MISSIONIS SUI IURIS FUNAFUTINAE
(Missio Sui Iuris of Funafuti)
Christ the King Roman Catholic Church
Teone, Funafuti, Tuvalu
P.O. Box 58
BIBLE STUDY / UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
HOW TO READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
Reading Holy Scripture in a Catholic way involves approaching the Bible with reverence, understanding it within the context of Church Tradition, and seeking both intellectual and spiritual enrichment. Here are some guidelines to read Scripture from a Catholic perspective:
1. Begin with Prayer
Before reading, invoke the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. A simple prayer like, "Come, Holy Spirit, open my mind and heart to hear Your Word" can prepare you to receive God's message in Scripture.
2. Read with the Mind of the Church
Catholics understand Scripture as part of a larger tradition. The Bible is read in light of Church teachings, the Catechism, and the writings of the Church Fathers, ensuring that individual interpretation aligns with the faith handed down through the centuries.
3. Consider the Three Senses of Scripture
The Church encourages reading the Bible through multiple lenses:
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The Literal Sense: What the text directly says about historical events, persons, or teachings.
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The Spiritual Sense: Divided into three types:
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Allegorical Sense: How events in the Old Testament prefigure Christ.
Moral: How the text instructs us on leading a virtuous life.
Anagogical: How Scripture points to eternal realities, like heaven and the end times.
4. Use a Catholic Bible with Church-Approved Commentary
Choose a Catholic Bible translation (such as the New American Bible, Revised Edition or the Douay-Rheims Bible) to ensure it includes the full canon of books. Many editions include helpful footnotes and commentaries that reflect Catholic interpretation and teaching.
5. Read Scripture in Context
Understanding the historical, cultural, and literary context of each book is essential. Reading Scripture passages as part of the larger biblical narrative helps you see how God’s salvation unfolds from Genesis through Revelation.
6. Look for Christ in All Scripture
The Catholic approach recognizes that all Scripture ultimately points to Christ. The Old Testament foreshadows Him, while the New Testament reveals His life, teachings, and mission. Seeking Christ within every passage enhances understanding.
7. Practice Lectio Divina (Divine Reading)
Lectio Divina is an ancient method of prayerful reading, where you slowly read a passage, meditate on its meaning, respond in prayer, and contemplate God’s presence. This practice can help you connect with Scripture on a deeply personal and spiritual level.
8. Engage with the Church’s Liturgy
The Mass includes readings from Scripture (the Old Testament, Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels) that are carefully chosen to reveal connections across the Bible. Following the readings through the liturgical year is a way to engage with Scripture in a communal setting.
9. Reflect on Application to Daily Life
After understanding the meaning of a passage, reflect on how it applies to your life. Ask how God may be speaking to you personally or inviting you to grow in faith, charity, or virtue.
10. Read with Humility and Openness
Scripture is not only for study but also for transformation. Approach it with an open heart, willing to be challenged, changed, and drawn closer to God.
By reading Scripture with these practices, Catholics are guided not only by personal insight but also by the rich wisdom of the Church, opening the Word of God to deeper understanding and faithful living.
Understanding the Following Sunday Gospel
Read the Gospel of John 2:1–11: The Wedding at Cana
Exegesis on the Gospel of John 2:1–11: The Wedding at Cana
The account of the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11) marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry in the Gospel of John. This passage is deeply symbolic, revealing Jesus’ divine identity and the nature of His mission. John’s Gospel calls this event a “sign” rather than a miracle, emphasizing its theological depth and its role in revealing God’s glory.
1. Literary and Theological Context
The Gospel of John is structured around seven “signs” that progressively unveil Jesus’ divine nature. The miracle at Cana is the first of these signs, setting the tone for Jesus’ mission of transformation and fulfillment. The context of a wedding feast is significant in Jewish thought, often symbolizing God’s covenant relationship with His people (cf. Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:19-20).
The narrative immediately follows Jesus’ calling of His first disciples (John 1:35–51), suggesting that this miracle serves as a foundational event for their understanding of who Jesus is.
2. Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verses 1–2: Setting the Scene
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.”
• “On the third day” likely connects to the sequence of days in John 1, but symbolically, the “third day” also alludes to resurrection themes (cf. Hosea 6:2), pointing ahead to Jesus’ ultimate glorification.
• Cana in Galilee is a small village, emphasizing that Jesus’ mission begins in humble, ordinary settings.
• The inclusion of Mary and Jesus’ disciples establishes both familial and communal participation, reflecting the relational nature of Jesus’ ministry.
Verse 3: The Problem
“When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’”
• Running out of wine at a wedding was a social disgrace in Jewish culture, reflecting poor hospitality and potentially bringing shame to the hosts.
• Mary’s statement is more than a report; it subtly appeals for Jesus’ intervention, reflecting her intercessory role. Her awareness of Jesus’ divine capability is implied.
Verse 4: Jesus’ Response
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’”
• The address “Woman” may sound distant in English, but in the Greek (γύναι), it conveys respect, akin to “Madam.” Jesus also uses this term when addressing Mary from the cross (John 19:26).
• “My hour” consistently refers to Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection (cf. John 7:30; 12:23; 17:1). Jesus implies that His miracles are governed by divine timing, not human requests.
Verse 5: Mary’s Instruction
“His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”
• Mary’s response shows unwavering trust in Jesus, even after His seeming refusal.
• Her words echo the Israelites’ response at Sinai (Exodus 19:8) and prefigure Christian discipleship—complete obedience to Christ.
Verses 6–7: The Action
“Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim.”
• The six stone jars were used for ritual purification, representing the old covenant. The number six, symbolizing incompletion (falling short of seven), suggests the insufficiency of the old order.
• Filling the jars “to the brim” signals total transformation—nothing is left of the old; Jesus brings complete fulfillment.
Verse 8–10: The Transformation
“Then he told them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine… the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said, ‘Everyone serves good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.’”
• The wine is not just restored but is of superior quality, symbolizing the new covenant’s superiority over the old.
• The bridegroom, traditionally responsible for providing wine, is unaware of the miracle. This subtly points to Jesus as the true Bridegroom (cf. John 3:29), fulfilling God’s covenantal promises.
Verse 11: The Theological Conclusion
“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.”
• This act is the first sign revealing Jesus’ glory, prefiguring the greater glory of the Cross and Resurrection.
• The miracle leads to faith, which is the intended response to Jesus’ signs in John’s Gospel.
3. Symbolic and Theological Themes
A. New Covenant Fulfillment
• The transformation of water (used for purification) into wine symbolizes the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Jesus fulfills and transcends the rituals of the Mosaic Law, offering the joy and abundance of divine grace.
B. The Role of Mary
• Mary acts as a mediator, presenting human needs to Jesus and instructing others to obey Him. Her role at Cana foreshadows her spiritual motherhood of the Church.
C. Jesus as the Divine Bridegroom
• By providing wine—a symbol of joy and covenant blessing—Jesus implicitly assumes the role of the Bridegroom, fulfilling the prophetic vision of God espousing His people (cf. Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16–20).
D. The Abundance of Grace
• The vast amount of high-quality wine represents the superabundance of God’s grace. This foreshadows the Eucharist, where Jesus offers His very self for the salvation of the world.
E. The First Sign and the Hour of Glory
• This first sign is a preview of Jesus’ “hour”—His Passion, Death, and Resurrection—when His full glory will be revealed. The sign points forward to the ultimate act of love and redemption.
4. Pastoral Implications
• Trust in Divine Timing: Like Mary, believers are called to present their needs to Jesus and trust in His perfect timing.
• Obedience in Discipleship: The servants’ obedience, even when the command seems illogical, results in a miracle. Faith calls for trustful obedience.
• Transformation in Christ: Jesus can transform ordinary, even empty, aspects of our lives into something extraordinary and grace-filled.
• Mary as Intercessor: The faithful are invited to seek Mary’s intercession, confident that she directs us to her Son.
Conclusion
The Wedding at Cana is a profound narrative rich with theological meaning. It is not merely a story of Jesus solving a social embarrassment but a sign of the coming of God’s Kingdom—a kingdom of joy, abundance, and divine transformation. Jesus reveals Himself as the Bridegroom of a new covenant, offering a grace that surpasses human understanding. Mary’s faith and the servants’ obedience invite every believer into a deeper relationship with Christ, who continues to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Catholic Way to Interpret the Bible
The Catholic Church interprets the Bible through a framework that combines Scripture with Tradition and the teaching authority of the Church, or Magisterium. This approach, known as the "Catholic hermeneutic," ensures that the interpretation of Scripture is faithful to the Apostolic teachings and remains consistent with the Church's teachings through the ages. Here’s a closer look at the key principles guiding Catholic biblical interpretation:
1. Scripture and Tradition
The Catholic Church holds that both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition form the single deposit of God’s Word. Scripture is understood within the living Tradition of the Church, which has preserved and passed down the teachings of Christ through the centuries.
Tradition provides context and depth, guiding the interpretation of biblical texts so that they align with the core beliefs and teachings of the Apostles. This approach recognizes that Scripture was written, compiled, and preserved within the community of the early Church, making Tradition essential for understanding it fully.
2. Role of the Magisterium
The Magisterium—the teaching authority of the Church, embodied by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him—interprets and teaches Scripture authoritatively. This ensures that personal interpretations of the Bible align with the faith and morals of the universal Church.
When there are questions or disagreements about biblical meaning, the Magisterium provides clarity and guidance, helping to avoid misinterpretation and maintain doctrinal unity.
3. Senses of Scripture
The Church interprets the Bible through both the literal and spiritual senses:
Literal Sense: What the text directly says, focusing on the original meaning intended by the human author in their historical context. The literal sense is foundational and aims to respect the text's original message.
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The Literal Sense: What the text directly says about historical events, persons, or teachings.
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Spiritual Sense: Seeks the deeper, God-intended meaning within Scripture, often seen as having three dimensions:
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Allegorical Sense: How events or characters in Scripture point to Christ and His redemptive work.
Moral:: How Scripture guides believers in moral and virtuous living.
Anagogical: How Scripture speaks of eternal realities, pointing toward heaven and our ultimate union with God.
4. Unity of Scripture
The Church teaches that the Bible, though composed of various books, forms a unified whole. Each part of Scripture is interpreted in harmony with the entire Bible, understanding that all parts contribute to the overarching message of salvation.
This principle is known as the “analogy of faith,” where interpretations are tested against the totality of Catholic doctrine to ensure coherence with the teachings of faith.
5. Christ-Centered Interpretation
Catholics believe that all Scripture ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Both Old and New Testaments reveal God’s plan of salvation, with the Old Testament foreshadowing and preparing for Christ, and the New Testament revealing His life, death, and resurrection.
This Christocentric approach guides Catholics to seek how each passage relates to the life and mission of Jesus, deepening faith in Him as the fulfillment of God's promises.
6. Historical and Literary Context
The Church recognizes the importance of the historical-critical method and other scholarly tools to uncover the meaning of texts in their original historical and cultural settings. Understanding the Bible's genres, contexts, and languages enriches interpretation and allows for a respectful reading that acknowledges both the human and divine authorship of Scripture.
7. Guidance of the Holy Spirit
Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scriptures, continues to guide the Church’s understanding of Scripture. Prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit are therefore essential in interpretation, making it a spiritual, as well as an intellectual, endeavor.
8. Integration with the Liturgy
Scripture is woven into the liturgical life of the Church, especially in the Mass, where readings from the Old and New Testaments are presented together, revealing the unity of God’s Word. Through the Liturgy, Scripture becomes a living Word for the community, not merely a text to be studied.
9. Pastoral Application and Teaching
The Church seeks to interpret Scripture in ways that apply to the faithful's daily lives, helping to form moral conscience, deepen spiritual life, and encourage discipleship. The Bible is seen as both a historical document and a living guide for life, with teachings relevant to each generation.
Summary
The Catholic approach to biblical interpretation is a balance of faith, tradition, scholarship, and guidance from the Church. By interpreting Scripture within the living Tradition and with the guidance of the Magisterium, the Church maintains unity in faith and provides a way for believers to encounter God’s Word in a reliable, faithful manner. This holistic approach ensures that Scripture remains a source of life, wisdom, and truth for Catholics across time.