Is Jesus present when reading Scripture?

[djbarnas]

Hi CA?

So I am reading an excerpt from Verbum Domini (52) and I came across this:

From Scripture the liturgical actions and signs draw their meaning”. Even more, it must be said that Christ himself “is present in his word, since it is he who speaks when Scripture is read in Church”. Indeed, “the liturgical celebration becomes the continuing, complete and effective presentation of God’s word. The word of God, constantly proclaimed in the liturgy, is always a living and effective word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So if “two or three” are gathered together for a Bible Study or Liturgy of the Word, etc. Is Jesus “present”? I get that the Holy Spirit is but after reading the above I began to wonder.

Thank you.

Dave

 

[Epistemes]

Hi Dave,

If, as the prologue to the Gospel of John says, Jesus is the Word of God, and if we regard the Sacred Scriptures, that is, the Holy Bible as the Word of God, inspired by the one Spirit but written in human manners, then does it not follow that the Word of God (Jesus) is to be found in the Word of God (Bible)?

As Pope Benedict XVI has said, we look for the Word (Jesus) in the words.

As St. Jerome has said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Why? Because God through his Word (Jesus) speaks to us through the words of Sacred Scripture about his Word (Jesus).

The passage you’re reading from Dei Verbum isn’t referencing Jesus’ presence when two or three are gathered; rather, he’s present in every reading of Scripture, alone or wherever. This doesn’t mean that the moment you start reading your Bible Jesus spiritually walks into the room with you - it’s not that kind of “presence” - but it’s deeper and more contemplative than that. This is why you can read your Bible on the john and not feel guilty.

 

[nwa_amaka12]

From what i learnt at catechism, Jesus is present not just when we read scriptures but every time and every where. He isn’t bound by space or time.

 

[djbarnas]

OK … sounds good … so what makes the “real presence” of Christ in the Eucharist different? So different that it requires a Priest?

If you can’t tell by my questions … I am trying to explain this and found I was at a loss for words.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Epistemes]

OK … sounds good … so what makes the “real presence” of Christ in the Eucharist different? So different that it requires a Priest?

If you can’t tell by my questions … I am trying to explain this and found I was at a loss for words.

Thanks,

Dave

The Real Presence of the Eucharist is different because we don’t believe that Jesus is present body, soul and divinity in the Scriptures, whereas we do with the Eucharist. The Eucharist is Jesus, not just an essence or presence. The host has an appearance and taste of bread, but actually contains within it the body, soul and divinity of Jesus.

The Bible is still just a book. It cannot be transubstantiated into something else other than what it already is. Jesus will never allow himself to be present body, soul and divinity in the Bible; rather, again, his presence is gained through the Scriptures contemplatively.

 

[djeter]

As Christians how does this moment occur for us while reading scripture?

The Risen One’s glorified body is not just the supreme masterpiece of the Holy Spirit, but is also the medium through which he communicates this same Creator Spirit to mankind (Acts 2:32-41).

This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Acts 2: 31-42

And this is the foundation of “canonical exegesis” itself, which fixes its gaze upon Christ, dead and risen, as the focal point around which Scripture has both its being and its intelligibility. The practitioner of canonical exegesis has to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead him, through the letter of the Scriptures, to an encounter with Christ, dead and risen. And he draws his understanding of the Bible precisely from the Holy Spirit, whom he receives through an encounter with the risen Lord through the pages of Holy Writ.

Adrian Walker in his essay here goes on to show how Benedict XVI sees the reading of scripture as “sonship in training.”

dj

 

[djbarnas]

Wow. Thank you all!

And djeter - I follow your Blog regularly. Thanks for that incredible Blog!

Dave