Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Jerome, a doctor of the Church and considered the most learned of the Church Fathers. He is most widely known for his translation of the Bible from Greek into Latin, known as the Vulgate Bible, and his Scripture commentary, which is still widely used today. His zealous pursuit and defense of truth, scholarship, and asceticism made him a frequent critic of his contemporaries in the fourth and fifth centuries. His commitment to excellence and thorough research for his prolific writings on Scripture, theology, and monastic life significantly influenced the Church in the early Middle Ages. Our gospel reading speaks of people being “amazed” by Jesus’ works. We, too, can live our lives in amazement at what we have heard about Jesus, but have we taken the time to really read His story, to get to know him in a personal way? St. Jerome’s famous quote, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ,” speaks to a challenge facing most people of faith: their failure to investigate that which they profess to believe. Like the seed that fell on rocky ground in Jesus’ parable, they are prone to fall away when effort is demanded of them. Like the house built on sand, their faith can be blown away by the stiff winds of life if not grounded in the rock of scripture. If the Word of God is to bear fruit, it must be reflected upon in the heart and acted upon in life.