Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 436

Learn from myself and Apollos not to go beyond what is written,
so that none of you will be inflated with pride
in favor of one person over against another.
Who confers distinction upon you?
What do you possess that you have not received?
But if you have received it,
why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?

Every age produces some fascinating additions to what is written, despite Saint Paul's warning. In fact there had been very little written about Jesus at the time. Scholars speculate that the Evangelists Luke and Matthew borrowed from the same written set of Jesus's teaching, since we find similar words in both documents, but they drew their basic life of Jesus from the only Gospel that had been written, Mark. 

Paul was apparently referring to Hebrew scriptures, since the Church was discovering so many allusions to Jesus's death and resurrection in (what we call) the "Old Testament," and there was no New Testament at the time. There was only "Good News."

In any case, Saint Paul warned against wild speculation about Jesus and his mission. He had given the Corinthians plenty to think about; they should mine that mother lode and not go digging somewhere else. It could only lead to mischief created by divisive, self-inflated mischief makers. 

But nearly everyone does it; certainly every spiritual writer and preacher. Sometimes we're alluding to small hints that are clearly there in the text. Any competent preacher can speak at length about Bartimeus's cloak, the item he tossed aside as he approached Jesus. Books have been written about Tobias's dog, though the animal only went with him and came home with him. Even Saint John Paul II insisted that the Risen Lord had appeared to Mary although there is little trace of such an apparition in scripture. Of course he did! What loyal son would allow his mother to grieve endlessly when he had been raised up and was appearing to others? 

But too much creativity can be divisive as speculative histories fill in for what is not found in scripture. Experts will immediately disagree about their content and meaning, and about the liberties creative minds take with the Word of God. Revelation adds a severe warning to these writers and preachers: 

I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book. (Revelation 22:18)

Most of these creative additions are probably more comforting than prophetic or challenging. We do better to stick to what is written, as the same author said: 

Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

The Church has invested enormous energy in maintaining God's Word precisely as he gave it to us. There are scholars who spend their lives scanning and comparing the most ancient manuscripts, discovering minor errata. I have heard that every word of the Bible has been challenged by some documents, and yet the scholars are 99% sure of every word. It's astonishing how well the Bible has been preserved, as compared to other ancient writings. 

Another set of scholars are commissioned to translate the text into modern languages.  They tailor their translations to the audience. The most accurate texts are offered to scholars, preachers, and teachers; but popular translations may address different reading skills. The Good News Bible (GNB), for instance, is written in simple, everyday language to be accessible to everyone, including children and people learning English. 

Lectors who read to Catholic congregations should carefully study the text ahead of time. Their reading is an interpretation, and it can make a difference as to how it's understood by those who hear it.  They should read the footnotes in the NABRE, and be familiar with some of the scholarship around the text. They should find out how to pronounce difficult words, and read them with confidence. They should practice the reading aloud before the congregation arrives. Ignorance of the scriptures, as Saint Jerome said, is ignorance of Christ. And it shows sometimes, especially when someone volunteers at the last moment and steps up to read an unfamiliar passage. (Don't. Let the presider handle it; he should have read it ahead of time, and has certainly read it many times before.) 

God's Word is God, as Saint John says. We handle the Word with reverence and thank God daily for it. We ponder it often in the silence of our hearts; and when we speak the Word, our manner announces God's presence among us.