Charles+

I appreciate this last paragraph:

"Whatever part of the Scriptures we read, Christ our teacher is waiting
to instruct us. This is what the traditional Christocentric reading of
the Bible means. We learn not only about Christ but from Christ." (36).

One of the interesting things about the history of Lectio is that almost
all of the ancient writers believed that when you hold the scriptures,
you hold Christ; when you listen to them, you listen to the voice of
Christ.  How interesting that we debate the veracity of scripture, argue
about whether or not "sola scriptura" is an ancient dogma or merely one
from the Reformation, and yet forget that from the desert fathers
forward, the holy scriptures were always viewed as God's mouthpiece to
us, speaking the very words of Christ through the indwelling presence of
the Holy Spirit in us (i.e., God's "voice").  This, I believe, is one of
the reasons a non-believer can't "hear" the words of scripture speaking
to him as a believer can.  Sadly, though, many who are Christians
neglect this vital and intimate connection to our Lord.

Which leads to a question: how do we (clergy) not only encourage but
help to foster the thirst for God's holy word in his people?  That's a
tough one, especially when we have to fight to overcome years of bad
teaching and neglect about the Bible itself.  I believe that I touched
on it in one of the articles I wrote for DEUS, but there's much more to
be done.  Ignorance of God's word is rampant amongst us, and as St
Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  Amen,
amen.

MLW+