A book covered with dust

Fr. Livio Tonello, director

I have found a forgotten book in my bookcase. A voluminous thousand page book. I became curious and browsing through it I noted that it is a collection, an anthology, a compilation of texts including instructions, stories, prophecies, poetry and other genres. I read narrations of wars, conquers, massacres, deportations, I also read a wonderful love poem about two lovers who succeed to fulfil the dream of the sweetest love after many twists and turns. I could continue... but I would like to ask you a question, dear reader.

Have you guessed the name of this book? It is the most widely read book in the world: the Bible! Most Christians own one but is it often left to gather dust in the bookcase in the living room. But statistics affirm that worshippers of other religions and atheists are more interested in this book. Only the great mythological books as Aeneid, Odyssey and Gilgamesh arouse such an attention. In the Bible there is no description of God at first but one of mankind. It narrates each man and woman’s vicissitudes, their suffering, their love, their fights and their death.

There is the representation of the man of all ages called to humanize himself. Even if the reader is not a believer, after reading this book he will be spiritually enriched. Unfortunately nowadays the religious illiteracy is very spread. For example the most difficult questions asked in game shows concern religion. Why do we propose these reflections now when there are so many urgent questions to be discussed? Because on 21 January we celebrate the Sunday of the word of God established by Pope Francis. It recalls that some words are fundamental: peace, war, discriminations, conflicts, exoduses... all this concern our time and they are all described in the Holy Scriptures.

I deliberately use this term only now because when history is seen with the eyes of God it becomes sacred and is enriched with wise and stimulating interpretations. The Scripture is the story of a people who lived in light of the teachings of their God. And he made it an essential point of reference, capable of guiding every step and motivating every choice. Perhaps even today among these often dusty pages, we could rediscover that wisdom that allows us to face human affairs with new motivations and find adequate solutions? What we are experiencing has already happened, because human nature is the same as always. There is still something to learn from the mistakes, ruins and comebacks of the past. And then those pages will no longer have the dust of time but the freshness of a saving relevance.