6.11.2005

My View of Scripture

St. Jerome made the following statement: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." According to history, he hated men and women alike. He was a little hard to handle, and yet this guy translated the OT from Hebrew into Latin.
His statement is interesting in that during his time believers did not have the written scriptures on a mass level. The scriptures were in the hands of the clergy.
Although I agree with Jerome on some levels with his statement, I know that many Christians around the world who do not have the scriptures in their entirety know Him from the little they have heard and keep stored in their hearts. Indeed, each verse has more meaning than the universe itself can contain. It is this text that forms us as individuals and as a community, and shapes the world. It etches away slowly most of the time, and yet at times like lightning.

2 comments:

  1. Though we did have the Scriptures in the form of homilies, proclamations of Scripture during liturgical and paraliturgical celebrations, mystery/passion plays, statues, icons, stained glass windows, devotional practices, etc. :-)

    Scripture's always been there for people, even those who couldn't read or were forbidden to read . . . and even more than that, as you allude to in your post, Christ was always there in their hearts.

    Just a brief meditation on your reflection :-)

    Blessings & Peace,
    Hugo

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  2. "The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory" Psalm 97:6 :-)

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