The Holy Mass honoring Bible Sunday was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Loimwe Parish, Kengtung Diocese, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, beginning with the solemn enthronement of the Holy Bible—a powerful reminder of God’s Word as the guiding light of Christian life.

During the Mass, Fr. Natale Tun Aung, Coordinator of RVA Akha Service, delivered an extensive homily on the significance of Bible Sunday, calling the faithful to a deeper encounter with Christ through Scripture.

‘The Bible Is Not Merely Literature’

Quoting Saint Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:2–3, Fr. Natale shared that the Holy Bible is the Word of Christ that every Christian must read. The Bible is not merely literature recorded on paper as historical events; rather, whenever we read the Bible, Christ touches us directly.

He explained that the Holy Mass contains two sacred tables: the Table of the Word, where the Word of God is proclaimed, and the Table of the Eucharist, where the Body and Blood of Christ are consecrated. The Table of the Word allows us to absorb and practice God’s teachings as spiritual nourishment for our hearts, while partaking from the Table of the Eucharist grants us eternal life.

“Both tables hold equal value,” Fr. Natale emphasized. “Without absorbing the Word of God into our hearts, receiving the Eucharist alone will not fulfill the complete essence of the Mass.”

Quoting St. Jerome, he added that “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ,” just as neglecting the Bible is neglecting Christ.

The Meaning of Enthronement

Fr. Natale explained the profound symbolism behind the enthronement of the Bible. The altar or table represents a place of reverence; the white cloth symbolizes purity; the candles represent God, who is the Light; the flowers express the life and joy received from God; and the incense carries the prayers of the faithful up to heaven.

“Placing the Bible on an altar signifies that it is the center of human life, offering guidance and wisdom for every action we take,” he said. “A home without the Holy Bible is like a house without a guiding compass. Enthroning the Bible in our homes demonstrates that we are living under God’s reign and guidance.”

A Journey Through Scripture

Fr. Natale shared that the Bible was written by about 40 different human authors across Egypt, Asia, and Europe starting over 1,500 years ago. St. Jerome lived in a cave in Bethlehem for over 20 years to translate it into Latin. Following the Second Vatican Council in 1962, the Scriptures were translated into many vernacular languages so that nearly everyone could read them.

Citing St. Jerome once more, he noted that “when we read the Bible, we listen to God’s word, and when we pray, God listens to ours.” Referring to Psalm 119:105—”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”—he stated that the Word serves as a roadmap for our daily journey.

He also pointed out that the entire Mass is a continuous reading and chanting of the Scriptures, and the Mysteries of the Rosary reflect the life of Christ, making the Rosary a summary of the Bible itself.

Afterward, Fr. Natale asked several Biblical questions to awaken and refresh the faithful’s knowledge of the Scriptures. During the Mass, parishioners wearing traditional ethnic attire participated in the enthronement of the Holy Bible and brought forward the offertory gifts.

‘God’s Word Brings Peace and Strength’

When RVA Akha interviewed members of the congregation attending the Mass, they shared that they read the Bible daily. Hearing God’s Word brings peace and strength to their hearts; empowered by this strength and hope, they face difficulties without fear and will continue to live with trust and faith in God until the day He wills.

The celebration in Loimwe Parish reflected a growing emphasis on Scripture in the life of the Catholic Church in Myanmar. As the faithful went back home after the Mass, they carried with them not only the memory of a beautiful liturgy but also a renewed commitment to make the Bible the center of their homes and hearts—a lamp to their feet and a light to their path.

By RVA Akha Service