Last week, we had the assemblies of biblical circles in our archdiocese. With the progress of reflection today using the Church's tradition of lectio divina, named in Brazil prayerful reading of the Bible, they make the geographical presence happen in the parochial territories of the Church's evangelizing mission. Upon hearing the Word of God, people's stories are illuminated and thus steps are taken.
The conversation of Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus may be another paradigm of this reflection. Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word. He becomes present among us. It is always he who initiates the conversation. In this episode some points appear that may be present in the reading and interpretation of the Holy Bible we do.
Jesus, the incarnate Word, creates an atmosphere of conversation and, with a lot of sensibility, did the two talk about the problems they were experiencing in those days. In the conversation appeared all the reality: the sadness, the discouragement, the frustration of the two, their false hope of a glorious Messiah's, the inability of the two to believe in the small signs of hope (Lk 24, 13-24). It is the word that illuminates our history. It is Jesus alive among us that makes us realize the meaning of events.
Jesus used several related passages from the Bible to interpret with them the facts of life and animate the two boys. When we start talking about the Word proclaimed that illuminates our history, immediately comes to mind other biblical passages. Jesus thus reflected with them. Along with the two, he knew how to find those texts of Moses and the prophets that could bring some light to the situation of sadness that pervaded them (cf. Lk 24: 25-27). This also happens in our biblical circles meetings when the word illuminates history. We come to see our personal and community history illuminated and not an invented story to motivate - now is the incarnate Word that motivates us to reflection.
Jesus walked with them, talked, created an environment of openness and had the patience to listen to them. Talking about life and the Bible, he pleased them so much, that the heart of the two heated up, and they came to invite him to dinner. He stayed with them, sat at the table, prayed with them and made the sharing of the bread, as has become the custom among the Christians who had everything in common. Jesus not only spoke, but well placed concrete gestures of friendship. Well, all this is the environment of the community, where one seeks to live in brotherhood. It is there that the experience of the resurrection is made, the living Christ in our midst; the experience of Yahweh, the liberating God (cf. Lk 24: 28-32). Hearing the Word warms the heart and makes us missionaries: the disciples of Emmaus who were dismayed return to find the disciples and continue "the way".
The biblical circles were born and developed out of the need for Catholics to deepen in the Word of God, meditating on this word and comparing it with everyday life. We have many other groups of reflection, pastoral, and other movements that have learned that everything we do must begin with the welcoming of the Word of God, in our lives and in our history, that is, the presence of the Risen Christ among us. Therefore, they are small groups of people that, around the Word of God, pray and reflect on the life and mission.
The biblical circles are the Church's presence in the geographical regions of the parishes. They gather at homes, under the direction of a coordinator, should always be connected to the parish. The goal is to make people find life in Christ, to come closer, be more compassionate, to become better acquainted, creating new fraternal communities. The consequence is to form a community and the presence of the "Church" at that location.
Its purpose turns to reflection, so that, starting from Christ, the Eternal Word incarnate, we come to issues of everyday life, placed under the form of action on the vision of Jesus, making it easier to connect the current life of each participant of the biblical circles to the biblical teachings.
The weekly themes, presented by the biblical circles, that at the request of our archdiocesan assembly suggested that the current Joint Pastoral Plan (11th JPP 11), has a diocesan staff to guide, lead to a simple reflection of the Gospel, applied to the facts and attitudes of man in relation to his community, his family and especially to his own personal relationship with God today.
The Bible is essentially missionary circle. Because it is held in the home of a parishioner, this feels free to invite a neighbor or relative who is a bit away from the Church or God, and also by the fact of its components meeting outside the temple and act out of the joint space of the Parish headquarters. Its components are missionaries of God's Word, because they take it to the places where they congregate: buildings, homes, workplaces, etc. Indeed, in times of such hardship to enter the evangelization, for example, in some environments and condominiums, bible circles are a way of Catholic missionary work.
Invite the neighbors on your street and gather small groups. The first meeting can happen in a house offered by one of the group. The following meetings are held at different houses in the same street or community, so that everyone can get close and know each other better. We suggest at all meetings of the biblical circles that they multiply in our archdiocese.
Throughout the year various topics are examined, as proposed by the Church. The meetings are developed through an opening prayer, reading the Bible text followed by deepening the exchange of feelings aroused in each participant and still experiences and moments lived that the text elicits. Everyone should expose their feelings, doubts, experiences. There is no monopoly of the word, everyone should be heard, existing affection among all, cordiality and mutual respect. There can also happen a study of a concrete situation posed to the group. After the prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God (illuminated by proclaimed Word itself), you can wind up with a small fraternal agape.
The biblical circle has in its dynamics the Bible reading (lectio), meditation on the Word, reflection on the life illuminated by it, prayer motivated by the text and the new vision of life and the world (contemplation), that leads us to an evangelical practice in everyday life. In the midst of these reflections, of praying, of reflecting, we can sing and also ask questions, talk, listen, respond…
The group that reflects together will discover in life and on the Bible many riches. These riches are to be applied in their own lives and in the life of the group or community. Do not forget that the word of God is demanding and calls for action: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it" (Mt 7:24). The Word is a light to our steps.
However, behind the biblical texts it is possible to realize the multiple spiritual experiences of God's people and in particular of the early Christian communities. The same faith that produced very different fruits.
Our gratitude to all who work in this direction in our archdiocese. I know that all parish meetings, usually monthly, of all the biblical circles, are of immense wealth. May they be an evangelizing presence throughout our Archdiocese. The unity among us leads us to a missionary activity that should bear fruit in the life and charity as Church present in this so chaotic and lacking society. There are so many that need to hear the Lord speaking to us through the Word that illuminates our lives.
May the Month of the Bible that calls us to be disciples missionaries from the Gospel of Matthew take us to go make disciples and teach.
