The Spiritual Media Series – The Bible
The Holy Bible is a great spiritual treasure, and the goal is not merely to possess or read it, but to benefit from it and transform its word into life.
His Holiness explains that benefiting from the Bible passes through stages that include acquiring the Bible, reading it regularly, understanding it, memorizing some of its verses, and using it as a field for spiritual meditation and spiritual exercises.
The Bible therefore requires sound understanding and knowledge of the spirit of the commandment, because memorizing the texts without practicing them does not fulfill their spiritual purpose.
For this reason, a person should ask God to open his eyes to understand the wonders of His word, and should begin reading the Bible with prayer and end it with prayer.
Spiritual Message
The word of God is not merely information, but spirit and life; therefore, the commandment should be transformed into practical behavior in a person’s life.
A person can also use the verses of the Bible in facing spiritual battles by collecting the verses related to the weakness he is struggling with, memorizing them, and repeating them when thoughts or temptations come to him.
The Psalms are also a school of prayer, because they teach a person how to speak to God and what to ask from Him; therefore, the Pope encourages continuous memorization of the Psalms so that they can be repeated, prayed, and meditated upon.
Continuous recitation of the word of God keeps it present in the mind and heart, making it a light and guide for a person and protecting him from falling.
Educational Lesson
The Pope encourages establishing a consistent practical exercise, such as memorizing one verse every day and one Psalm every week, and benefiting from the verses in different areas of life.
He also explains that the Holy Bible provides a spirit and a principle that help a person make sound judgments concerning contemporary matters, rather than being merely a collection of laws that mention every means or invention by name.
A person therefore does not judge things only by their material nature, but considers how they are used; something may be beneficial when used for good and may become harmful when misused or when it gains control over a person.
This principle applies to media, inventions, science, intelligence, power, and other things, whose use should remain within a sound spiritual framework and for the good of the human being.
Practical Application
A person should set aside regular time for the Holy Bible amid daily responsibilities and should not allow entertainment or communication devices to take over the time intended for prayer, reading, and meditation.
It is useful to choose verses related to the spiritual struggles or weaknesses one faces, memorize them, and repeat them continually so that the word of God becomes present in practical life.
A person should also meditate deeply on the verse, ask God what message He wants to give through it, and then act according to what he has understood from it.
When the commandment becomes a way of life, the person himself becomes a living witness to the word of God, and his life becomes a practical interpretation of the verses he has read and memorized.
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