Opening treasury of Scripture

Pope Francis has declared this coming Sunday to be the “Sunday of the Word of God,” a special annual celebration reminding us that “the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world” (Aperuit Illis, 2).
The Holy Father highlights the value of studying Sacred Scripture by quoting St. Ephrem, who rejoices in the fact that God has “coloured his word with diverse beauties,” and “hidden in his word all treasures” (Commentary on the Diatessaron, 1, 18). The Word of God revealed in the Bible provides a rich commentary on our lives as followers of the Lord — opening up for us the depth of God’s love, the unrelenting offer of his mercy, and the promise of his grace as we seek to imitate his beloved Son. God’s word in the Bible is to be a sure foundation of our faith, an inspiring motive of our hope, and a constant challenge to love more fully.
The Gospel this Sunday takes us to the earliest days of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus moves from Nazareth (where he had grown up) to Capernaum. Matthew explains this in light of an Old Testament prophecy, “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali (Capernaum was situated in the ancient territory of Naphtali) . . . Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 8:23-9:1 cited in Matthew 4:15-16). Especially significant about this move is that Jesus began his preaching in predominantly Gentile territory. Even at this early stage of his ministry, Jesus was showing signs that his message is intended for a universal audience.
St. Matthew next introduces Jesus’ key message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 4:17), both a proclamation of good news as well as a profound challenge. First, the good news was that God’s kingdom was now so close that people could almost reach out and touch it. The long awaited day of salvation had dawned in the person of Jesus. To enter this kingdom, however, required the proper response, and so, people are challenged to repent, to turn away from their sins and re-orient their lives toward God.
The Gospel then tells of Jesus’ calling his first disciples. This significant scene really portrays the earliest beginnings of the Christian community. Walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Peter and Andrew and called out to them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). The Gospel recounts that “at once they left their nets and followed him” (Mt 4:20). Shortly thereafter, Jesus also called Zebedee’s sons, James and John.
This scene tells us that the Christian community came into existence at the word of Jesus. He called out to ordinary fishermen, and in doing so created the community that would later become the Church. This scene also tells us much about the nature of Christian discipleship. First, such discipleship is always a response to Christ’s call — Jesus takes the absolute initiative; God in his goodness simply reaches out to number us among his chosen people. Second, the call to follow Jesus is always also a call to be “fishers of men,” that is, people who will work tirelessly to draw others into Christ’s fold. Jesus’ call to us always intends our coming closer to others. Third, Jesus’ call demands our entire being. Like those first disciples, we are called to radically change our lives and follow him with our whole hearts, minds, and spirits.
St. Matthew ends this section by summarizing Jesus’ activity in Galilee, noting that he had taught in their synagogues (how to be one of his followers), proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven (God’s saving presence now in their midst), and cured every kind of disease and illness (lifting terrible burdens). Jesus’ healing ministry was a special preview of what was in store for those who would enter the fullness of God’s kingdom. Everyone was called to live in the wholeness and holiness foreshadowed by the various healing miracles.
This Sunday’s Gospel is a perfect text to illustrate Pope Francis’ intention in establishing this Sunday of the Word of God. It reminds us that Jesus is revealed not only to those early disciples but also to each and every one of us. The Holy Father encourages us to remember that “the life of Jesus is the full and perfect expression of this divine love” (Aperuit Illis, 13). This Gospel is meant to insert each of us into the history of Jesus’ call to be his followers, to be brought into communion with himself and one another, and then to take up our call to carry on the revelation of God’s life and love to all. May Pope Francis’ expressed promise that we are “sustained by the Lord, present in our midst, who speaks to us and nourishes us” move us “to develop a closer relationship with sacred Scripture,” and thus to “grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord” (Aperuit Illis, 13). May we take up the Holy Father’s call to not make this opportunity to focus on God’s word not only a yearly event, but rather a yearlong event.
Msgr. Fell is a Scripture scholar and director, diocesan Office for Priest Personnel