Holy Scripture

Holy Scripture

“When I discovered your teaching, I devoured it. Your words brought me joy and gladness; you have called me your own, O Lord my God.” (Jeremiah 15: 16)

Today is September 30^th, the feast day of St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church. Jerome, one of the 33 doctors of the Church translated the Bible into Latin. His translation, the Vulgate was for centuries the official version of the Church. The Church prays in the Memorial Mass to honor St. Jerome:

“Father, you gave St. Jerome delight in his study of holy scripture. May your people find in your word the food of salvation and the fountain of life.”

Late in 1996, I confided the entry below to my journal:

“Yesterday at the Houston Central Library downtown, I met Steve Conwell, an African-American pastor. Like two other people I had met in the library, he affirmed that our meeting was providential. We discussed the methodology of studying the Bible. Steve gave me some elements of methodology, for example: Parallel Bible, Bible Dictionary, Bible Commentaries, etc. Without prompting, he offered to enroll me free of charge in his brother’s Bible School. In other words, I was given a scholarship. Amazing! But less than an hour after we parted, I knew that this was not the answer to the vision I had a couple of days ago. God’s answer will come at the appointed time.”

I knew without being able to explain it at the time that what separates the Church from Protestant Christianity is the understanding of scripture, its interpretation and Tradition. I knew instinctively that Protestant rendering of holy scriptures lacks historicity and will not be faithful to tradition. And for me, such a study will be an exercise in futility.

The Call to Service

The Call to Service

“As for you, prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all that I command you. Have no fear of them and in their presence I will make you fearless. For look, today I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze to stand against the whole country: the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and people of the country. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, to rescue you.” (Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19)

In the above scripture, God tells Jeremiah how to respond to his call.
The scripture is for everyone who is called to study and share God’s word and the message is clear:

Stand firm!
You will have enemies among the people, including the very powerful.
The Lord is who sends you is more powerful than all of them.
God will protect you.

You must be faithful especially in two things:
Speak only my words.
Speak it fearlessly.

The Call to Service includes:

Physical energy – Prepare yourself for action.
Obedience – Speak only what God commands you.
Thoroughness – Speak “all” that God commands you.
Fearlessness – Cowardice is sin.

The strong assurance of divine protection in Jeremiah 1: 18 is given in strong images that it may be felt in all its certainty and fullness.

Scholarship

Scholarship

“I have opened in front of you a door that no one will be able to close.” (Revelations 3: 8)

In 1996, I confided the following to my journal:

“Last night I dreamt that my name was included in a scholarship list. One of my guarantors is Emma Obidozie. I had filled the form long ago and did not even remember it. How do I interpret this dream? Does it have a message or is it a dream like any other dream? Is it of the class of the Jesus Name dream?

I proceeded to interpret it thus:

What is a scholarship? An educational grant for study.

Why scholarship for me? Because of my intense desire to study Christology: the Person and the work of Christ. I see my mission as learning and communicating this knowledge.

This simple interpretation satisfied me. The dream is a message that God will open a door for me to study Jesus Christ and his mission. Scholarship symbolizes the open door. My name on the list signifies that God has approved me for the program. All that I need today is faith and patience. This interpretation made me very happy.” That was ten years ago.

On the 16^th of September, almost ten years to the day I had the dream, I was one of many catechists who received full certification as catechists in the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston. On that day, Archbishop Daniel Dinardo gave me my certificate. Prior to this day, I had received scholarship to study for the Formation Towards Christian Ministry. This year, I have received two scholarships to participate in the Liturgical Conference in Austin, Texas and the Beginnings and Beyond Workshop in Houston, Texas.

God is faithful.

Our Identity 2

Our Identity 2

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2)

“Turn it, turn it round and round

In it all things can be found.”

I cannot remember where I got the above quote. But it refers to the Bible. Indeed all things can be found in it. Sometimes in codes.

What biblical texts point to my mission? What is my mission?

I desire to learn about Jesus and to communicate Jesus.

How did Christ see his mission? He saw it in terms of Isaiah 61: 1-2: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.”

When Jesus quoted the above scripture in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4: 18 – 19), he stressed the note of present fulfillment: what the prophet foretold centuries ago was now being fulfilled.

God chose to be generous and magnanimous to his people “in the year of favor.”

The gift of “the Spirit of the Lord” is for the benefit of the marginalized.

When Jesus searched the scriptures for an understanding of his mission, he found the answer in Isaiah 61: 1 – 2. He appropriated the scripture and applied it to himself.

How about me? What did I find when I searched the scriptures for my mission? Is it possible that a number of scriptures may be pulled together to throw a light on my mission?

Our Identity 2

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2)

“Turn it, turn it round and round
In it all things can be found.”
I cannot remember where I got the above quote. But it refers to the Bible. Indeed all things can be found in it. Sometimes in codes.

What biblical texts point to my mission? What is my mission?
I desire to learn about Jesus and to communicate Jesus.
How did Christ see his mission? He saw it in terms of Isaiah 61: 1-2: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.”

When Jesus quoted the above scripture in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4: 18 – 19), he stressed the note of present fulfillment: what the prophet foretold centuries ago was now being fulfilled.

God chose to be generous and magnanimous to his people “in the year of favor.”
The gift of “the Spirit of the Lord” is for the benefit of the marginalized.
When Jesus searched the scriptures for an understanding of his mission, he found the answer in Isaiah 61: 1 – 2. He appropriated the scripture and applied it to himself.

How about me? What did I find when I searched the scriptures for my mission? Is it possible that a number of scriptures may be pulled together to throw a light on my mission?

Our Identity

Our Identity

“There was a man named John sent by God, who came as a witness to the light….”

“Finally they said to him ‘Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?’ He said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, ‘I am a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!” (John 1: 6 – 8; 19 – 28)

John was anointed by God. God sent him to prepare the way for Christ. To understand his identity and his mission, he turned to the scriptures. We discover our true identity only in the scriptures. The Holy Spirit anoints each Christian for a mission. What is the specific nature of my own mission? What does the scripture say on this?

“In the scroll of the book it is written of me, my delight is to do your will; your law, my God, is deep in my heart. I proclaim the saving justice of God in the great assembly. See, I will not hold my tongue, as you well know. I have not kept your saving justice locked in the depth of my heart, but have spoken of your constancy and saving help. I have made no secret of your saving and steadfast love, in the great assembly.” (Psalm 40: 7 – 10)

This is what scripture says about my mission:

What I will do is already written in the Book. - “To do your will.”

In what specific context? - “To proclaim the saving justice of God.”

Where? To Whom? – “In the great assembly.” To use what God has done for me as a platform to proclaim his saving justice, his constancy, saving help, his faithful and steadfast love.

What does scripture say of my mission?

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. By calling me into his service he judged me trustworthy, even though I used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous. Mercy, however, was shown me, because while I lacked faith I acted in ignorance; but the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that was in Christ Jesus. Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the leading example of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who were later to trust in him for eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1: 12 – 17)

“Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus … He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.” Amen! (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 24)

Anointing

Anointing

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and day of vindication from our God.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2).

O Holy Spirit, I believe that you are within me.
What have you anointed me for?
Who are the captives that you want me to proclaim liberty to?
Who are the prisoners that you want me to help release?
To whom shall I announce a year of favor from the Lord?
In short, O Holy Spirit, what are you preparing me for? What mission?

Can I learn anything from the lives of Christ, Peter, Paul, Ignatius, Louis de Monfort and Josemaria with regard to these questions? All are men anointed by the Lord and given specific mission. Their mission was revealed to them step by step over a long period