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Bible Verses Will Save Us From Spiritual Reverses: Scripture Scholar
By SAR NEWS
OLD GOA, Goa (SAR NEWS) -- The word of God is at the centre of all
ecclesial activity and will save us from spiritual confusions and
reversals, said Bishop Devadas Ambrose, chairman of the Bible
Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India.
The prelate of the Thanjavur Diocese in Tamil Nadu State was speaking
at the annual gathering of the representatives of 129 dioceses of
India at Panaji, October 24-27.
"Memorising the gospel verses will strengthen our faith, confirm us in
our beliefs and spare us from the trouble and confusions that might
assail us, especially in the times of trouble and temptation," he
said.
Bishop Ambrose said that the knowledge of the Bible was no additional,
optional, pious exercise. "It rather pertains to our deeper Christian
identity as the Church is the community of the people gathered by
faith in the Word of God, sharing it, proclaiming it and celebrating
it."
Father Arul Raj, national secretary of the Bible Commission and chief
organiser of the convention, said, "A Bible in hand is worth two in
the bookshelf." "While other books give us information, the Bible
gives us transformation and the three greatest sins of today are
indifference to, neglect of, disrespect and ignorance of the Word of
God."
Bangalore-based French missionary and renowned biblical scholar, Dr.
Lucien Legrand, MEP, speaking of the need for biblical apostolate
said, "Ignorance of the Scripture is ignorance of Christ".
The new chairman of the CCBI Catechetics Commission, Bishop Prakash
Mallavarapu of Vijayawada, and secretary general of CCBI stressed the
need for grassroots evangelisation. "There are thousands of people who
are crying out in slums, villages, in city ghettos for the word of
God."
He pointed out that most of the priests and religious lacked
enthusiasm and zeal to go to these people and preach the word of God.
"We are satisfied just doing the minimum for the Lord, while hundreds
are aching to hear the Gospel and receive consolation." He called on
the faithful to "rise and be missionaries of the third millennium,
following in the footsteps St. Francis Xavier."
Bishop Agnelo Gracias, chairman of the CCBI Family Commission,
explained the dynamics of the Fifth World Family Meeting in Valencia,
Spain, where he represented Indian Church. He stressed the need of
family catechesis and instruction and Christian discipline. "Family is
a domestic Church and the Church is a communion of families where the
seed of Faith is first put and nourished in the infancy. Unless this
is done in a systematic way, the next generation will be lost," he
said.
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