LINCOLN (EI/SNR) - In his September 30, 2019 Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, “He opened to them,” Pope Francis established that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.”
In recognition of this papal proclamation and its inaugural celebration Jan. 26, 2020, the Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies will offer a morning seminar Jan. 25, from 8:30 to noon, on the theme “‘He Opened to Us the Scriptures’ (Luke 24:32): Celebrating the Sunday of the Word of God.”
The seminar will feature three talks, one by each of the Emmaus teaching staff, on themes that lie at the heart and center of the Catholic faith: “Scripture and Tradition,” by Emmaus president Dr. Vern Steiner; “Scripture and Creed,” by associate teacher Chad Steiner; and “Scripture and Sacrament,” by associate teacher Joshua Burks.
The content is intended to be informing, inspiring, and accessible to people at all levels who are interested in how ‘Scripture’ and ‘Catholic’ are necessarily and inseparably bound together.
The title of Pope Francis’ apostolic letter and the name of the Emmaus Institute both derive from Lucan post-resurrection appearances of Christ to his followers. The letter’s release date of Sept. 30 was also significant as the feast day of St. Jerome, who is famously quoted as saying, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
In the letter, the Holy Father stressed, “Without the Lord who opens our minds to them, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures in depth. Yet... without the Scriptures, the events of the mission of Jesus and of his Church in this world would remain incomprehensible.”
The upcoming seminar affords an opportunity for God’s people to grow in their familiarity with the Scriptures, their intimacy with the Lord who speaks in them, and their understanding of the mission to which Christians are called.
The Jan. 25 event is the second of three regular Emmaus seminars planned for the current academic year. It will be hosted by the Institute staff at their 3901 Normal Blvd. location in Lincoln.
For more information and to register, visit www.emmausinstitute.net or contact the Institute office at 402.327.1671 by Jan. 24. The seminar cost of $30 includes hand-out materials, coffee, and light refreshments. Due to limited space, early registration is encouraged.
