In the first meeting in preparation for the Sunday of the Word of God, we reflect on listening to the Word of God together as a community.
Indeed, we must never forget that the Lord addresses a people first and foremost: in the Old Testament we find the invitation “Hear, O Israel” (Deut 6:4).
Recognizing ourselves as the Church, we must therefore know that we are a people constantly listening to the Word of God: in this regard, the words of Saint Augustine sound gentle and reassuring: «To avoid wandering in the fog, listen to the Shepherd’s voice. Gather around the mountains of the Sacred Scriptures. There are the delights of your heart; there is nothing poisonous or foreign there: they are inexhaustible pastures».
The liturgical-pastoral booklet for the Sunday of the Word of God 2023 reminds us that «Scripture was entrusted to us not only to be read and meditated on personally, but above all to be proclaimed and celebrated in the liturgical assembly. Indeed, it “comes to life” in an assembly that listens to it, celebrates it and embodies it, through the power of the Holy Spirit, because in the liturgy “God speaks to his people and Christ continues to proclaim his Gospel”».
So we have “good news” to hear in this time marked by so much darkness: even today, God speaks to humankind: let us listen to him!
By clicking here, you can download a PDF with pastoral suggestions, taken from the liturgical-pastoral booklet, that are useful for your community.
