 |
 |
 |
|
|
|---|
|
Gospel
Christ
Tradition
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Interpretation
From ‘Notes on the Formation of the Gospels’,
by John Wijngaards;
published in Background to the Gospels
(Bangalore & Ann Arbor 1981)
and Together in My Name (London
1991).
Jesus said: ‘If my word remains in you, you will truly be my
disciples’(John 8,31). The early Christians took this seriously. They
learnt large sections of Jesus’words by heart. What is our responsibility
in this regard?
Nowadays it is not difficult to come by a printed copy of Sacred
Scripture. We can either obtain the whole Bible, a copy of the New Testament or
separately printed copies of the Gospels. A selection of versions is available
ranging from rather literal translations (e.g. the Revised Standard Version) to
more up-to-date, readable renderings (e.g. the Good News Bible). Some versions
provide helpful introductions and footnotes (notably the Jerusalem Bible).
However, has this plethora of printed editions really benefited us?
Possessing the text in print may make us believe that it has become part
of us; but could we be fooling ourselves? Studies have shown that many homes
have a copy of Scripture without it ever being consulted. The truth is: the
inspired word is only part of us to the extent that we have internalised
it; that is, to the extent it has become part of our mental resources and inner
vision of life.
Would it be such a bad idea to commit to memory striking phrases of the
Gospel? We know from psychology that we all carry in our mind ‘parental
injunctions’: phrases we copied from our parents and teachers that
enshrine principles and values. By repeating these principles internally, we
make them the unconscious carriers of our day-to-day decisions. Why not give
such a central role to Jesus’sayings?
* ‘If you're not faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can
you be trusted with true (spiritual) wealth?’ (Luke 16,11)
* ‘If you salute only your friends, have you done anything
special?’ (Matthew 5,47)
* ‘As for you, even the hairs on your head have all been
counted. You are worth much more than many sparrows’. (Matthew
10,30)
* ‘With my own eyes I have seen your salvation which you have
prepared for all nations’. (Luke 2.30-31)
* ‘Don't be afraid. It is me!’ (John 6,20)
It is not difficult to gradually build up our inner store of such Gospel
values. All we need to do is retain a beautiful phrase when we meet it; then
repeat it often in the course of the day. We should also promote the
‘treasury approach’with regard to the printed copy of the Bible.
Instead of keeping the whole book as an amorphous mass of text, we could mark
in it passages that touch us in a special way. These texts we could meditate on
with preference and read more often. Sacred Scripture then becomes a more
personal book.
Questions for reflection
1. In which things do you rely on memory, in which on writing? Are there
passages of the Gospel that you know by heart?
2. Consider these passages from Matthew 6,1-6.16-18:
Do not practice your piety before people, hoping that they will see
you. For then you will have no reward from your heavenly Father.
So when you give alms, do not blow the trumpet, as the hypocrites do
in the synagogues and in the streets to receive people's praise. I tell you,
they got their reward. Rather, when you give alms, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing so that your alms are given in secret. And
your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not do like the hypocrites; for they love to
pray standing up in the synagogues and the streets to be seen by people. I tell
you, they got their reward. Rather, when you pray, go inside and shut the door
and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees what you do in
secret, will reward you.
And when you fast, do not look gloomy, like the hypocrites. They put
on a dismal expression so that their fasting is seen by people. I tell you,
they got their reward. Rather, when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
your face so that your fasting is not seen by people but by your Father. And
your Father who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.
a. What traces of memorisation do you discover in this text?
b. What, do you imagine, was the occasion of Jesus formulating the
text?
c. What happened to the text in Matthew's Gospel (see 6,1-18)?
John Wijngaards
Return to Oral
Tradition overview?
Return
to Gospel Formation overview?
Join our Women Priests' Mailing List
for occasional newsletters:
An email will be immediately sent to you
requesting your confirmation.
