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To: NYer
Joe Catholic says to himself, “Why should I study the Bible? I go to Mass. I hear it there. Check and check.”

"There is something beautiful in this. For Catholics, Bible reading is liturgical. Hence, Bible reading remains chiefly a community experience."

That’s an excellent point. Since becoming Catholic I've noticed that in a Bible Study group or just talking about something with a couple of people, the most common response to someone citing a verse isn't someone citing another verse to agree or disagree, it's someone citing the homily they heard when the portion of Scripture containing that verse was read at Mass along with relationships to other Scripture and teaching the homily pointed out.

That sort of connection to a portion of Scripture and an explanation of the Scripture is no doubt why the good Lord led Paul to write,

Romans 10:17 Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

Hearing of faith, that means people telling what their faith means to them, how faith changed their life, and comforted them during the trials common to man.

With tens of thousands of different groups, each one teaching a slightly different interpretation they claim is the only correct interpretation. along with probably millions of individuals who make the same claim, understanding His Word as explained by the Apostles is the only way to be sure we really understand His Word as Christ intended it to be understood.

We absolutely should read the Scriptures daily and will be blessed for doing so. But personal reading of Scripture is no substitute for hearing His Word along with the clarifications and perspective we receive at Mass along with the body and blood of Christ.

II Peter3:14 Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace,
II Peter3:15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation ; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you :
II Peter3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things ;
in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
II Peter3:17 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise; you fall from your own steadfastness.
II Peter3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.

We shouldn’t ever limit ourselves to reading His Word at Mass but reading His Word and relying only on our own understanding without knowing how the Apostles interpreted and taught His Word can and often does lead people to becoming reliant on their Self and Self Alone rather than to a closer relationship with Christ.

I Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness :
I Corinthians 1:24 But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

50 posted on 09/30/2013 6:05:59 PM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory.)
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To: Rashputin
With tens of thousands of different groups, each one teaching a slightly different interpretation they claim is the only correct interpretation. along with probably millions of individuals who make the same claim, understanding His Word as explained by the Apostles is the only way to be sure we really understand His Word as Christ intended it to be understood.

And what did the Apostles give us to explain the Scriptures? Other Scriptures, maybe?

Unless this or that church is hiding a new gospel or epistle or some such thing, what the Apostles wrote is what we get, unless someone wants to elevate something "clearer" above the Scriptures, to "better explain" the Scriptures.

51 posted on 09/30/2013 6:21:08 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (Just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America's destiny.)
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To: Rashputin
With tens of thousands of different groups, each one teaching a slightly different interpretation they claim is the only correct interpretation.

HMMMmmm...

With SO many groups to research; it's no WONDER there's so little time for bible reading!

87 posted on 10/01/2013 4:28:55 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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