Digs Under Fire

Scientific inquiry shouldn't involve risk of life and limb, but in July archaeologists in Gaza (the Philistine territory of David's day) have been forced to abandon their dig.

Scientists Dig at Ashkelon's North Tell

"The 2014 field season of the Leon Levy Expedition was completely changed in a single day," blogs Dr. Tracy Hoffman. "In the middle of our fifth week of excavation (the second week of July), the conflict between Israel and Hamas flared up, and the city of Ashkelon came under fire. Suddenly, the goals of the season were not about ancient dirt and artifacts—but about the safety of the entire team...."*

To read more, click here: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/digs-2014/excavation-interrupted/?mqsc=E3776277&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=BHD+Daily%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=E4B725

Please remember to pray every day for a peaceful solution to conflicts throughout the world. While archaeologists can relocate to safe areas, residents face a harder choice: become refugees or risk death.




*Author: Tracy Hoffman, a senior member of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon’s professional staff. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Courtesy of Biblical Archeology Society.

Weekly Bible Study - Psalm 119

Sunday 27 July 2014
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time   

The response following today’s first reading is a mere snippet of the 176 verses comprising Psalm 119, the longest in the Psalter. It is a prayer in praise of “the law.” We might wonder if anyone in their right mind would compose such a paean! Let's enter into the world of this author to see that God’s law is more than restrictive regulation.

Scripture scholars describe Psalm 119 as “a monumental literary piece, a free-flowing

meditation, now sad, now joyous, now peaceful, now passionate.” The author is a sage and mystic who regards God’s law as a covenant relationship, drawing inspiration from the Prophets and Deuteronomy. He sees observance of the law as obedience of the heart, and law as a gift that gladdens the heart. In conversing with God, he gives voice to his feelings about love of true wisdom, fidelity to the word of God, desire to walk blamelessly with the Lord, joy in fulfilling God’s will. Aren’t these our spiritual aspirations as well?

This prayer is regarded as less an ensemble of laws to observe than as the many ways God is present to his people, instructing, revealing, consoling, promising. A tender dialogue between God and his creature, this psalm is brimming with praise-filled language as the author “rejoices, treasures, respects, and delights in” the law. The author knows that God is trustworthy and that it is within the law that one finds the true path that God has set.

The Church Fathers extolled the virtues of this psalm, regarding it as “one of spiritual intimacy and one that proclaims to us that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.” Let us respond to the invitation this week to place ourselves within the heart and mind of this sage as we ponder and make our own, the many gems and truths of Psalm 119.

Quotations taken from The Psalms: New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Corp., © 2002, pg. 314


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.

Weekly Bible Study - Romans 8:26-27

20 July 2014

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Many of us probably know those who have mastered the art of groaning, that is, “voicing a deep, wordless, prolonged sound expressive of pain, grief, annoyance or disapproval.”* The term certainly covers a lot of emotional territory!

In his Letter to the Romans, Paul captures our imagination when he speaks today of the Spirit’s “groaning” and (last week) of creation’s “groaning.” Is there a connection between these two “groanings”?

Paul’s groaning suggests the cry of a woman in labor, a time of intense pain coupled with the anticipation of extreme joy. In this regard Paul tells us that creation groans as it moves toward and eagerly awaits its fulfillment in Christ. Creation groans with an incompleteness that knows suffering, pain and sin.  And creation groans in anticipation of joy in the promise of salvation and eternal life: a return its original wholeness, a rebirth in Christ Jesus.

Paul similarly recognizes the groaning of the Spirit within our own prayer as we anticipate the fulfillment of our inner hopes and thoughts. In today’s reading we are comforted with the knowledge that when we do not know how to pray as we ought, “the Spirit … intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” Just knowing that the Spirit groans along with us as our hearts stand speechless and helpless brings us a tiny sense of what we expect, in faith, for ourselves: our own ultimate perfection at the end of all things.

The Spirit makes intercession before God for us and for all of creation! Halleluia! And every day, God also wants us to join in too.

*from the American Heritage Dictionary, 1985

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.

Weekly Bible Study - Isaiah 55:10-11

Sunday 13 July 2014
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time  

 

Many farmers concur that a sizable, consistent snow pack is nature’s preeminent fertilizer.  (Was this past winter in New England a blessing in disguise?) As the heavy winter blanket begins to melt, the ground slowly absorbs the water’s nutritional benefits, “making the earth fertile and fruitful.” Second Isaiah uses this very simple imagery of water to offer a profound truth regarding God’s sacred word: it penetrates the soul slowly and effectively, always achieving the end for which it came.

How can the sacred word touch our lives more effectively?  We allow the Word of God to penetrate slowly and deeply into the ground of our being, inviting us to listen to its message at ever deepening levels. We can easily do this by paying attention to a word, phrase or passage that captures our hearts. And this requires listening! We may actually be surprised by what the Spirit is revealing to us in our hearing. As we journey throughout our day we find opportunities to be reminded of this word or passage. In quiet moments – and let’s find more of them – we ponder its message. 

In today’s reading we might hear St. Paul calling us to greater hope and trust as he reminds us of the fleeting nature of our suffering. We may hear our Master Gardener Jesus speaking to us through today’s Psalm response: Thus have You prepared my land, drenching its furrow and breaking up the clods of my heart.  The Gospel, rich with its own imagery of good and bad soil, may nudge us with Jesus’ invitation to prepare the soil of our souls that we may understand with our hearts and be converted.

We need only take one word, phrase or passage, turn it over quietly within our day and allow it to soften our hearts, penetrate our being, and move us to response or action.  With God’s help, this word will achieve the end for which the Lord has planted it in our hearts.

And if you want guidance to go deeper, consider enrolling in the Catholic Biblical School this Fall! Classes are opening in Waterbury, West Haven, and Bloomfield!

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.

Archaeology and the Wise Woman of Abel

"Situated at the ancient border between the polities of Israel, Aram and Phoenicia, and the modern countries of Israel, Lebanon and Syria, the large tell of Abel Beth Maacah holds tremendous promise....

"In 2 Samuel 20 Sheba ben Bichri, a Benjaminite, flees to Abel Beth Maacah, seeking refuge from David’s wingman, Joab. As Joab and his army build a siege ramp against the city wall, they are interrupted by the 'wise woman of Abel' who admonishes, 'They used to say in the old days, ‘Let them inquire at Abel’; and so they would settle a matter. I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?' It is clear from her remarks that Abel has an Israelite history and lore that precedes Joab’s time and is otherwise unknown to him. Whereas Joab is a threat to Abel, Sheba legitimately seeks refuge there. In the pro-David, Judahite perspective of the text in its final form, the city’s allegiance goes with Joab and David, with Sheba’s head handed down to Joab from Abel’s ramparts...."

Read more about what archaeologist Lauren Monroe of Cornell University can tell us about the dig at Tell Abel Beth Maacah, a truly multi-cultural Old Testament city.

Catholic Biblical School Information Fair

You’re invited!

We are teaming up with the Knights of Columbus Museum to host an Information Fair on Sunday, August 10, 2014, 2:00 pm.

Learn about the Bible itself and the Hartford Catholic Biblical School. Bring a friend and enjoy light refreshments in the company of CBS alums and faculty.

Guided tours of The Illuminated Word, the internationally acclaimed exhibition of the St. John’s Bible, will be provided. The exhibition presents 68 pages of the Bible in brilliant 21st century artwork (hand-illumined pages in vellum!). Engage “Creation,” “Adam and Eve,” the gospels, prophets and more in an old/new medium!

Free parking and admission at the Museum: One State Street, New Haven (EZ-on EZ-off I-91, I-94 and Route 34). The gift shop will be open!

Call BJ Daly Horell or Jill Costa in the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization (860-242-5573 or catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org) to let us know whether you will attend.

Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Religious Education and Evangelization and the Knights of Columbus Museum.

Congratulations Catholic Biblical School Class of 2014!

On June 22, 2014 in the beautiful St. Thomas Seminary chapel, 25 men and women graduated from the Biblical School.

Pictured (back row, left to right): Pat Pritchard, Msgr. Gerard Schmitz (President-Rector Emeritus), Marcia Franko (faculty), Sanita Gingras, Jim McCauley, Laury DiMarco, Fr. Christopher M. Tiano (Dean and faculty), Ernie Mintel, Karin Kaczynski, Mike Scougall, Lou Daniels, Sue Davis; (middle row) Claudette LaChance, Sr. Mahilia Roache, Helen Rusanowsky, Sr. Alma Sakowicz, Marie Moura, Evelyn Garrow, Toni Mintel, Janine Baryza-ly, Bishop Christie Macaluso (President-Rector), Lynda Curtis, Amy Ekeh (faculty); (front row) Bill Baker, Kim Petrillo, BJ Daly Horell (faculty chair/coordinator), Rita Mary Lashenske, Emelda Alexander, and Jean Ficaro. Not pictured: Joe Marcucio and Dcn. Bill Sayles

Commencement Reception

Bishop Christie Macaluso presided and distributed the first St. Thomas Seminary Certificates in Biblical Studies, and Fr. Christopher M. Tiano, Director of the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization and Dean of St. Thomas Seminary, was the homilist. Msgr. Gerard Schmitz was recognized for his leadership in acquiring accreditation for the new certificate from the State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education.

America Magazine Series: The Living Word

A Breath of Joyful Life

America Magazine contributors Guillermo Acero, Mike James, and Mary Elizabeth Sperry tell us a story of evangelization powered by God's Word in Scripture, as envisioned by the Latin American Church, in conjunction with Pope Francis (then Archbishop of Buenos Aires). The article begins:

In Ezekiel 37, the prophet sees a field of dry bones that come together with sinews, flesh, and skin, yet have no life. The bones do not come to life until Ezekiel prophesies—sharing the word of God, filling them with the Spirit that gives life. Following Ezekiel’s example, in recent years the church has called upon all who serve in the church to breathe the Word of God into their work, giving these ministries new life and purpose in Jesus Christ. This “breathing in” or “enlivening” is called “Biblical Animation of all Pastoral Life.”

ABP, as it is known, is an intentional strategy for evangelization. To read more, click here: http://americamagazine.org/breath-joyful-life

Ancient Manuscript Techniques on Display in 21st Century Bible

Viewing St. John's Bible is Emelda Alexander, 2014

On June 14 and 15, a dozen or so Catholic Biblical School graduates and current students
astonished themselves with the beauty and power of the written Word of God as illuminated by British royal calligrapher Donald Jackson and his talented associates.

"In 1998, Saint John's Abbey and University [in Minnesota] commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson to produce a hand-written, hand-illluminated Bible. We invite you to explore this work of art that unites an ancient Benedictine tradition with the technology and vision of today, illuminating the Word of God for a new millennium." This effort represents the first such commission by a Benedictine Abbey in 500 years! (As described on their home page at http://www.saintjohnsbible.org.)

CBS Grads* Admire Ecclesiastes' frontispiece

When the invention of moveable type by means of Johann Gutenberg's printing press revolutionized the transmission of the written word, what once took decades of arduous labor to produce a Bible could be accomplished quickly and far less expensively. For the first time in history, the ability to read and own books was no longer reserved to the wealthy and privileged.

Modern Bible study (as in our own Catholic Biblical School) owes a great debt to the mass production of text. But, in my opinion, the new Bibles lost something in the process. Where is the beauty and artistry of hand-illumination, as exemplified in ancient texts like the wonderful Book of Kells?

So we thank Donald Jackson, his gifted colleagues and the visionaries of St. John's Abbey for this precious new artwork-of-a-Bible. And we are grateful to the Knights of Columbus for exhibiting The St. John's Bible now through November 2, 2014 at

One State Street, New Haven

10-5 Daily

Free parking and admission!

Astonish yourself by taking in 68 original pages of the St. John's Bible, beautifully illuminated on vellum for the first time in centuries.

Make the Journey Yourself! Easy access from I-91 and I-94

For more information on the Exhibit and on the St. John's Bible, go to http://www.kofcmuseum.org/km/en/exhibits/2014/illuminating-word/index.html or www.saintjohnsbible.org.

Fun Fact: Did you know that parchment (vellum is parchment made specifically from calf skin) "has traditionally been used instead of paper for important documents such as religious texts, public laws, indentures, and land records as it has always been considered a strong and stable material. The five pages of the U.S. Constitution as well as the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Articles of Confederation are written on parchment." (National Archives website, http://www.archives.gov/preservation/formats/paper-vellum.html.)

*Foreground: Linda Markiewicz and Anne Mackiewicz, both of the Class of 2012. Behind them, Director of the St. John's Bible, Tim Ternes, enlightens another SJB enthusiast.

Weekly Bible Study - Matthew 11:25-30

6 July 2014

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For my yoke is easy and my burden light.

It is refreshing to find passages such as these when the many demands of Christian life weigh heavily upon us. Let us examine some of the nuances of Jesus’ promise in this gospel.

In historical context, the Jews of Jesus’ day seem burdened by a complex legal system. The Pharisees, lay leaders of Judaism at the time, required strict interpretation and observance of the law. Then as now, the rules could seem overwhelming to many people, who were, as a result, looked-down upon by those who considered themselves more pious. (Does this sound familiar to anyone?)

Jesus insists upon an equally rigorous, but far different, discipline of loving obedience. The burden is “easy” that lightens our hearts to view obligation as an act of love. The image of yoked beasts might suggest that we move with the support of another, that two divide the weight of the load. When we are properly “yoked” to God, he walks along with us, helping to carry our difficulties and make light our burdens. He gently steers us along the path he has laid out for us. Journeying in tandem also suggests discipleship. We walk two by two, supporting and bearing each other’s load, guiding and sharing the faith as we journey with one another.

Jesus takes this understanding one step further when he invites us to learn from him as we take up our yoke. We look to him for the lessons of obedience and humility that drew him to the cross. We look to him to learn the manner of unconditional love that brought comfort, healing and hope to the burdened. We look deep within the Word for truth, guidance and direction. And we see in Jesus a faithful companion, forever yoked to our hearts as we make our journey.

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.

Weekly Bible Study - Psalm 19:5

29 June 2014

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

The Church graces us with eight readings to celebrate this feast.  We choose a single verse at the heart of the ministry of Saints Peter and Paul:  Through all the earth their voice resounds and to the ends of the world their message.

Their message was the “Good News of Jesus Christ.”  Each man’s understanding of “Messiah” would influence the growth of the church. Peter’s bold assertion, You are the Christ, the Messiah of God, became the foundation of his call to a new leadership. He became the rock upon which the church would be built.  Paul’s blinding revelation on that road to Damascus (sans horse!) showed him a new “Christology.” This deeper understanding of Messiah enabled him to see religious truths in a new light: death as life, weakness as strength, suffering as glory. For Paul, Christ would no longer be a “stumbling block” but empowerment.

While these two pillars of church history spread a common message of Jesus Christ, each had a unique

role in the building of the church. “The Petrine influence brought to the church the deposit of faith and its central authority, stability and magisterium (teaching). Peter’s contribution defined and codified what church would mean for all ages. The Pauline impulse moved beyond the legislative foundations to embrace the freedom of God’s grace.”* Paul’s contribution would empower believers to live a Spirit-filled Christian life. The work and witness of both men were needed to enable the Good News to spread.

This day we celebrate the vision of these two early Christian leaders. They essentially complemented one another’s direction for the church, insuring its growth and stability, enabling the message to go out to every generation and every age. We, too, join in their mission to bring the “Good News” to all while we join together to celebrate the riches of human diversity that, in the case of Peter and Paul, broadens our understanding of the Risen Christ.

*Source: Invitation to the New Testament: A Catholic Approach to the Christian Scriptures by Alice Camille,

ACTA publications.


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.