RCIA Lesson 9: The Last 7 Commandments

RCIA Session 26: Divine Revelation, A Closer Look (September 20, 2010: St. Matthew, Apostle) Opening Song: “How Firm a Foundation” (St. Michael Hymnal, #349) Scripture: Acts 8:26-39

Summary: “In keeping with the Lord’s command, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: orally […], and in writing ‘by those apostles and other men associated with the apostles who, under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit, committed the message of salvation to writing’.” (cf. CCC 76). Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. […] The Church has always venerated the Scriptures as She venerates the Lord’s Body. (CCC 80,103; see CCC 74-141)

1. The “Deposit of Faith” is, to put it mildly, an enormous “deposit” of ______— ______God, given ______God, and given freely to ______.

There are at least three key reasons why Christ’s Church does not—and cannot ever—rely on the Bible alone for its work of salvation (cf. CCC 82): (1) The Bible is only part of what God gave to us (cf. John 21:25, etc.); (2) the “Bible alone” idea is self-contradictory—since it’s nowhere to be found in the Bible; and (3) the Bible is designed by God to be interpreted by the teaching authority of the Church; it is not designed to interpret itself.

2. This protection of the Holy Spirit is often given the name “______”—which simply means that, after having gone to so much trouble to ______Himself to us and tell us how to attain eternal fulfillment with Him, God won’t put up with having that revelation ______or ______by ______, ______, or any other ______.

3. […] out of Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium [teaching authority] of the Church— none of them can stand if even one of the others is ______(cf. CCC 95); this is why the Church of Christ is a “Church of the ______”, and not simply a “Church of the ______”.

Old Testament “categories”: (The order in your bible might be slightly different; see table of contents.) (*) = parts of these books are also classified as “apocalyptic” literature

Torah/Pentateuch Historical Books Wisdom Books Prophetic Books Genesis Joshua 2 Chronicles Job Isaiah Obadiah Exodus Judges Ezra Psalms Jeremiah Jonah Leviticus Ruth Nehemiah Proverbs Lamentations Micah Numbers 1 Samuel Tobit Ecclesiastes Baruch Nahum Deuteronomy 2 Samuel Judith Song of Solomon Ezekiel (*) Habakkuk 1 Kings Esther Wisdom Daniel (*) Zephaniah 2 Kings 1 Maccabees Sirach Hosea Haggai 1 Chronicles 2 Maccabees Joel Zechariah You can find commentary from the Church Fathers at: Amos Malachi http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php

Important note: if you’re just starting to read the Old Testament, use your Bible timeline chart to guide you to the books (or parts of books) which actually tell the story, so that you don’t get lost (and frustrated)! Key “story of salvation” books of the Old Testament:  Genesis: early history, first 3 old covenants (Adam & Eve, Noah & family, Abraham & clan)  Exodus: deliverance from slavery in Egypt, 4th old covenant (with Nation of Israel, at Passover & Sinai)  Joshua: occupation of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants, let by Joshua  Judges: describes Israel’s repeated cycles of “prosperity, idolatry, oppression, repentance, deliverance”  Ruth: tells of the faithfulness of a foreign woman who became the great-grandmother of King David  Samuel: the rise of the first monarchy of Israel, and the 5th old covenant (with David & the unified kingdom)  Kings: the corruption and fall of the kingdom of Israel; conquest of Israel and Judah by Assyria and Babylon  Maccabees: revolution by faithful Jews against their new pagan king, restoration of true worship to Israel

New Testament “categories” : (deal explicitly with Jesus and His Church) Epistles (letters) Gospels/Historical Other Epistles Apocalyptic of St. Paul Gospel of Matthew Romans Colossians Hebrews (**) 1 John Revelation Gospel of Mark 1 Corinthians 1 Thessalonians James 2 John Gospel of Luke 2 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians 1 Peter 3 John Gospel of John Galatians 1 Timothy 2 Peter Jude Acts of the Apostles Ephesians 2 Timothy (**) = author unknown Philippians Titus You can find commentary from the Church Fathers at: Philemon http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php

Key “story of salvation” books of the New Testament:  the four Gospels: descriptions of the life, teachings, passion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ  Acts of the Apostles: “scrapbook” of the early life of the Catholic Church

3. St. Jerome once wrote, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of ______.” This means two things: that all believers are obligated to become (and stay) ______with the Sacred Scriptures, and that the purpose of the Scriptures is to point to and reveal ______—the Source of our ______.

5 “rules” for profitable reading of the Sacred Scriptures: 1) Pray—before, during, and after you read! 2) Start “light”. Some Biblical books are like technical manuals, needing specialized training to understand. 3) Learn the Church’s teachings about the Bible, and stick close to them! 4) Learn the context of the Scriptures: as part of the whole Deposit of Faith, interpreted by the Magisterium. 5) Be mindful of the four senses of Scripture: the literal sense (what the author actually wrote and meant), and the three spiritual senses: allegorical (how it points to Christ), moral (how we’re supposed to live), and anagogical (what role is played in God’s eternal plan).

Song: “Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi” (by Nick Alexander); Parody of "Jenny (867-5309)" I've read the Gospels, now where should I turn to They're prophets, prophets Tried some dozen books before Matthew They got a message from our Lord I didn't have much time but I found out that I was in luck They're prophets, prophets I found that I could read the entirety of Habbakuk From the Good Book, with the Great Reward Jonah's just got four chapters Jonah's just got four chapters Amos goes up to nine Amos goes up to nine I'm gonna read the others Would you believe there's others? Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi) Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah) Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi) Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah) Micah Five prophesies of Bethlehem Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi) And Joel Two has the Pentecost mayhem... Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah And there's so much I had learned from Hosea and his wife Gomer If I had the _One Year Bible_ I'd hafta wait 'til December Discussion Questions: 1. St. Jerome said, “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”; what does that say about the Catholic understanding of the Scriptures and a Catholic’s knowledge of them?

2. Pick your favorite Bible passage, and give one example of one of its senses (literal, allegorical, etc.).

3. How were the contents of Scripture decided, when, and by Whom?

4. Have you ever encountered different versions of the Bible? If so, what differences did you notice?

5. Why is the gift of infallibility necessary for the Church to have?

Closing Prayer: (Prayer after reading the Holy Scriptures; by St. Bede the Venerable) LET me not, 0 Lord, be puffed up with worldly wisdom, which passes away, but grant me that love which never abates, that I may not choose to know anything among men but Jesus, and Him crucified. (1 Cor. 13:8; 2:2.) I pray Thee, loving Jesus that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou would mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all Wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face. Amen.

Take-Home Activity: Read any of the first three Gospels (in one sitting, or in parts) in the next month. Treasure Hunt: Hang onto your hats for this one: pick any verse from the Bible (as long or as short as you wish), and memorize it. Be ready to recite it, along with its reference (book, chapter, and verse), when you come back next time.