Bible reading is devoting time to a loved one, pope says

By Matthew Fowler

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The importance of the Bible in the life of Christians can be seen in the number of faithful around the
world who risk prison and persecution just to possess and read the Bible, Pope
Francis said.

“Many of our brothers and sisters are in prison on
account of the word, and many more have shed their blood as a testimony to
their faith in Jesus Christ,” Pope Francis said Oct. 5 during a meeting
with members of the church relations committee of the United Bible Societies.

Addressing members of the group, which translates, prints
and distributes Bibles around the world, Pope Francis said that just as “we
devote time to those we love,” Christians must devote time to reading the
word of God, “who desires to talk to us and offer us words of life eternal.”

“It is vital that the church today go out to proclaim
the Gospel to all, in all places, on all occasions, without delay, reluctance
or fear,” the pope said. “We do so in obedience to the Lord’s
missionary mandate, certain of his presence among us until the end of the
world.”

The power to share the Gospel effectively comes only when Christians
“nourish ourselves at the table of the word,” he said.

Pope Francis told the representatives of the United Bible
Societies, a nondenominational organization, that Christians should work
together to spread God’s word and should pray together that God’s will for the
unity of Christians will be accomplished.

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