Weekly Bible Study - Psalm 22

29 March 2015

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Today and Good Friday we will stand in solidarity with our loving Savior as he is condemned to die interior struggle of Jesus as he embraces his suffering. We witness a very human Jesus crying out to the Father in anguish. In his moments of agony he embraces the suffering of all humanity and our cries are his cries.
and journeys to Calvary. Two Gospel writers (Mark and John) will offer us a chronology of the week’s events. It is our psalm response, however, that draws us into what might be imagined as the

When we read this Psalm along with the Passion narrative we appreciate more deeply the broken spirit of our Suffering Servant* and his loving act of redemption. When we join ourselves in obedience to the Father ("take on the mind of Christ," as St. Paul explains), to the absolute and complete obedience of Christ, we make it possible that God will glorify us as Jesus was glorified in His Resurrection on the first Easter morning.

ST Seminary - Crucifixion Detail

Take time this week to join with Jesus in his journey to the cross. Place yourself within his heart as he voices his distress. Unite your own sufferings with his as he endures his physical and emotional pain. Walk quietly with him to Calvary as he holds your hand, wipes your face, carries your cross. Join with Jesus as he echoes Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?

My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.

All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me.

Like water my life drains away; all my bones are disjointed. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me.  As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue cleaves to my palate; you lay me in the dust of death.

Stay close to his side this week in his agony. It is offered in obedience so that we, sinners though we are, might be accounted obedient.

*Psalm 22 parallels the Suffering Servant Song of Isaiah 52:13-53:12, which we will encounter in the Holy Friday liturgy. Take time to ponder these Bible readings this week.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Holy Week Break

No CBS classes this week! We invite you to attend the Triduum Liturgy--Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week--in your parish. Joyous Easter to All!

"Micro" Catechesis for Busy Adults

In the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony God shares with each spouse the ability to forgive the other.

Most Catholics probably do not think about forgiveness when they think about the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, unless they are thinking about the Church’s advice that it is good for couples to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation shortly before their marriage. But forgiveness is one of the graces that flows from this sacrament as well; just a bit differently than in other sacraments.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is conferred by spouses on each other through their free and uncoerced expression of their promise of permanent, faithful, and unconditional love by means of their wedding vows. God blesses the spouses with the sacramental graces that give them the power to live what they have promised far beyond their natural human abilities. Thus, those who allow these graces to bear fruit in their marriage find that it gives expression in charity, the common work of caring for creation, self-sacrifice, hospitality, patience, forgiveness, tenderness, and the temporal, moral, and spiritual formation of children. Thus, it is not that God offers his gift of forgiveness to a spouse entering into the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, but that God shares with each spouse the ability to forgive the other.

And this forgiveness of couples, one for the other, becomes the basis of forgiveness in the family that flows from this marriage. The Church teaches that a family is an important expression of the Church and indeed names it the domestic church. The first teachers of children are parents and other members of the family. In the family, one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, forgiveness, and above all, divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life.

In the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, God gives the gift of sharing in forgiveness and teaching others – by living it – how to ask for and bestow forgiveness on one another.
 
Reflection Question
How did your family of origin first teach you about asking for, receiving, and giving forgiveness? Where else have you encountered the blessing of being able to give and receive forgiveness? What  are the fruits (results) that come from practicing forgiveness in our relationships?

Scripture to Explore
Acts of the Apostles 7


Additional References
Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1641-1642, 1657
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults pp. 376-377
Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation MA.2.2.46, MA.4.3.3

Resource for Adult Faith Formation
Prepared for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Distributed courtesy of the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)

© Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder.

Permission is hereby granted to all (arch)dioceses, parishes, Catholic schools, and other ecclesial entities to reproduce this document in whole or in part, in whatever form is most expedient, for the purposes of catechizing the People of God, provided that the copyright information on this page is included in its entirety. This grant does not diminish the rights reserved hereunder.

Celebration of Sacred Scripture Photos

Many thanks to you all for an energized, thought-provoking workshop!

Dr. Tom Groome explains "Life to Faith to Life" education

Getting settled in

Book Sales Table, with CBS volunteers Kathy Bosse and Donna Girard (right)

CBS students Laura Carnein, Patty Augustyn, and Lisa Pelletier

Boadt medal winner Nancy Stimac, "sharing with her neighbors."

We did loads of connecting our lives to the Bible to our lives again.

Dr. Tom Groome suggests ways we can encounter God's word with others.

Joy of the Gospel #10

44. ... A small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties. Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.

Gospel Links to Ponder: Luke 10:29-37 Click here to find this biblical reading: http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/10

After word: God's tenderly desires you to experience his love and mercy! Is there someone who needs your forgiveness today? Is there someone who needs to hear your repentance?

In Lent, come to the Eucharist! And receive God's forgiveness regularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Mondays, 6-7 pm in every parish of the Archdiocese of Hartford).

Paragraph numbers are provided to help you find the quotes for further study and to place these ideas in their original context, should you wish to do so. To read the text in full, click here: 

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html#II.%E2%80%82Mary,_mother_of_evangelization

Weekly Bible Study - Exodus 20:1-17

Sunday March 8, 2015
3rd Sunday of Lent 

The Ten Commandments. We’ve heard them, learned them and recited them. We’ve even (maybe) broken them and ignored them! Can we sift through this all-too-familiar list and somehow discover a merciful and loving God? Today’s first reading offers us an opportunity to view the commandments in a wider context.

God prefaces his list by telling us first and foremost that he is their God, the one they know and who has loved them and freed them. Yahweh is a God of liberation.

Indeed, God has rescued all of us from the bondage of our frailty. His voice is our authority, but as a loving Father his mercy extends to the “thousandth generation” (for all time and for everyone).

We also hear in this account that God is a jealous God, protective of his wayward sons and daughters as a mother defends her children. He desires that his children embrace his law of love rather than the empty allurements and false values of their idols.

As we examine that familiar list, we see a generous God. He invites his people to take pleasure in his holy day, to enjoy the gifts and restfulness of the Sabbath, and for one day put aside their worldly concerns. Our God values life, its procreation and protection by honoring and blessing parents, his primary lifegivers. He knows human nature so well that he offers us ways to free us from our slavery to sinfulness, to safeguard our behaviors and make the best of our relationships.

It is not the image of a vengeful God, one who exacts punishment, we take from this account. It is rather, a God who created a people he could lovingly guide along their journey to salvation, make of them a great and holy nation, call them his own and ask only for their reverence and fidelity.

Don't Miss Mass - or Our Celebration of Sacred Scripture!

To avoid that awkward moment when you walk into mass at communion time, we recommend setting your clocks forward before you go to bed on Saturday night!

Waterbury and Hamden Classes Cancelled ~ Torrington is "Good to Go"

The snowy, icy weather seems to have concentrated in the south today. Two out of three CBS Thursday evening classes have had to cancel:

CBS 300 in Hamden (Dr. Kelly) and
CBS 300 in Waterbury (Fr. Murasso)

Meanwhile, the roads are clear in the north, so CBS 200 in Torrington (Ms. Franko) will meet as scheduled.

Please be careful if you must travel along the coast tonight!

Celebration of Sacred Scripture - This Sunday

Just a reminder to all Year 2, 3 and 4 students: Your presence is expected! Let us know if for any reason you're unable to call.

And remember, there is no snow date for this event. If necessary, notices for inclement weather will be posted online for students at http://www.stsregistrar.org/cgi-bin/CBS/cbsstudentlogin.pl.

The public can check for notices at: 203-880-4807.

See you on Sunday!

NEW ENGLAND CONVOCATION FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Parish Catechetical Leaders: Save the Date!

Three days devoted to the best practices and resources for religious education for parish catechetical leaders, Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Marriott in Springfield, Mass.

Some featured presentations--
Day One: Preparing the Soil: "The Gift of Cultural Hurricanes" and "The Baptismal Catechumenate"
Day Two: Sowing the Seeds: "Christ the Master-Teacher" and "The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ"; "Art, Music, and the Joy of the Gospel"
Day Three: Harvesting the Crops: "US Catholicism and Diversity in the 21st Century"

To get more details and to register, go to: http://necddre.org/abouttheconvocation.html.

CBS Students in Years 2 and 3

Advanced Planning Surveys:

If you have NOT submitted your survey online, please do so right away at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5GCVXW9

It takes only five minutes and gives me invaluable information to plan the schedule of Advanced-year courses.

If you have trouble accessing that survey, kindly contact BJ by Friday, March 6, 2015 at one of the following telephone numbers: 860-242-5573 ext. 2670 or 203-880-4807. Or email me at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Weekly Bible Study - Genesis 22:1-19

1 March 2015

Second Sunday of Lent   

His was an incomprehensible faith. Can we even imagine God calling any one of us to offer our child as a human sacrifice? To me, it feels like Abraham's was the ultimate test of faith.

This test of Abraham’s faith occurred many years after Abraham had learned to know the Lord. Abraham had a long time to come to trust God and presumably experience many tests of his faith.

We see in today’s story the obedience of God’s servant as he leads his child to Mt. Moriah (Jerusalem). Imagine the turmoil of the parent and the bewilderment of the child.

When God calls us to a test beyond our faith’s capacity to embrace, how do we respond? Does our faith fall apart in the midst of trial?  Is there a “long walk” from the faith we acknowledge on our lips to the fidelity upon which we are called to act? During Lent, will we journey with Abraham and Isaac, with questions and hopes in obedience toward our own deeper trust in God?

It’s interesting how this very familiar story echoes beforehand the very pattern of salvation proclaimed in the New Testament. Abraham took his only son in sacrifice just as the Father would offer His only Son for our salvation. An obedient son (Son) accompanied the father (Father) to Moriah (Jerusalem) where God’s will would be carried out.  God stayed the hand of Abraham. A father’s love accompanied an innocent son to the mountain.  An unfathomable love for humankind accompanied the Son to Calvary.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, Class of 2001, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.