Daily Retreat 10/19/06
2006 Oct 19 Thu: Isaac Jogues and John de Brébeuf, ps, rs, mss, mts, & co., mts M
Eph 1: 1-10/ Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Lk 11: 47-54
From today’s readings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him.... The Lord has made known His salvation.... from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah....”
Scripture Study from “A” to “Z”
When I first started reading the Bible, I recall noting the inclusive range of the Lord’s mention of the prophetic witness “from the blood of Abel, to the blood of Zechariah” (cf. Luke 11:51). In my naivete, I thought Jesus had deliberately chosen those two names as handy examples representing all of the prophets, from “A” to “Z.”
But the problem with my assumption, of course, is the fact that the New Testament was written in Greek, a language which has its own distinct alphabet, beginning with the letter “Alpha” and concluding with the letter “Omega.” In illustration of this, in the Apocalypse, the phrase “I am the Alpha and the Omega” is used several times to illustrate the all-encompassing eternity of God - cf. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13.
This point, of course, is merely a minor reminder of the perils of jumping to conclusions when reading the Bible. Instead, we need to patiently and respectfully study scripture, taking advantage of all of the valid insights advanced by linguists, historians, archaeologists, and others who cooperate to help us all better understand the Word of God.
Eph 1: 1-10/ Ps 97(98): 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6/ Lk 11: 47-54
From today’s readings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him.... The Lord has made known His salvation.... from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah....”
Scripture Study from “A” to “Z”
When I first started reading the Bible, I recall noting the inclusive range of the Lord’s mention of the prophetic witness “from the blood of Abel, to the blood of Zechariah” (cf. Luke 11:51). In my naivete, I thought Jesus had deliberately chosen those two names as handy examples representing all of the prophets, from “A” to “Z.”
But the problem with my assumption, of course, is the fact that the New Testament was written in Greek, a language which has its own distinct alphabet, beginning with the letter “Alpha” and concluding with the letter “Omega.” In illustration of this, in the Apocalypse, the phrase “I am the Alpha and the Omega” is used several times to illustrate the all-encompassing eternity of God - cf. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13.
This point, of course, is merely a minor reminder of the perils of jumping to conclusions when reading the Bible. Instead, we need to patiently and respectfully study scripture, taking advantage of all of the valid insights advanced by linguists, historians, archaeologists, and others who cooperate to help us all better understand the Word of God.
posted by FrPitstick | 10/17/2006
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