BISHOPS ISSUE PASTORAL LETTER ON THE WORD OF GOD

  1. The Zambian Bishops have released a Pastoral letter on the theme of the Word of God, titled: “SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING” (1 Sam 3: 10) at the end of their annual January Meeting. The 50-points Letter, released on 2nd February 2020, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the World Day for the Consecrated, at Kapingila ZCCB House, Lusaka, Zambia, has  been addressed to the clergy, consecrated men and women and the Catholic lay faithful in Zambia.
  2. The document is divided into seven parts, preceded by the Introduction and ending with the Conclusion.
  3. In the Introduction [Nos. 1- 4], the Bishops draw the attention of the reader to the fact that the Pastoral theme for the Year 2020 in Zambia, shall be on the Word of God. The document highlights the importance of Biblical Apostolate, not only in this year, but in the coming years too: “Therefore, in this and the following years, greater efforts and pastoral commitment will need to be seen in the way the Church in Zambia will be able to mobilise the needed human, material and financial resources towards making biblical apostolate a pastoral priority and the centre of all ecclesial activities” [No. 4].
  4. Under Part I [Nos. 5 – 7], Biblical Inspiration of the Pastoral Letter, the Zambian Church Leaders reflects extensively on the Call of the Prophet Samuel (1 Sam 3:1-10). The Bishops are not shy to remind the readers about the four points, to draw from the Call of Samuel:
    1. One can pray and yet fail to know God, at least not knowing him intimately.
    2. One can hear God speaking, but not recognise that it is God.
    3. Sometimes a mature and experienced person can help us learn to recognise and respond to God’s voice.
    4. We must come before God as humble and obedient servants if we are to hear what He is saying.
  5. Inspired by the story of Samuel, the letter encourages the Zambian Church: “In this Year of the Word of God, we urge all members of the Church that we properly dispose ourselves in order to allow God to speak to us, recognise his voice and listen to him through prayer” [No. 8]. 
  6. The Bishops then reflects on the Nature of the Word of God in Part II [No. 9] of the document.  The phrase, “The Word of God”, has a triple meaning, as indicated in No. 9 of the Letter:
    1. The Word of God as the creative and sustaining personal Speech of God
    2. The Word of God as Power
    3. The Word of God as the Person of Jesus 
  7. Part III [Nos. 10 – 11] entitled: The Word of God Evokes and Nourishes Faith, brings to the attention of the reader that the Word of God is necessary to the faith of a believer.
  8. Part IV [Nos. 12 – 15] deals with the Effects of the Word of God in Daily Life. It brings about positive change in a person, it is highly effective leading to reconciliation and salvation of the human race.
  9. Part V [Nos. 16 – 19] succinctly deals with the Interpretation of the Bible. The Bishops are categorically clear on the subject of Biblical Interpretation, “The primary setting for scriptural interpretation is in the life of the Church; for the Bible was written within the Church, for the Church and was compiled by the Church. Therefore, trying to interpret the Scriptures outside the living Tradition of the Church can be misleading” [No. 16]. Under this subject, the High Ranking Zambian Clergy equally invites the Zambian Church to adopt the Scripture Reading of the Bible based a five-steps method of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading): read, meditate, pray, contemplate and action.
  10. Part VI [Nos. 20 – 35] of the Pastoral Letter deals extensively with the application of the Word of God in Pastoral Ministry. Among the areas where the Word of God can be applied include: Catechesis, Justice and Peace, Reconciliation and Peace Building, Care of Creation and Sacred Liturgy. Other areas are: Health Care, the Means of Social Communication and Catholic Education.  Still under this section, the Bishops call of the Zambian Church to Venerate the Word of God and invites every family to own a Bible [Nos. 31 – 32].
  11. Part VII [Nos. 36 – 47] makes a special Message of Appeal to all the faithful in Zambia, among them: Parents, the Youth and Young Adults, Men and Women and the Whole Family.  Furthermore, the appeal goes to Civic and Political Leaders, Catechists, those in Formation for the Priesthood and Religious Life and Consecrated men and women and the Clergy.
  12. In the Conclusion [Nos. 48 – 50], the Bishops stresses that, “The Word of God must imbue all aspects of life. It must be the centre of all Church activities; the ministries to the youth and young people, catechetical, liturgical, sacred music, the social teaching of the Church, education, biblical and health, among others” (No. 48). Mary the Mother of God should be taken as a Model on how to be docile to the Word of God, and that we ought to call on her intercession, for us to be transformed by the Word of God.
  13. It should be noted that each part of the letter, ends with Questions for Reflection that help one to fully grasp the contents of a particular section.Our Observation
  14. This Pastoral Letter is very timely. It is a well-researched Biblically based Pastoral Letter. Its message, is not only applicable to the Zambian Catholic faithful, but to the entire nation. Indeed “the Word of God is alive and active” – Heb. 4:12. The Letter, is for us, a must-have document, to all men and women, who want to be influenced by the Sacred Scripture in their daily life. 

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