Readers reflect on Friar Jack’s musings

by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M.

We are so blessed to have right before our eyes God’s own gift of the Scriptures: God speaking to us in a language that we can read. The Bible can be described best as a library of books rather than just one big book. That’s because the Bible contains many different kinds of writing: historical books (e.g., Samuel, Kings, Chronicles and Acts), prophetical books (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah and Amos), wisdom and instructional books (e.g., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) and doctrinal books (e.g., the Epistles of Paul and Peter).

We know the entire Bible is God’s inspired word, though the Gospels and Epistles enjoy a kind of preeminence. The Gospels are the account of the life, ministry and saving death of Jesus, the Word made Flesh, and the Epistles give us a development of Christian doctrine in the formative years of the infant Church.

It is understandable that some statements in the Bible are more important than others. For example, Jesus' words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” and the Our Father are more important than something from Proverbs, such as “spare the rod and spoil the child.” Additionally, Paul’s magnificent description of how Jesus “became like us in all things but sin” carries more significance and importance than a list of dietary rules and regulations found in Deuteronomy. Still, everything is inspired.

What does the Church mean when saying that the Bible is the inspired word of God? You will find that there are various interpretations of inspired among many Christian denominations. Some will say that every word in the Bible is God’s direct word and that the Scripture writers were simply taking dictation from God. That’s why, for example, some Christians will say that—no matter what we discover about the universe and planet earth—God created it all in six days (with one day of rest). After all, they say, the Bible says “six days” and that’s that. It’s God’s word. Catholics don’t see it quite that way.

The Catholic Church teaches the following on the Bible’s authors:

To compose the sacred books [the Bible] God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #106)

Now that is a mouthful! And in fact much of the Bible’s origin is mystery as we might expect. The Scripture writers were not stenographers simply taking dictation from the voice of God. They wrote as themselves, which is why you find different writing styles among them. The Greek of Mark's and Luke’s Gospels are quite different, Mark’s being rather plain in comparison to Luke’s much more polished text. However, each author wrote what he believed to be the Good News based on what that he witnessed with his own eyes and heard from others who knew Jesus.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke say that Jesus went to Jerusalem one time during his ministry, while John’s Gospel has Jesus traveling a number of times. These differences in no way indicate error on behalf of the authors. Rather, they recorded what God wanted, but at the same time were using sources of information that varied from place to place. Yet, what each wrote is God’s Word. And that is the core of their mystery. They wrote what God wanted written, but God never took from them their own freedom or their individual personalities.

We do not know the true experiences of the Bible's writers and whether they felt inspired. Certainly the prophets of the Old Testament give that very impression as they chastised and challenged the Israelites in the name of God. But more likely the writers were doing what they thought they should be doing in writing the history of the Old Testament and the Gospels and epistles of the New Testament. The Bible's authors may not have at all felt inspired as we imagine it. But when they wrote (even while using their own words and expressions), the result was indeed the inspired Word of God, the Word of God in human language.

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jack’s musings on “St. Francis and the Birds.”

Dear Friar Jack: Thank you so much for your insights concerning Francis and his preaching to the birds after he was given the ministry to preach to the world. I believe I will see birds and reptiles a bit differently after your e-newsletter. Peace, Rich

Dear Friar Jack: Thank you for the article on St. Francis of Assisi. Like St. Francis, I have always had a strong connection with animals that have brought so much happiness to me. I believe that our loving God will include them with us in the next life and that my life here on earth could not be complete without them. Although not much is written about it, I believe Jesus also loved the animals that he came across, and I know they loved him back and recognized his majesty. Maryann

Dear Friar Jack: Not being a theologian, may I dare to say that there are “many mansions” in the Kingdom, and some of these may be on new earth, new Jerusalem, repopulated with the saved and the creatures, as was in the Garden of Eden? I think we would all like to see our faithful companions reach a level of reward in the end. John

Dear Friar Jack: What a lovely reflection! I truly believe that all the cats I have owned and have passed away will be in heaven when I get there. When my daughter was only six years old, she loved her beloved cat Nicky. After her tears were dried, she explained her “theology” behind what happens to pets when they die. She said that when our pets die, they go to be with St. Francis. He cares for them, provides them with their favorite cat food in crystal bowls and they have a crystal fountain to drink from. My daughter Mary is now a high schooler, but she still believes that she will see Nicky when she goes to heaven. Terry

Dear Friar Jack: I loved the article about St. Francis preaching to the birds. I had never heard that one, but I have always believed that our pets and all the creatures of earth are joined with us and share both in the fall and redemption of humankind. This is pretty clear, at least to me, in the Scriptures. Romans 8:20-23 says that: “…creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Sue

Thanks to the five of you who sent the e-mails selected above, as well as all who sent comments. I enjoy getting your letters, and I read them all, even it's impossible to answer them personally. Know also that I keep you and your loved ones in my prayers. Friar Jack

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

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