Bible Basics - Steve Ray

The Full But Neglected Knapsack
Your personal Bible study blueprint.

As soon as the traveler crested the hill, he knew he was in dire straits. He was lost and weary from hours of traveling, and his tongue was swollen with thirst. The leather pack his mother had given him grew heavier by the mile. He was certainly nowhere near his destination. Now, to make matters worse, an ominous scoundrel was lurking on the side of the path. Their eyes met and the villain lurched forward. In desperation the traveler shrieked, dropped his pack to the ground, and clenched his fists. The villain, undeterred, charged with his dagger raised high. With one thrust of the rusty knife, the traveler lay bleeding on the ground.

Hunters in the brush nearby heard the shriek of fear and came dashing down the hillside. The thief had barely enough time to rummage through the pockets of the fallen man before escaping down the ravine. The hunters arrived too late — the man was dead. They searched through his pack to see if they could identify him. In utter amazement they stopped, looking first at the weary traveler, then back to the contents of the knapsack. His mother had provided him a map and compass, food and water, and most importantly, a gleaming sword of exquisite design.

The man's mother had provided everything necessary for the journey. Why had he not used them?

St. Peter addresses Christians in the world as "aliens and exiles" (1 Peter 2:11), and St. Paul tells us we are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). We are sojourners in a land fraught with danger. The word parish comes from the Greek word for sojourner or stranger. We are strangers traveling through a strange land, and our holy Mother Church has provided us, by the grace of God, with all we need for the journey. Our knapsack is full of provisions: miraculous Bread, the water of life, clean garments, impenetrable armor, a map, compass and instructions. Holy Mother Church has also provided the pilgrims traveling to the Celestial City a gleaming sword, the Word of God. No need to fall prey to a poorly wielded and rusty knife when we have a jeweled sword worthy of a king.

Catholics too frequently leave the Good Book on the shelf as a gilded decoration. What did Jesus do when the villain and god of this world accosted Him in the wilderness? Did Jesus drop His knapsack and run? No. Jesus knew its contents and quickly drew His sword, the Scriptures, and with great precision, laid bare the lies (Matt. 4:1-11).

Too many rush out to join the latest fad or follow after the newest apparition. Should we leave God's inspired Word unread to run off in search of that which is uncertain? Are Catholics afraid of misinterpreting the Bible but not afraid of believing every seemingly supernatural voice? We face enemies from every quarter: Satan and his minions (1 Peter 5:8), sin (Gen. 4:7), the world and its materialism (1 John 2:15-17), our own self-love (Mark 8:35) and a host of others (Matt. 13:3-9). We're even waylaid by enemies who appear to be Christians, but are actually wolves in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15).

Let's stop and take inventory. Where are we going? What has our Mother provided to sustain us on our journey? Have we exerted the time and energy to learn good swordsmanship? Do we know our enemies? Have we joined a good Catholic Bible Study or sought to study on our own? Have we appropriated the tremendous resources that have been so freely given? Unhappily, too many Catholics are dropping to the left and right, simply because they have neglected the magnificent gifts of God.

Your Provisions:
What two components make up the Word of God (2 Thess. 2:15, CCC 80-82)? In what kind of warfare are we engaged (2 Cor. 10:3-4)? What has God provided for the inevitable warfare (Eph. 6:10-18, Rom. 13:12)? What is the Word of God likened to (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:17)? How did King David describe the Scriptures (Psalms 19:7-11)? What do the Scriptures give us (2 Tim. 3:15)? Where do the Scriptures come from and for what are they profitable (2 Tim. 3:16-17, CCC 105)?

Why should the Catholic be immersed in the Bible (Rom. 15:4, 16:25, CCC 131, 133)? What is the sure Word of God (CCC 67)? What benefits are realized from the study of Scripture (1 Peter 2:2, Psalms 119:105, CCC 141)? Can God's Word be trusted (Matt. 5:17-19, 24:35, CCC 215)? What is Truth (Psalms 119:160, John 17:17, CCC 2246)? What is our nourishment and defense along our journey (CCC 141; 2835)? How were our forebears, the Jews, to live and instruct their sojourning families (Deut. 6:4-7)?

Steve Ray leads a large parish-based Bible study in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visit his Web page at www.catholic-convert.com.