Next week we will start what I plan to be a three week introduction to St. Paul!
Only a few days left to vote on the favorite Gospel Poll!
... I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.*
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
6/23/2008 Bible Study Review
On June 23, 2008 the members of the Fatima Shrine Bible Study group under the direction of Father Peter Calabrese, CRSP were pleased to discuss the Solemnity of Saint Peter & Saint Paul to be celebrated on Sunday, June 29. The readings discussed were those of the Liturgy celebrated during the day.
The Gospel of St. Matthew was discussed as Father Peter reminded us that this is a good passage which can be handled at mutiple levels. This particular gospel may be approached in an apologetic sense. The parallel passage of this particular gosple is located in the Book of Mark. There are three accounts of this particular passage one being in Mark, one in Luke and the remaining one in Matthew. St. Matthew refers to Our Lord Jesus as the Son of Man which is a typically Judiac title. St. Matthew makes mention of Jeremiah. Father Peter denoted that the expression/phrase Son of Man comes from the book of Daniel referring to the divinity of God. St. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as Son of the Living God in Chapter Two.
Jesus is establishing the relationship to the kingdom of heaven and the Church. The Church being both a divine and human institution. Father Peter explained to us the expression justified sinners as those who are being sanctified. Father noted that binding and loosening are rabbinical phrases emphasizing the power for exorcisms, excommunications and the power to make decisions. The Roman Catholic belief in the primacy of St. Peter in application to Our Holy Father was also explained to us by Father Peter.
Hopefully all of us will benefit from these notations which I have made.
May we all be blessed!
John Doucette
The Gospel of St. Matthew was discussed as Father Peter reminded us that this is a good passage which can be handled at mutiple levels. This particular gospel may be approached in an apologetic sense. The parallel passage of this particular gosple is located in the Book of Mark. There are three accounts of this particular passage one being in Mark, one in Luke and the remaining one in Matthew. St. Matthew refers to Our Lord Jesus as the Son of Man which is a typically Judiac title. St. Matthew makes mention of Jeremiah. Father Peter denoted that the expression/phrase Son of Man comes from the book of Daniel referring to the divinity of God. St. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as Son of the Living God in Chapter Two.
Jesus is establishing the relationship to the kingdom of heaven and the Church. The Church being both a divine and human institution. Father Peter explained to us the expression justified sinners as those who are being sanctified. Father noted that binding and loosening are rabbinical phrases emphasizing the power for exorcisms, excommunications and the power to make decisions. The Roman Catholic belief in the primacy of St. Peter in application to Our Holy Father was also explained to us by Father Peter.
Hopefully all of us will benefit from these notations which I have made.
May we all be blessed!
John Doucette
Friday, June 20, 2008
Just Asking...
I understand about Paul doing theology, primarily, in this passage (Rms 5:12-17), as opposed to, say, Biological Sciences. However, doesn't his understanding of the original sin of Adam--by which we were all made sinners and thereby "dead"--seem to rely on a picture of Adam and Eve and the Garden and the Serpent, etc. just as we find it told in Genesis? I mean, a sentient, fully formed (not merely physically, but also spiritually, intellectually) human being making that existential choice (b/c he has, and knows he has, free will to choose for God or against Him) for all of us. I may not like Adam's choice, but I can recognize that, under the circumstances, I may not have done any better. (In fact, I often don't do any better, given much less momentous choices in my everyday life.) In any case, I can recognize in Adam a human being not too different from myself and can accept the justice of the condemnation and the wonder of the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus. (Thank you, Paul!)
But, what is bothering me is the whole garden story. I don't mind taking the story (account) just the way it is told, Sunday School Bible illustrations and all. I don't understand how it could have happened like that, but if God wanted it that way, I'm sure He could have done it. Creation of everything out of nothing, after all, is not really the most fantastic thing we are willing to believe, as Christians. In fact, as I said above, Paul seems to assume that the account in the Hebrew scriptures was pretty much how it all happened. Otherwise, how could "Adam" (if he was only a theoretical/mythical "marker" for the beginning of the human race) have been established as making such a momentous choice for all of us? But I know that some scholars are fond of seeing the Creation Story as just that: an attempt by an emerging society and an early religion to make sense of the world as they found it and of the God that they were coming to know. An actual garden and an actual serpent seem to be a little too simplistic for the sophisticated theological (not to mention cultural, societal, and even scientific) understanding we have now. But Paul is nothing if not sophisticated, theologically, and I don't see how we can get around Paul. In fact, the alternative: that there was no "garden" or "serpent" or actual moment of choosing by an actual human, seems much more unsettling to me. In that case the account we have is just trying to make sense of things that were playing out just as God knew (planned?) that they would. And that, to me, seems a more problematic view of God than the suggestion that He created a garden just like the Sunday School pictures and put Adam into it, etc.
So, as you can no doubt tell, I am no theologian and certainly no scholar or OT expert, and I am not trying to take on an argument with the modern scholarly community! I'm just asking...
But, what is bothering me is the whole garden story. I don't mind taking the story (account) just the way it is told, Sunday School Bible illustrations and all. I don't understand how it could have happened like that, but if God wanted it that way, I'm sure He could have done it. Creation of everything out of nothing, after all, is not really the most fantastic thing we are willing to believe, as Christians. In fact, as I said above, Paul seems to assume that the account in the Hebrew scriptures was pretty much how it all happened. Otherwise, how could "Adam" (if he was only a theoretical/mythical "marker" for the beginning of the human race) have been established as making such a momentous choice for all of us? But I know that some scholars are fond of seeing the Creation Story as just that: an attempt by an emerging society and an early religion to make sense of the world as they found it and of the God that they were coming to know. An actual garden and an actual serpent seem to be a little too simplistic for the sophisticated theological (not to mention cultural, societal, and even scientific) understanding we have now. But Paul is nothing if not sophisticated, theologically, and I don't see how we can get around Paul. In fact, the alternative: that there was no "garden" or "serpent" or actual moment of choosing by an actual human, seems much more unsettling to me. In that case the account we have is just trying to make sense of things that were playing out just as God knew (planned?) that they would. And that, to me, seems a more problematic view of God than the suggestion that He created a garden just like the Sunday School pictures and put Adam into it, etc.
So, as you can no doubt tell, I am no theologian and certainly no scholar or OT expert, and I am not trying to take on an argument with the modern scholarly community! I'm just asking...
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Romans 5:12-17
I really like Romans--even with Paul's often-difficult-to-follow arguments. But I especially like this passage because it reminds me of one of my favorite bits of Handel's Messiah: the anthem "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (I think Handel took his text from I Cor. 15:22.) It is beautiful to sing, and, while singing, it is beautiful to meditate upon.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
June 16 2008 Bible Study Notes
On Monday, June 16, 2008 we had the privilege of cover St. Paul's letter to the Romans Chapter 5:12-15 under the direction of our humble and expert moderator, Father Peter Calabrese, CRSP.
This reading from St. Paul serves as a foundation passage for our faith. At times, St. Paul does not always explain himself well. In this particular passage, St. Paul jumps around and points to the magnitude of Christ's saving death for us . St. Paul reminds us of our condition as men and women of sin and reminds us that we all are sinners. This passages also calls to mind our Church's doctorine of original sin. Christ came to save us from sin and through our faith and good works we redemption is obtainable to all of us.
This passage prepares for the great celebration of feast of Sts. Peter & Paul in which we will discuss the readings of the Mass celebrated during the day at Bible Study on Monday - June 23.
Please be advised that the above is a very brief and not an expert synopsis of what was discussed at Bible Study. It is my hope and prayer that my notes from next week's Bible Study will be a vast improvement. Thank you
This reading from St. Paul serves as a foundation passage for our faith. At times, St. Paul does not always explain himself well. In this particular passage, St. Paul jumps around and points to the magnitude of Christ's saving death for us . St. Paul reminds us of our condition as men and women of sin and reminds us that we all are sinners. This passages also calls to mind our Church's doctorine of original sin. Christ came to save us from sin and through our faith and good works we redemption is obtainable to all of us.
This passage prepares for the great celebration of feast of Sts. Peter & Paul in which we will discuss the readings of the Mass celebrated during the day at Bible Study on Monday - June 23.
Please be advised that the above is a very brief and not an expert synopsis of what was discussed at Bible Study. It is my hope and prayer that my notes from next week's Bible Study will be a vast improvement. Thank you
Guidelines for Reading Scripture
To the good members of the Fatima Shrine Bible Study Group:
I thought these suggestions might serve as guidelines to assist us in our reading of the Sacred Scriptures.
Read Each Day - It is better to be consistent and read a little each day than to rush ahead and stop altogether.
Read At A Set Time of Day and Place - Find yourself a quiet place, where you will not be distracted. Chose a specific time and read at this time faithfully each day. This is of primary importance.
Read Carefully - Meditate on the meaning of what you are reading. Use your imagination to help the Scripture come alive to you. If you wish, highlight a particular line or verse. Concentrate on what you understand, not on what you do not understand. Your knowledge and understanding will increase with time and the grace of the Lord.
Read Prayerfully - When reading, stop to talk to the Lord about what you have read. It is important to respond to God's word. If your heart prompts you to praise God, then stop and do so. If you feel like thanking God, then stop and do so.
Seek to Grow - Seek to apply the reading to daily life. Ask the Lord to help you. If important questions arise seek guidance from a priest or informed person.
Remember, these are simple guidelines. I am far from an expert or an authority.
I thought these suggestions might serve as guidelines to assist us in our reading of the Sacred Scriptures.
Read Each Day - It is better to be consistent and read a little each day than to rush ahead and stop altogether.
Read At A Set Time of Day and Place - Find yourself a quiet place, where you will not be distracted. Chose a specific time and read at this time faithfully each day. This is of primary importance.
Read Carefully - Meditate on the meaning of what you are reading. Use your imagination to help the Scripture come alive to you. If you wish, highlight a particular line or verse. Concentrate on what you understand, not on what you do not understand. Your knowledge and understanding will increase with time and the grace of the Lord.
Read Prayerfully - When reading, stop to talk to the Lord about what you have read. It is important to respond to God's word. If your heart prompts you to praise God, then stop and do so. If you feel like thanking God, then stop and do so.
Seek to Grow - Seek to apply the reading to daily life. Ask the Lord to help you. If important questions arise seek guidance from a priest or informed person.
Remember, these are simple guidelines. I am far from an expert or an authority.
Monday, June 16, 2008
st. paul etc
hi everyone. i've been scarce the last couple weeks, and i heard through the grapevine that we're going to study something re: st paul? is there something i should be reading? i'm sure i'll find out this evening, but what the heck? i just thought i'd throw a line out to see if anyone's online now.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Welcome
If you made it here welcome. This blog will be an opportunity for us to keep track of the material we cover and give us a way to make further comments. Postings from the meetings WILL NOT mention anyone by name other than myself. Such respect will be necessary for the even flow of information from the group.
If you have been coming regularly to group and I have your email address you will be invited as a n author and can post to the site. Have fun! If you have questions you can email me or call me or even see me in person!
If you have been coming regularly to group and I have your email address you will be invited as a n author and can post to the site. Have fun! If you have questions you can email me or call me or even see me in person!
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