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Thursday, April 22, 1999

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Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 66
John 6:44-51

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secrets to knowing the bible

"He said to him, 'Do you really grasp what you are reading?' 'How can I,' the man replied, 'unless someone explains it to me?' " —Acts 8:30-31

Some of you reading One Bread, One Body are much more intelligent that I am and know more about the Bible than I do. So why are you reading this? The Lord has arranged it that we need other people's help to understand much of the Bible. For example, the Ethiopian eunuch, the "official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace," queen of the Ethiopians, was probably much more intelligent than Philip (Acts 8:27). Yet he couldn't understand the part of the Bible he was reading without having Philip explain it to him (Acts 8:31).

Some of you reading this are not very intelligent and know little about the Bible. However, the Lord may have chosen you to enlighten those superior to you in intelligence and knowledge of the Bible. The Lord rejoices in the Holy Spirit that what He has "hidden from the learned and the clever" He has revealed to and through the merest children (Lk 10:21)

Therefore, to understand the Bible as well as possible we need to be humble, docile, and willing to depend on others. We also need to realize that the Lord has given us a light on the Scriptures that other people need to see. Therefore, humbly, docilely seek the light from others. Then "let your little light shine."

Prayer:  Father, may my humility greatly exceed my intelligence (see Prv 3:5-6). Let Your word burn in my heart (Lk 24:32).

Promise:  "No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him; I will raise him up on the last day." —Jn 6:44

Praise:  Sister Rose gave a copy of One Bread, One Body to an elderly woman who had been reading Scripture daily. The woman was so delighted that within an hour she requested extra copies and, with the help of her walker, visited a friend to share the booklets and the Scriptures.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, October 9, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 17, 1998