The book like no other
June 3, 2023 - Saturday, Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
Psalm 19:8-11
Psalm 19 begins with declaring the greatness of God (see Ps 19:2-7), then, it moves into praising the Lord for the gift of the Torah - the teaching of the Lord. The Torah begins with the story of creation (Gen 1-2) and ends with the people of God about to enter the promised land (Deut 32:49). And by its end, we hear this powerful proclamation from Moses: “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess” (Deut 32:46-47).
The psalmist declares that the Torah of the Lord gives joy to the heart. What makes you happy? When I was a child the most joyful and refreshing moments of the day were evenings. As I was preparing to sleep, my mother sat by my side and read stories about adventures and friendship, stories in which good always triumphed over evil. When I learned how to read I got myself a library card and read the books that caught my attention. Reading always brought joy to my life. So what makes you happy?
Bible can also be considered a library of different books. There is the Torah - the first five books ascribed to Moses; there are the historical books that describe the conquest of the promised land, the establishment of the monarchy, and the loss of the promised land. There are prophetic books that warn people of God’s judgment and call them to repentance but also encourage them to trust in God because His love is everlasting. There are the wisdom books that teach us how to live in obedience to God and the Psalms that teach us how to pray. As we move to the New Testament, we encounter the story of Jesus Christ from his miraculous birth to his even more miraculous resurrection and ascension into heaven. Then, we have the story of the early Church followed by the apostolic letters. Finally, the last book of the Bible reveals to us the heavenly liturgy and the future of God’s creation.
In 1776, the French philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778) predicted that “one hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.” History proved him wrong. The Bible remains the bestselling book of all time and its transforming power is incredible. Why is that so?
The Bible is unlike any other book. Although written by different authors, it is God-breathed (see 2 Tim 3:16). That is what makes it so unique. We know countless stories of people who by listening to or reading the Bible got transformed. As the psalmist says, this book brought joy to their lives, refreshed their souls, imparted wisdom and enlightened their understanding of life. How about you? Have you ever read the Bible? Not just a portion but the whole thing? Do you consider it relevant to your life? May this God-inspired book bring also joy, wisdom, and guidance to your life.