Nothing “Dead” About the Dead Sea Scrolls

From 1947 to this day, Christians and Jews alike have grown in understanding and faith through insights raised by the greatest cache of ancient biblical manuscripts discovered in modern times.

On the evening of October 14 the Catholic Biblical School and the University of Hartford came together to explore what John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul all have in common with the faith of the Essenes, that exclusive pre-rabbinic sect of Judaism whose vast library is represented today by what we call the “Dead Sea Scrolls” (so called because the materials were found at Qumran, on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea).

The Essene monastic community was destroyed in 68 AD, but its texts live on in thousands of ancient manuscripts and fragments. These texts continue to raise many fascinating questions not only about this obscure Jewish sect, but about its contemporary religious movements: Christianity and rabbinic Judaism (the ancestor of Judaism today).

Dr. Adolfo Roitman, Curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, correlated New Testament texts relating to John the Baptist (MK 1:1-5); Jesus (MT 5:43-44 and MK 11:15-17); and St. Paul (2 COR 6:14-16) with sayings found in the Community Rule scrolls found at Qumran. He tells us the bottom line is this: Christians and Essenes were both, in their origins, pre-rabbinical Jews.

Twenty-five CBS students, alums, and other Catholic leaders joined in study with UHart’s Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies for this unique educational opportunity.

"Micro" Catechism for Busy Adults

God chooses to mediate his graces through the sacraments.

On the day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit made the Church visible and manifest to the entire world. Peter’s and all the apostles’ preaching that brought about the baptism of thousands was the birth of a new age – the age of the Church. In this age of the Church, Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through his Church’s liturgy.

In this age of the Church, Christ lives and acts in and with his Church in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what is called “the sacramental economy.” ...This sacramental "economy" ... is the communication or “dispensation” of the fruits of Christ's Paschal Mystery.

Each sacrament, celebrated by the Church in the name of Christ, is an action of God by which God seeks to pour out his gifts and graces. Each sacrament has effects that are unique to it.

We can therefore rightly expect that our access to God’s gift of forgiveness comes first and foremost through the sacraments.

Reflection Question
Think of one time in which you were part of a sacramental celebration and in which you were powerfully aware of God’s grace [active presence] being poured out in that sacrament. How did you come away from that experience different?

Scripture to Explore 
Acts of the Apostles 1-4
 
Additional References
Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1076, 1110, 1113, 1123, 1129
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults pp. 168-170
Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation MA.2.2.1, MA.2.2.5, MA.2.2.5

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
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Weekly Bible Study - Isaiah 25:6-10

12 October 2014

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

These days, celebrations are usually focused around the consumption of food. There’s no denying that we all love a good repast! Long after everyone has gone home, what do we remember best: the connections and conversations or the delightful delicacies?

The prophet Isaiah sets the table of our imagination with a tangible reality: the rich and sumptuous banquet the Lord will provide for all people. This imagery offers hope to a downtrodden people. The hope Israel needed is cast in a powerful image to free at least their hearts from bondage. Isaiah is assured in the depths of his heart that God will deliver Israel from “the veil of death” and the people will celebrate with feasting and thanksgiving!

We have that same assurance as we approach the eucharistic table. In the mystery we celebrate, Jesus removes the veil of death and gives us the hope of eternal life.

Wow! Read that last sentence again, and think about it for a moment. More than any birthday or holiday, isn’t eternal life something to CELEBRATE?

And as we, as Body of Christ, gather around the eucharistic table celebrating our deliverance from death, is our gathering a joyful celebration, as described by Isaiah? Do we truly rejoice when we gather to "celebrate" our release from sin and separation?

For the Israelites, the banquet was a powerful image of rejoicing in hope of deliverance from oppression. For us, the eucharistic banquet is that, but more. Our banquet is a powerful reality, a sacrament that brings about the very thing we celebrate: Christ breaking forever the bonds of sin and death.

This is the Lord to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!

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. 

Living and Leading in God's Word

Devotion to Sacred Scripture is thriving at St. Francis Xavier in New Milford, thanks to Maura Pauli, Class of 2012, and her pastor, Fr. Larry Parent, OFM.

On Thursdays at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm, about forty people are attending a Threshold Bible Study, "Mysteries of the Rosary." The program connects the mysteries of the rosary with the portrait of Mary found in the Bible.

Fr. Larry is enthusiastic about the Bible Studies Maura has been leading for over a year, now. He notes that Maura brings a deep spirituality, faith commitment, and Christian kindness to the sessions.

What's happening in your faith community? Let us know by emailing catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.