Weekly Bible Study ▪ Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 ▪ James 3:16-4:3

20 September 2015
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our first two readings not only mesh well but seem to speak to each other.  Written more than one hundred years apart, they both address a common topic: the evil that drives some human behavior. One can well imagine James holding court with the group identified in Wisdom as “the wicked” and giving them a piece of his mind!

The author of Wisdom details the sinister behavior that defines the wicked. Their disgust and distrust revolve around a certain “just one.” They are inconvenienced by the words and actions of this “obnoxious” man. The wicked ones are determined to have him destroyed to see if even God can save him. Yet with all the negative overtones throughout this passage, the wicked still recognize within the just one a behavior marked by gentleness and patience. One way or another, the just person is "getting to them."

Do our actions single us out for recognition by both good and wicked people? If not, are we avoiding notice or even "copping" to the ways of injustice that are everywhere in our world? Can we fulfill our mission as disciples of Christ if we do not stand out by our words and (especially) our actions?

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.

Prep Builds Pay Off for Biblical School

Lots of hard work goes into preparing for the first week of the Catholic Biblical School. Teachers prepare lessons and written materials for their classes; students complete their summer assignments and launch into Lesson I.1; parish and seminary staffs prepare classroom settings; and the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization oversees everything to make sure it all comes off without a hitch.

Thank you, from the depths of my heart, to everyone who has contributed to the start of this new academic year. Keep studying, praying, loving one another, and breathing the life of the Spirit in God's Word and Sacrament.

Archbishop Blair Offers Support, Prayers for First-Year Bible Students

With 46 new students beginning the Hartford Catholic Biblical School this fall, energies ran high at Saturday's Opening Scripture Day--even before Archbishop Blair made his pastoral appearance. Students responded with enthusiasm, knowing that their archbishop is praying for their deepening relationship with Christ through the study of Sacred Scripture. Every year, our students benefit greatly from beginning their studies with a day of reflection, study, prayer, Eucharist, and (not to mention...) the scholarly input of our speaker, Stephen J. Binz, gifted author of many popular books on the Bible.

Fr. Christopher M. Tiano, Director of the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization and Dean of St. Thomas Seminary, presided at liturgy for the new students.

Before returning to his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. Binz offered a "how to" workshop on leading biblical studies, using his popular Threshold Bible Study series (Twenty-Third Publications), for Biblical School alums and parish pastoral leaders on Sunday. Both programs were hosted by St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield.

What Are You Doing Next Weekend?

You could be beginning a spiritual odyssey into the mind and heart of Christ!

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School has helped thousands of adults live faithfully their call to walk as disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus.

Click here to see whether the Biblical School is a good fit for your faith journey at this time: http://www.orehartford.org/joomla2/index.php/our-programs/catholic-biblical-school

Or contact Jill or BJ in the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization to find out more: (860) 242-5573, ext. 2670.

Opening Scripture Day: Saturday, September 12, 2015.
Classes Begin September 14-18

Weekly Bible Study ▪ James 2:1-5

6 September 2015
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Compared to other NT letters, the Letter of James seems practical and simple.

But it is one thing to understand the message of James, and another to put the gospel message into practice. In today’s reading, for example, the author encourages us to “show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” He points out the vice (partiality) and immediately sets the standard for Christian behavior: Jesus’ own fidelity to the will of the Father. This is the guiding principle in Christian living: Do as Jesus did.

To illustrate his point, James describes the blatant favoring of the wealthy at the expense of the poor. What makes this discrimination even more detestable is that it happens in the religious assembly. Of course, the favoritism portrayed in this letter is not the way a Christian community should behave.

But James goes further to offer yet another, less obvious truth: “God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.” Perhaps the poor are the heirs of the kingdom because they are not as distracted as others by earthly concerns. Do “gold rings and fine clothes” keep us from fully embracing what God calls Christ's disciples to do?

Ask yourself: What is God requiring of me, today?

In this letter James challenged the accepted values of the world in which he lived. He also called upon every succeeding generation to evaluate its treatment of people and its practices of discrimination: Always a timely reflection, given the economic, racial, and class divisions that continue to tear our world apart today.

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.

National Bible Week To Celebrate 50th Anniversary Of Dei Verbum

Role Of Bible In The Family

August 24, 2015
WASHINGTON—Families, parishes, schools and other Catholic groups can participate in National Bible Week, November 15-21, with resources provided in English and Spanish and available on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The theme of the observance is “The Bible: A Book for the Family/ La Biblia: Un Libro para la Familia.”

The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum will celebrate its 50th anniversary on November 18, 2015. National Bible Week logos and a variety of resources that highlight the Bible in Catholic life are available online: www.usccb.org/bible/national-bible-week/index.cfm

Resources for families include “Enthroning the Bible in the Family” (Cómo entronizar la Biblia en la familia), “Making the Word of God a Part of Your Home” (Cómo hacer que la Palabra de Dios sea parte fundamental del hogar), “Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina” (Siempre Antigua, Siempre Nueva: El Arte y la Práctica de Lectio Divina) and “Sharing the Word of God at Home” (Compartiendo la Palabra de Dios en el Hogar).

Resources for parishes include a faith formation session on reading and understanding the Bible, a guide for starting and maintaining a parish Bible study, a family retreat, tips for using the Bible in catechesis and prayer, and a Scripture vigil on the themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine will act as a clearinghouse for activities undertaken by dioceses and other groups, including the Association of Catholic Publishers, the American Bible Society and the Catholic Biblical Federation.

For Resources to use in your family or faith community, click here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/national-bible-week/index.cfm 

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Keywords: National Bible Week, Dei Verbum, Scripture, family, resources, parishes
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