January 24 marks the “Sunday of the Word of God,” the day established by Pope Francis through the apostolic letter in the form of a Motu Proprio “Aperuit illis” (September 30, 2019). The purpose of this day is to remind everyone, clergy and faithful alike, on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, of the importance and value of Sacred Scripture for Christian life, as well as of the relationship between the Word of God and the liturgy.
The Sunday of the Word is therefore a special opportunity to gather God’s people around the Bible, a day of celebration and thanksgiving to place once again at the center of life, alongside the Eucharist, listening to Sacred Scripture through experiences and moments of reading, deeper study, and spiritual reflection to be lived in community.
The purpose is to «enter into a constant familiarity with Sacred Scripture; otherwise, our hearts remain cold and our eyes closed, affected as we are by countless forms of blindness».
The Bible is not a book for a privileged few; rather, as Pope Francis explains, it is «the book of the people of God who, in listening to it, move from dispersion and division to unity. The Word of God unites believers and makes them one people».
Why did Pope Francis want to dedicate a Sunday specifically to the Word of God?
The Apostolic Letter “Aperuit illis” is very clear on this point: «Devoting a Sunday of the liturgical year to the Word of God enables the Church above all to experience anew the gesture of the risen Lord who opens up for us the treasure of his word and enables us to proclaim its inexhaustible riches before the world» (no. 2).
This emphasis therefore brings us back to the sources of Christian life, to that one table (of the Word and the Eucharist) that gives strength to the journey of believers. «The day devoted to the Bible», Pope Francis continues, «is not to be “once a year”, but once for all the year, for we urgently need to grow in our closeness and intimacy with Sacred Scripture and the risen Lord, who never ceases to break the Word and the Bread in the community of believers» (no. 8).
Why is this day so important?
Because it intends to place the Word solemnly at the heart of the life of the Christian community. The Word of Sacred Scripture is living and effective. When read with an attitude of faith, it brings us to a contemplative encounter with the living God and bears fruit in life. In particular, the Gospel is the Father’s word on the lips of the Son, and those who listen to it and welcome it come to have an illuminating experience of God.
Ever since he became “bishop of Rome,” as he likes to say, Pope Francis has repeated this invitation: Read every day «a passage from the Gospel to know Jesus better, to open our hearts wide to Jesus. Then we can make him known to others».
Daily reading of the pages of the Gospel, «to be kept always in your pocket or bag», «helps us overcome our selfishness» and «follow the Master». But how should we read it? «Keeping our gaze fixed» on the Lord, so that I can «imagine myself in the scene and speak with him».
The Sunday of the Word was set for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, close to the Day of Dialogue with Jews and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. What is the reason for this choice?
On this point too, the Letter offers clear and straightforward arguments, explaining that «this Sunday of the Word of God will thus come at an opportune moment of the year, when we are invited to strengthen our bonds with the Jews and to pray for the unity of Christians. This is not a mere temporal coincidence: the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God has an ecumenical significance, because Sacred Scripture points out to those who listen to it the path to follow in order to attain authentic and lasting unity» (no. 3).
Sacred Scripture has unifying value. Think of the psalms, prayers shared by two peoples of two different religions, Jewish and Christian. Yet we read the same words and pray the same prayers. Moreover, what we unquestionably share with our Protestant brothers and sisters is the Word of God. This builds bonds from which to begin the journey toward unity; the Pope’s choice therefore has great ecumenical and interreligious significance.
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time also falls immediately after the liturgical season dedicated to Christmas, when, having dwelt on the mystery of the Incarnation, the Liturgy of the Word recalls the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, when, through his Word, he calls, heals, shapes, and reveals the face of the Father.
What can a believer do to deepen their knowledge of the Bible?
In fact, people often limit themselves to listening to the readings at Sunday Mass and to the explanation offered in the homily. For this very reason, the Apostolic Letter repeatedly emphasizes certain aspects, such as «familiarity with the Word», «a living relationship with Scripture», and «assiduous attendance to the Word».
It is therefore not simply a matter of “knowing,” of adding a few more facts to gain access to the world of the Bible, but above all of creating a living and passionate “relationship” in order to understand the inexhaustible richness that comes from God’s constant dialogue with his people. It is not enough to read and study the Word; we must allow it to penetrate our lives and reveal its treasure, bringing us into living contact with the one who is our Way, Truth, and Life.
What initiatives can be undertaken to highlight the Sunday of the Word?
Pope Francis gives individual communities the freedom to find a way to celebrate this Sunday solemnly, «so as to bring out the importance of continuing in daily life the reading, study, and prayer with Sacred Scripture, with particular reference to Lectio Divina». The Pope emphasizes that the Bible is «the book of the Lord’s people», and listening to the Bible leads the people to move «from dispersion and division to unity». He continues: «the Bible is the story of God with humanity. And the Word must have repercussions in our lives; it must make history».
In practical terms, just as a small example, at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the faithful could be given a small Gospel, to highlight the importance of continuing to read, study, and pray with Sacred Scripture in everyday life.
The Pope has repeatedly urged the faithful to read a page of the Gospel every day. But for a layperson - a worker, a mother or father, a student, or someone socially engaged - it often seems that even those ten minutes a day for prayer are lacking… The Pope knows this. He is a pastor with long experience among people and knows the rhythms of everyday life. At the same time, he senses that human beings have a deep desire for God.
Hence his strong exhortation to today’s women and men, to the lay faithful, so that they may cultivate and encounter the fruitfulness, richness, and strength of the Gospel. It is a living word, capable of sustaining, consoling, and guiding us, and making us capable of acting in an evangelical way wherever we live.
The Word of God and children
It is also important to accustom our little ones to listening to and then reading the Word of God. «From an early age, children need God and have the capacity to perceive his greatness. They know how to appreciate the value of prayer, of speaking with God, just as they understand the difference between good and evil». These words are from Benedict XVI and are addressed primarily to fathers and mothers. The meaning of this appeal, made by the Pope with particular passion, is: «Talk to your children about God!».
Introducing children to Jesus with the help of the Word is a unique mission. How can we tell children about the Bible and the Gospel? How can we involve them in stories that seem distant and in difficult subjects? Read together some significant passages from the Bible or various episodes from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Set aside moments during the day when the family can reflect together on the Word of God, placing it increasingly at the center of family life. Try to explain the more difficult words and tell the story in different words. Through our words, we pass on to our children the love letter that God writes to each of us.
There are many resources to help us; using simple and straightforward language, they aim to introduce children and young people to Jesus as a friend for life.
We hope that the Sunday of the Word of God will not merely be one more Sunday among the many dedicated to various themes, but will be a decisive event in the life of the Christian community and in the life of each individual believer: a time of rediscovery, a time to reclaim the biblical texts, a time of truly listening to what the Spirit continues to say to the Churches.
Let us give the Bible a central place in our homes as well. It is a good idea, for example, to dedicate a corner of a room in the home to the Word. A bookstand, a candle, a flower, a rug… will communicate the importance and care we wish to devote to it.
Parishes that intend to set up a sales stand at their parishes can request materials from Editrice Shalom.
