Words Made Flesh: Christian Service Is Based in Faith

A message especially for youth and young adults, and their ministers:

"In Sunday's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7), we learn that ... the essential function of the Twelve (6:2-4) is the 'service of the word,' including ... formulation of the teachings of Jesus. In Verse 2 we read: 'It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.'... At the Apostles' invitation the disciples chose seven men: 'Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus. The Apostles prayed over them and laid their hands upon them' (6:5-6).

"The real purpose of this whole episode is to introduce Stephen as a prominent figure in the community whose long speech and martyrdom will be recounted in Acts 7. After Stephen and the others are chosen, they are never presented carrying out the task for which they were appointed (6:2-3). Rather, two of their number, Stephen and Philip, are presented as preachers of the Christian message. ...

"Let us remember that in addition to charitable work, Stephen carried out the work of evangelization.... Stephen, 'full of grace and power' (6:8), presented in Jesus' Name a new interpretation of Moses and of God's Law itself. Stephen reread the Old Testament in the light of the proclamation of Christ's death and resurrection.

"One of the powerful lessons we learn from Stephen's witness is that charitable social works must never be separated from the bold, explicit and courageous proclamation of the faith.

Advanced Summer Reading Assignments

Students entering their third and fourth years in the Biblical School should download their summer reading assignment by clicking on the following links:

• Text of The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (abridged for purposes of this assignment)
• Assignment Questions and a Glossary of Terms

 For paper copies contact Jill Costa in the Office of Religious Education. (Click on her name or call her at 860-243-9465, ext. 2670.)

Bad Bible Info Online (Again)

Back in January we noted that there is an awful lot of incorrect information about the Bible out there, especially online.

A week ago, Cee Cee Johnson, CBS Class of 2010, noticed a story on a CNN blog about a book (entitled Forged) that is chock-full of misleading information on the Bible. The blog claimed that "half of the New Testament was forged."

Students in the second year of the Biblical School get the real scoop about the ancient practice of pseudepigraphal writing (that is, the ascription of false names to a literary work). It was customary in ancient times for an author to write in the name of another, usually a person whose teaching had inspired that author. Hence, many of the letters in the New Testament are written as if by Paul, but are truly written under the inspiration of Paul by a later writer. In the Old Testament, the Book of Ecclesiastes implies it is written by Solomon, but it simply cannot have been so.

Pseudepigraphal writing  was a common, well-respected practice in biblical times. The practice wasn't meant to deceive anyone, but when we apply words like "forgery" to the texts, we suggest something sinister.

Anyone claiming the New Testament is "half forged" is showing their ignorance of the Bible, at least as the Catholic Church (and other non-fundamentalist Christians and Jews) understands it.

The lesson here: Be very careful about using online or other popular sources for faith information. Period.

And if you do decide to venture into cyberspace for information about the Bible, we recommend three guidelines:

CBS Course Schedules 2011-12

YEAR ONE CLASSES (2011-12)

 · Bloomfield: Mondays 7-9 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Ms. Marcia Franko, MA

· Hamden: Tuesdays 10 am to noon, Caritas Christi Center, Sr. Jewel Renna, CND, MA

· Plantsville: Thursdays 7-9 pm, St. Aloysius Parish Center, Sr. Jewel Renna, CND, MA

· Milford: Weekday evenings (Details TBD), Christ Redeemer Parish, Ms. Marcia Franko, MA

YEAR TWO CLASSES (2011-12)
· Cheshire: Mondays 7-9 pm, Epiphany Parish, Fr. Aidan Donahue, STM, STL

· Bloomfield: Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Fr. Aidan Donahue, STM, STL

· West Hartford: Thursdays 10 am to noon, St. Mark the Evangelist, Dr. Donald Gray, PhD

· Milford: Thursdays 7-9 pm, Christ the Redeemer Parish, To be determined

ADVANCED YEAR (Year 3 and 4) CLASSES (2011-12)  

· Cheshire: Mondays 7-9 pm, Epiphany Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS

· Hamden: Tuesdays 7-9 pm, Caritas Christi Center, Dr. Donald Gray, PhD

· Bloomfield: Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS

· Plantsville: Fridays 10-noon, St. Aloysius Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS