Reading of God's Words

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 26 Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, September 30th, 2021
Texts: Neh. 8:1-4a.5-6.7b-12; Ps. 19:8.9.10.11;  Luke 10: 1-12
Today's first reading reminds us of the words of St. Paul: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work" (2Tim. 3:16-17). In the first reading, the Jews read the book of the Law for guidance and direction. When they read it, they discovered their shortcomings and were remorseful for their failings. Reading of Scripture helps us to know the path that God has made for us and the direction He has pointed out for us. When we read the Scripture we realize our shortcomings and failings and are moved to change our ways. The longer we abandon the reading of Scripture, the further we are from the path of God.
The man we celebrate today, St. Jerome acknowledged that the knowledge of the Scripture is the knowledge of God's power. He says, "For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the man who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ (Today's Office of the Reading in Universalis). Pope Benedict XV writes: "Jerome still calls to us. His voice rings out, telling us of the supreme excellence of the Holy Scripture, of its integral character and historical trustworthiness, telling us, too, of the pleasant fruits resulting from reading and meditating upon it. His voice summons all the Church's children to return to a truly Christian Standard of life, to shake themselves free from the pagan type of morality which seems to have sprung to life again in these days" (Pazhayampallil, Words of EternalLife, p. 271).
In today's gospel reading Jesus Christ reminds us that we are all labourers in the Lord's vineyard; we are meant to harvest souls for Him. As we pray the Lord of harvest to send labourers into His harvest, we have to do our own. As we pray for increase in vocation, the layfaithful should not forget that they are to embrace lay apostolate too. Hence,  Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves."  The layfaithful spread the good news and harvest souls for Christ through lay apostolate. As Jesus Christ asked His disciples to pray, He also sent them out to preach the gospel.
Jesus also calls on us all today to rely on God's providence as we go about our various apostolate. He says, "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road". God wants us to realise that the work is His but only that He is doing it through us.

St. Jerome, pray for us.