It is on this Sunday each year that we begin to read from the Gospel appointed to be read over the three year cycle – this year that of St Matthew.  Sunday by Sunday we reflect on the content of the passage read that day but we cannot fully understand a passage taken out of context.  We need also to be aware of the passages surrounding it – usually heard the previous and following weeks – and the overall approach and purpose of the writer.  We also need to be aware of the nature of the Bible as a library – an inspired collection of books rather than a single volume.  Originally each one would have been written on a different scroll – the Greek word from which we get ‘Bible’ is plural. ‘Biblia’ means ‘books’. Books in the modern format, enabling several items to be collected in one cover, only came into existence in the Third Century.  For this reason we can say that the Bible is the ‘book of the Church’ since the bishops of the early Church decided which books should be counted as inspired and ultimately included in one volume.  We should see the weekly selection offered by the Church at Mass as a ‘taster’ not a substitute for reading the Bible ourselves.