DIALOGUE OF THE HEART—YEAR C

Reflections on the Bible as a Divine-Human Dialogue.

The Bible read as the record, in many different forms, of a loving dialogue between God and the people of Israel, culminating in the birth of Jesus, and continued in the life of the Church.

The three-year cycle of readings from the Bible is used each Sunday by Christians as they celebrate the Eucharist. These reflections are designed to be read in conjunction with each of the Bible passages for each Sunday. They view the Bible as the record, in various forms, of a loving dialogue between God and humanity. A richer, definition of what ‘dialogue’ can mean has emerged from the practice of dialogue by Christians. This broader meaning is enriched as a result of applying it to a reading of the Bible as a record of a Divine-Human dialogue. It brings into sharper focus, what Christians understand by ‘inspiration’ and ‘revelation’. It may make an understanding of ‘covenant’ more accessible. It may provide a different slant on and definition of what is meant by speaking about ‘God’ and creation, about being human, the articles of the Christian Creed and the mission of the Church in today’s world. Above all perhaps, ‘dialogue’ brings us to the notion of the Trinity as the everlasting dialogue-dance of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Humanity and the whole of creation shadows or mirrors this dance here and now, and the Bible invite us to claim our place in it here and hereafter.