ANCHOR OUR LIVES IN THE PROMISES OF SCRIPTURE

During the weekend of 25-26 January 2025, we will celebrate for the Sixth year, Sunday of the Word of God as a Church. This year’s theme, “I Hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119), resonates completely with our Jubilee Year of Hope. It reminds us that God’s Word is not merely text but the very voice of God - alive, active and ever-present! Through the Word of God, we encounter Christ, who offers us strength in times of uncertainty and joy in moments of grace.

This celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God coincides with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) - traditionally observed by the Universal Church every year - beginning on 18 January with the Feast of the Chair of St Peter the Apostle and concluding with the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle, on 25 January. This year, the theme “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 17-27) centres on Jesus’ profound dialogue with Martha following the death of her brother, Lazarus. This is when Jesus declares, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if he dies. Do you believe this?”

The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) established the Nicene Creed (We Believe, later replaced by I Believe) as a vital component of the Church’s profession of faith. Today, we continue to profess “I Believe” – the creed encompassing twelve essential truths that we proudly proclaim in Jesus Christ, as the foundation of our faith.

In 2019, Pope Francis instituted the annual observance of the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the Sunday of the Word of God. In his Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illis, the Holy Father emphasises the significance of deepening our focus on the living Word of God, which shapes our lives, strengthens our faith, and guides us through every moment. In Aperuit Illis, he writes, “The Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.” This reminds us that we must recognise the Word of God - not just as a source of personal faith - but as a crucial bridge to strengthen our relationships with our Christian brothers and sisters. We must embrace this calling to foster genuine unity among us.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Sunday of the Word of God and WPCU offer us a renewed opportunity to anchor our lives in the promises of Scripture and to be a people of faith and action - sharing Christ’s message of love, hope and eternal life with all those we encounter. As we journey together in this Jubilee, let us become a community united by faith, strengthened by hope, and inspired to bring the light of Christ into our world.

May this Jubilee be a time to reaffirm our trust in the Word of God, strengthen our unity with ecumenical churches as one body in Christ, and confidently proclaim that we find the fullness of life and hope in Him!