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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Saturday of the First Week of Advent
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Gospel text (Mt 9:35—10:1.6-8): Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness (…). Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness (…).

How to interpret the "Bible"? The "canonical" exegesis method

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, we contemplate in Christ the arrival of a "Divine Gale". History and faith: Jesus spoke, and with faith, we assume that it is the "Word of God" (they are not merely human words, as things of the past). Indeed, the writers of the New Testament (and the very Christ himself) in their explanations constantly cite passages from the Old Testament. They do it because the various parts of the "Bible" are "inter-connected", by forming a single book: what was formerly written, with successive in-depth studies, becomes contemporary.

The interpretation of the Holy Scripture demands going beyond a mere historical and rational reading. It is necessary to read the individual texts of the "Bible" in the context of the whole (avoiding to read them separately). This is the interpretation of the "canonical" exegesis. The Second Vatican Council asserts that the living tradition of the whole Church and the analogy of faith (the intrinsic correspondences of the faith) must be taken into account.

—O Lord, help me to assume the Scriptures in the same spirit that has been inspired by You.