Homily: Feast of St. Jerome

Feast of St. Jerome “Knowing vs. Knowing Scripture”

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” These are words of St. Jerome. Quite often we may hear the sentiment that Catholics just do not know scripture. Is that true? On this Feast of St. Jerome, who was the church’s first important Scripture scholar, it seems appropriate to reflect on this topic.

Jerome lived in the 4^th and 5^th Century. He did not set out to be a scripture scholar. He was well-educated in grammar, rhetoric, and the classics and became a Christian when he was twenty-one. He decided to become a monk, but his monastery broke up. Eventually, he ended up as a secretary for Pope Damasus in Rome.  When the Pope died, Jerome traveled to Bethlehem, started another monastery and also helped a woman friend named Paula found three convents.

In the 5^th century, the Scriptures were not organized as they are now. Jerome drew all the pieces together. He knew Hebrew and Greek and translated the Bible into Latin. His translations were used for centuries by the Catholic Church. It was thought that Jerome’s translations were the only orthodox translations. No others could be used. Jerome would have probably been horrified to know that scholarship was discouraged in his name. Finally, other experts began to go back to the original sources and make new translations of the Bible in modern day languages. This is one of the things that led to the renewal of the Catholic church in the 20^th century.

As Catholics this has touched our liturgical experience dramatically in the last seventy-five years. A large portion of the Bible is read at daily and Sunday Mass in the language of the people in the cycle of readings. We have Biblical verses sprinkled throughout the liturgy. If Catholics attend Mass regularly homilies are given that are based on different sections of the Bible. Other Christians may or may not use the quantity and variety of scripture that Catholics do in their common worship.

We must remember that knowing scripture does not necessarily mean simply memorizing certain verses of scripture to prove a point. Knowing scripture means that we know the broad themes of scripture and that we use literary tools to explore the many interpretations that a piece of scripture may have.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do I have an inferiority complex when I reflect on my knowledge of scripture? What parts of Mass are directly or indirectly derived from scripture?
2. Can I pray with scripture? Do I need to engage in Bible study to do this or can I take the text at face value? 

 Dear Parishioners,

          Many times, I have heard Catholics lament that they are not familiar with the Bible. When I remind parishioners of how much scripture they hear at Mass, sometimes they are surprised. Probably we never think of it. If we attend daily Mass, for example, we will hear 71% of the New Testament during the three-year cycle of Sunday readings and the two-year cycle of daily Mass readings.

          Priests do not have a much of a choice as to which readings will be used at Masses unless the Mass is a special celebration of some kind. This, in theory, is supposed to keep the ordained minister from preaching on certain topics day after day. Other ministers might be able to emphasize one part of the Bible throughout their life. The cycle of readings is truly a great gift to the faithful and it keeps the preacher honest.

          It is good to pick up the Bible and read it on our own. It is also beneficial to be part of a scripture study, but if we just pay attention at the liturgy we will be exposed to God’s word in an ongoing way.

          May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saint watch over you today.

          Fr. Mark