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| Graduation 2009 |
For a recent homework assignment, first-year students were asked first to read Deuteronomy 30:15-20, then to respond to the question, "What is the message intended by the author of Deuternomy and how is this passage relevant for today." I got some wonderful answers, but here's one in particular I want to share with you this Advent:In my opinion, the message intended by the author in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 reflects God’s desire for a deeply abiding relationship with the Israelites (“holding fast to him”). For Gpd knows that they can only truly experience his intentions for their well-being by following his ways. He spells it out for them so well: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse,” and “Choose life, then, that you … may live, by loving the Lord, … obeying his voice.” And “if you obey the commandments…loving the Lord…and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments…you will live and grow numerous…God will bless you in the land.”
God desires .. their complete trust, and He shows them how to reach that kind of relationship with Him. But notice that He gives them the choice to freely make. Thus they will be responsible for their choice: His justice (blessing or curse) is that he will give them what they freely choose.”
He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:11-12) [NRSV]
"Make known to me your ways, Lord;
teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior, for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your compassion and your mercy, O Lord, for they are ages old.
Remember no more the sins of my youth;
remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, Lord."
. . .7. The Bible is the great story of the marvels of God’s mercy. Every one of its pages is steeped in the love of the Father who from the moment of creation wished to impress the signs of his love on the universe. Through the words of the prophets and the wisdom writings, the Holy Spirit shaped the history of Israel as a recognition of God’s tenderness and closeness, despite the people’s infidelity. Jesus’ life and preaching decisively marked the history of the Christian community, which has viewed its mission in terms of Christ’s command to be a permanent instrument of his mercy and forgiveness (cf. Jn 20:23). ... I greatly desire that God’s word be increasingly celebrated, known and disseminated, so that the mystery of love streaming from this font of mercy may be ever better understood.
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| Fr. Tom Stegman, Lecturer in the Catholic Biblical School, with Pope Francis this October |
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing."Can you imagine that? He's mightier than all our sins, a Savior who saves, and loves us and is so excited about being reconciled to us that it makes Him burst into song! Wow.
Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: this is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:I especially like how Bishop Barron connects this text to God's fierce desire for us. He writes, "Think of the experience of being gazed upon by someone who loves you and whom you love. In that gaze—penetrating, knowing, benign—you find, not oppression, but joy and peace. That's how God looks upon you."
The LORD bless you and keep you!The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Nu 6:23-26)
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| Photo courtesy of the Times of IsraelDetail of ancient floor discovered this summer at Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation |
When: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday November 14, 15, 17, 12:30-1 pm
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| Artistic Depiction: Lady Wisdom |
Scarcely can we guess the things on earth,
and only with difficulty grasp what is at hand;
But things in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who can know your counsel, unless you give wisdom
and send your holy spirit from on high?
Thus were the paths of those on earth made straight,
and people learned what pleases you,
and were saved by Wisdom.
"I learned so much last year.... Now I feel I as if can't learn enough! I am so excited to get started."
"I really appreciate how the Bible School (sic) allows for the group faith sharing which brings us closer together."
"Mass was beautiful."
"The day was wonderful and uplifting."
The presenter "speaks from a love of the Scriptures. He really brought Paul to life!"'
"An inspirational teacher!"
Our presenter carried an enthusiasm.... Hearing the ideas was a joy and a confirmation of so many of my thoughts!"
"Superb! Great kick-off to the course."
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| Fr. Thomas Stegman, SJ |
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23And it is God's desire for us that is the foundation of covenant and cross:
It was I [God] who taught Ephraim [a name for God's people] to walk,Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For Love is strong as Death, longing is fierce as Sheol. Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine. SS 8:6
"This class was beyond my wildest dreams."
"It inspires me to better myself."
"I feel closer to God and find greater meaning in the mass than ever before."
"Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize. This class has given me the power to 'take it to the streets.'"
Geraldine Brooks is a prolific writer of historical fiction. In the book The Secret Chord she gives us an imaginative, historically possible, insight into her vision of the stories of King David.
When we do hear from someone (or their spouse, in this case) that someone is in need of healing, we try to pass the word along.
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| Image courtesyfrancinerivers.com |
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| Courtesy of Cody Miller at www.codyfmiller.com. |
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| Image courtesy of http://www.slideshare.net/chronicwriter |
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last." (Matt. 20:16)How many of us have that New Testament saying memorized? Easy, right? That's because it's a chiasm! Notice how the word "last" appears at the beginning of the sentence and is repeated at the end. Notice how the word "first" comes at the end of the first phrase and the beginning of the second phrase. That's a chaism. It has a "mirror" structure--the second part is identical to the first, only backwards: LAST FIRST/FIRST LAST.
For my money, this saying comes straight from the mouth of Jesus. He was, of course, a master of rhetoric and used the common ways of speaking for his time. Possibly Matthew refined it, but that's a whole other topic!http://beyondreadingthebible.com/11-chiasms/
Alice Hoffman’s novel, the
Dovekeepers, set in Ancient Israel, is the story of four women who 
The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant, retells the Jacob saga through the eyes of his daughter Dinah. Thus writing from a woman's perspective, the author gives an added dimension of interesting alternatives to the scriptural account. While being a fictional novel based on scripture, it provides thought-provoking perspectives on the Jacob saga and fills out the lives, personalities and actions of the characters in very gripping, sometimes disturbing, and always intriguing ways. If one remembers that it is not true scripture, it still gives an alluring "insight" into the minds, mores, morals and culture of Jacob's patriarchal clan. (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997)
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| CBS Alums Kick Back: Jacqui Wielgoszinski, Pat Keck, Carol Moriarty |
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| Graduation 2009 |
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| CBS 200 Assignment |
