke 6:39-45
[6] HR
6:1-2
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