Scripture and Revelation RCIA August 30, 2016
What is Revelation? The action of revealing, unveiling meaning, coming to know Q. How do children come to know and appreciate their parents before they are verbal? when they begin to understand right and wrong? when they begin to become independent? when they are an adult? Can a child ever completely know their parent? Can we ever completely know God? How does God choose to reveal God s self to us? How does God do this most intimately? WORD and SACRAMENT
Revelation: God Takes the Initiative What did Jesus actually bring?... The answer is very simple: He has brought God who unveiled his countenance gradually, first to Abraham, then to Moses and the Prophets, and then in the Wisdom literature and now we know his face, we can call upon him. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Pope Benedict XVI Consider history especially the Judaism and Christianity one thing becomes obvious: God wants to communicate with his children. God first revealed himself in creation, which reflects God s goodness. God has revealed himself more directly in Scripture, which communicates God s love. Genesis Revelation: the Bible communicates God s thoughts and words to human beings personally.
Revelation: God Takes the Initiative We understand this personally by God s own son, Jesus, the Word of God. Compared to all other religions, in Christianity, a whole new picture of God emerges. As Christians we receive Scripture as the gift of God s own Word especially the Gospels. We must always approach Scripture with faith not just what we believe, but much more importantly in Whom we believe. Faith, first and foremost, is about RELATIONSHIP! For Discussion: Why do you think God progressively revealed himself to humankind until he finally revealed himself fully in Jesus?
Why do we read Sacred Scripture? Source of Divine Revelation (communal and personal) A Road Map, a Travel Companion Source of our heritage of FAITH, Deposit of Faith
The Church teaches: The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the sacred books Sacred Scriptures teach the truth.
What the Bible is not The Bible is not a religion textbook that we study from as if we were learning world history, geography, or languages. It is a living book!! A book of Salvation History Your history
The Living Word Finding God in Scripture As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 Favorite authors, especially C.S. Lewis and Henri Nouwen I wish I could talk to them about their books can t because they are deceased. One exception: the author of the Bible very much alive, and actually dwells in Scripture.
The Living Word Finding God in Scripture Examples of Word of God transforming lives: Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah s prophecy of the crucifixion, Philip interprets, asks for baptism. St. Augustin Take and read Romans 13:13-14; and St. Francis of Assisi s powerful conversion after hearing the Gospel of Matthew 10:7-10. Other examples For Reflection: Recall an occasion when a Scripture passage made you aware of God s presence. What disposition or attitude in prayer helped you become aware of God speaking to you?
Just a few facts: The Books of the Bible Hebrew Scripture (aka the Old Testament) 17 Historical Prophetic Books Major Prophets The first five 5 Poetical of which Books make up the Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Isaiah, 1 Samuel, Jeremiah, 2 Samuel, Lamentations, 1 Kings, Ezekiel, 2 Kings, Daniel Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of 1 Solomon Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Pentateuch or Torah Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Just a few facts: The Books of the Bible The New Testament Acts The 21 Revelation of 4 Epistles the Gospels Apostles Romans, 1 Corinthians, Matthew, 2 Mark, Corinthians, Luke and Galatians, John Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude
Just a few facts: The Bible Contains 1189 chapters OT: 929 NT:260 The Bible was written: Over a 1500 year span [1400 B.C. to A.D. 100] Over 40 generations Over 40 authors from many walks of life On three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe In three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
The New Testament The New Testament tells the story of God s saving action through His son Jesus Christ and the covenant sealed in His death and Resurrection. It is the result of the struggle to move from oral tradition to the written message we have today. Why the move from oral to writen? The people who had lived with Jesus were dying and the early Church recognized the need to preserve the message before the last of the witnesses to Jesus life passed away. As the message spread farther from the land of its source and began to reach out to territories unfamiliar with Judean ways, the roots had to be protected.
The New Testament The Gospels The first Mark was written some 70 years after the Resurrection of Jesus. Luke and Matthew were written some 80-90 years after The Gospel of John was written some 90-110 years after The Letters Written by Paul were some of the first writings of the New Testament some 20 years after the Resurrection. Made up the letters of Paul as well as letters from James, Peter, John, and Jude - to early Christian communities.
The New Testament The Acts of the Apostles Tells of how the early Church responded to the message of Jesus. Describes the early struggles of the community in trying to understand its own identity. Also clearly shows us that Jesus is still acting through his followers. Revelation A message for Christians undergoing persecution. The literature was basically in code, it was clear to the Christians but not to the Romans. Apocalyptic literature has the message that evil has power only because God allows such power, but asserts that God will overcome evil and triumph in the end.
How we read Scripture If the New Testament is the new Covenant why do we still read the Old Testament? (Does a tree only begin at ground level?)
How we read Scripture Scripture is written in many different styles: Poetry, Praise, Prayers, Parables, Historical In order to read scripture we need to know: The Author His Audience The Time and Historical Environment The type of Literature WHY?
Padres Slaughter Tribe!
SPORTS Padres Slaughter Tribe!
GODISNOWHERE
GOD * IS * NOWHERE GOD * IS * NOW * HERE
How we read Scripture We are NOT Fundamentalists For instance: See anything wrong here?
Noah and the Ark The Creation Story Stories Which is it? Genesis Chapter One: The First Creation Story The traditional seven day story Genesis Chapter Two: The Second Creation Story Begins with the Garden of Eden a large crowd followed him, and suddenly two blind men sitting by the roadside moved with compassion Jesus touched their eyes and immediately they could see Matthew 20:29-34 As he drew near Jericho a blind man sat at the side of the road begging Jesus said to him, Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you. Luke 19:35-42
Revelation: Jesus Revealing the Nature of God Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9 It s all because of Jesus that we speak of God as we do. N.T. Wright When I look at my daughters, I can see that I ve left my mark on them both. On the negative side... On the positive side Just by living with us our children take on some of our characteristics. This is exactly what Jesus does reveal the nature of God in his words and his actions. At Last Supper Jesus summed up his revelations about God one desire UNITY! How? Building the Kingdom of God For Reflection: What is it about Jesus that most reveals God to you?
Tonight we covered the following: 1. What is Revelation? (God reveals God s self to us, and we are made in God s image & likeness) 2. Why the Bible is important the Word of God is ALIVE! 3. Facts about the Bible, and the purpose of Hebrew Scripture & the New Testament 4. How to read the Bible 5. Jesus is the fullness of God s Revelation and what that means for us How d we do? Questions?