Open the Scriptures to Us

Gospel Reflection for April 14, 2024, the Third Sunday of Easter - Luke 24:35-48

And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not.

But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit.

And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have.

And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet.

But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said: Have you any thing to eat?

And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb.

And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them.

And he said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

And he said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, the third day:

And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And you are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:35-48 DRA)

One of the most common accusations made against Catholics, particularly by Protestants but even in jest by many Catholics themselves, is that Catholics are unbiblical - unfaithful to the teachings of Scripture, ignorant of its many characters, events and details and inept at remembering specific verses. This is made in comparison to Protestants, who supposedly are more biblical because they claim to only follow what is explicitly taught in Scripture and can recite it chapter and verse at will. Unfortunately, the propensity of Protestants to call themselves "Bible Christians" and attribute all of their doctrines, even when they contradict each other between their thousands of denominations, to the Bible, has made many Catholics wary or even suspicious of Scripture and thus less interested in studying it beyond what they hear at Mass.

Other than the admirable skill of Protestants at memorizing the Bible, their "biblical" appellation is, however, unfounded. While they do of course (again, depending on the denomination) share many beliefs with Catholics which are based in Scripture, including the divinity and salvific mission of Christ, the essential truth of the Trinity and the necessity of faith, they hold many others, and neglect even more, that are patently unbiblical, often denying the clearest and most literal teachings of Scripture. For example:

• “Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation.”

  (2 Pt 1:20 - need for authority in interpreting Scripture)

• “Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?”

  (Jm 2:24 - the necessity of works)

• “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.”

  (Mt 16:18-19 - papal primacy)

• “And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.”

  (Mt 18:17-18 - authority of the Church)

• “Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.” “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.”

  (Jn 6:54; 1 Cor 11:24-25 - transubstantiation of the Eucharist)

• “Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth (“bear,” Greek tikto) a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God (Greek Theos) with us.”

  (Mt 1:23 - Virgin Mary as Mother of God, Theo-tokos; cf. Lk 1:43)

• “And he saith to them: Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery against her.”

  (Mk 10:11 - indissolubility of marriage)

• “Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

  (1 Pt 3:21 - saving power of Baptism)

• “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

  (Acts 20:28 - visible hierarchy of the Church)

• “Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.”

  (2 Thess 2:14 - the validity of Tradition)

The list goes on. The point: Catholics should not be afraid of Scripture. In truth, we are the only fully biblical Christianity as the fullness of the Faith which, as Vatican II taught, subsists in the Catholic Church. No denomination of this fullness, even the Orthodox, hand on fully and pristinely the faith of the Bible. The extrabiblical traditions of the Church are preserved by her authority from the apostles, they are good and necessary, but they can never contradict Scripture. As we heard in the readings today, the true disciples of Christ, those who truly know and love Him, are those who obey His commandments, and this is done by allowing the Holy Spirit to speak the truth of Christ to us through Scripture within the authentic and infallible interpretive Tradition of the Church.

We can only interpret Scripture on our own within this reliable framework, not independently, which only causes us to be "led away with various and strange doctrines." (Heb 13:9) The endless and contradictory teachings of the thousands of Protestant denominations show this fact and prove that it is not the way Christ designed His Church to be. Instead, we as Catholics should strive to be biblical, holding true to the Faith of the Church even when it is denied or violated by our fellow Catholics, whether "traditionalists" or "liberals," knowing that the Church can never officially teach erroneous doctrine or command us to sin and will always be the dispenser of grace to lead us ever closer to Christ.

As we continue in this Easter season toward Pentecost, may we ask the Holy Ghost to enlighten us to know and obey the Word of God as given through the words of Scripture more perfectly and to preach Him faithfully to all the nations. Ambiguity and compromise on Scripture will only repel nonbelievers from the Church and cause Catholics to blend in with the world, while bold and authentic biblical witness remains as attractive today as it was for the missionaries who first converted Europe to the Faith. We need the biblical faith of St. Jerome, St. Boniface and St. Francis Xavier again today to inspire and guide the New Evangelization.