On 23rd November 2019 renowned Bible scholar and translator, Fr Nicholas King SJ, came to the parish of Gidea Park to give the second study day for the Year of the God who Speaks, the year which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Biblical Federation, the worldwide organisation of the Catholic Church which promotes understanding and love of the Bible.
On this second study day Fr Nicholas spoke about ‘the Scriptures in Advent’. The choice of topic underlines the fact that a privileged listening to the words of God comes in the context of the Liturgy.
Fr Nicholas provided a list of all the reading at Mass for Advent 2019, so that the Sunday readings are those of Year A, and a few Advent ferial days are omitted due to the length of Advent in 2019.
Fr Nicholas pointed to the prominence of the prophet Isaiah during Advent, and to the different parts, and different prophets, involved in the Book. He showed how, in the days approaching Christmas, beginning with 17th December, readings from the Hebrew Scriptures match in some way the excerpts from Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
The study day offered an opportunity to prepare for Advent and to renew commitment to the study of the word of God as offered in the Church’s Liturgy.