Kaukauna Catholic Parishes

The first reading for the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time tells us “40 days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” Jonah did not want the evil Ninevites (present-day Iraq) to recognize their errors and repent. He wanted to see the enemy of his people destroyed, so he prophesized this fate without offering them the chance to repent. The Ninevites, however, did change from their ways and God chose to spare them. A word from God is a powerful thing; if we open our hearts to His word, it can change us. 

Last year, on this date, the Church celebrated 1,600 years since the time of St. Jerome. He was a Doctor of the Church who famously declared “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” St. Jerome’s remarkable contribution was his Bible translation, known as the Vulgate, which he composed from manuscripts in the original languages of Hebrew and Greek.

He was a rare Christian scholar of his time, willing to study with the rabbis, in order to learn how to interpret the ancient texts. St. Jerome’s friend, St. Paula of Rome, studied Hebrew with him and became more adept with it than he was.

Historians of her time called her a “genius of a woman.”  St. Paula was instrumental in St. Jerome’s work on the Vulgate, including financial support for his study.

In a 2019 Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis established that the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the “celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.” When Pope Francis dedicated this day to God’s word, he suggested families enthrone the Bible visually, in a place of prominence, similarly to how the Book of Gospels is placed on the altar at Sunday Mass. It is vital to spend time reading the Bible, meditating on its words and allowing them to influence our lives.

Each week’s Mass readings can be found in the Bulletin. I encourage you to highlight a passage and place it somewhere visually, where you can meditate on it.

I know many Catholics who are doing the Bible podcast of Fr. Mike Schmitz, “Reading the Bible in a Year,” offered free through Ascension Press.

Several years ago, my wife challenged me to take a class on the Old Testament, saying “because you are a history buff you will love it.” This class was instrumental in leading me to diaconate studies and becoming a Deacon. 

Yes, God’s Word is powerful! It challenged me and it promises to enlighten you as well.

Blessings,
Deacon Mark