2) The Scriptures - Divine Words that come to us in human language

Some of you have mentioned that you find the Bible to be a little confronting and that you are not quite sure where to start. That is all very natural, so be of good cheer, since many other people often feel the same way.

As we mentioned in our initial talk at Holy Cross the Bible was formed over a period of 1000 years or more, and the world of the Bible is very different from our own. It's not as though human nature has changed, or that many of our concerns for meaning, belonging and direction in our lives, are so different from those of the world of the Bible. If that was the case we wouldn't be able to draw on the scriptures in the ways that we do. It's more that the worlds of the scriptures and ours are quite different. The languages they spoke, the political and religious settings, their customs and ways of seeing the world were all shaped by the times and places in which they were written. This is another way of saying that while the scriptures are God's Word, they are also human words. It is well worth our while - indeed it is essential - that we understand them in the context of a time and place, like all human words.

Let's use an example. The early Christians lived in the context of the Greco-Roman world and they were often viewed with suspicion and treated as members of a superstition, and from time to time they were subject to persecution. In those times they used the symbol of a fish to let each other know that they were not alone. The Greek word fish - ichthus - was shorthand for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. They found creative ways, in their time and place, to pass on what was precious to them. Nearly two thousand years later much of their language needs to be unpacked for us. It might take us a little while sometimes, but it is definitely well worth it! There are treasures lying just below the surface for those who are ready to do a little exploring.  Bon voyage!!