These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

Saint Jerome, Presbyter and Doctor of the Church, September 30

Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose. Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
“Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. (Neh 8:1-4a,5-6,7b-12)

How important it is to hear the Word of God and understand it. Saint Jerome was given the task of translating the Scriptures into a language that people understood. It was Saint Jerome who said that ignorance of the Scriptures was ignorance of Christ.