Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study
Christian Fellowship Announcement: Long-term member, Jason, has started an online Catholic fellowship group for those who are interested in praying and sharing together. It is called “Catholic Prayer, Fellowship, and Spirituality” and everyone is invited to join/connect on Meetup at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/.
Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study house rules/notes…
1. Meetup is https://meetu.ps/c/4mYPW/F6KR3/a, Zoom Meeting Logon information is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952
2. The notes/recaps from our meetings are posted on our Catholic Catacombs Light website https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/blog, usually within a day.
3. See The Chosen. Knowing Jesus Christ means being able to better relate to God. Check it out: The Chosen at https://thechosen.link/1Y1R7.
4. Respectfulness. Of course we will discuss differences between religions and even between Christian denominations, but we agree to use respectful words and tones in doing so. Specifically, Protestants are our friends and brothers in Christ (I myself owe part of my return to the faith to them).
5. No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct; however, that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn the Bible, explain the Catholic faith – what it means and especially its origins in Scripture and Jesus Christ – and helping people develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
Questions encouraged. If you have questions about anything, you can email the group via Meetup, or me directly at ron@hallagan.net.
Next week: We skipped Hell when it was Christmas season and now we are coming up on Lent. Next week we will start off with Lent and move into Hell. The week I will be in Israel vising the Holy Land, so we will be skipping Feb 22.
Vocabulary
Man – generic for mankind, humanity
Exegesis – Greek: ex (out of) + hege (guide), meaning to explain or interpret the meaning of, usually referring to the Bible.
Eschatology – refers to “end times.” We sometimes ask what is the eschatological meaning of scripture. For example, What is the eschatological meaning of the 7th Day?
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe.
You bring light out of darkness and ordain the order of all creation.
And lo, I will be with you until the end of time.
We ask you to bless everyone here tonight, hear their deepest needs, and grant their requests in accordance with Your Will
––– silent prayer/special requests –––
And as you taught us to pray:
Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily Bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us all. Amen.
Upcoming Catholic Holy Days
Ordinary Time: Jan 10 to March 2. Lent: Wed, March 2 to Holy Thursday, April 14.
MassTalk – sort of…
Q: “Honor the Sabbath Day.” Where does this come from?
3rd Commandment.
Q: To whom and where?
Given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
Q: When?
50 days after the first Passover. Also known as Pentecost, or Shavuot.
Q: Passover: pass over what?
Death - 10th plague.
Freedom from slavery.
Freedom from slavery… to what? They first thing they ran into was the Red Sea. There was nowhere else for them to go and Pharaoh and his army changed their minds and coming over the hill. Have you ever had a Red Sea moment?
Getting across the impossible Red Sea is a kind of faith moment, when a door opens up!
But then BAM they get to Mt. Sinai and Moses goes up and what does God give him but the Ten Commandments!
Freedom means Ten Commandments? You must be kidding. You mean freedom isn’t free? You mean I can’t just lie around and watch TV and eat potato chips?
Q: Oh, so this free-will type of freedom means something different?
Yes, it is part of a higher role in the universe we were given when God breathed a spiritual nature into us. It gives us the freedom to make choices between right and wrong, between love and hate, between humility and arrogance, between generosity and greed, and between kindness and self-centeredness. And, to make matters worse, all the “GOOD” choices take all immense amounts of effort whereas all the bad ones come naturally and are easy-peasy!
Q:How will we ever navigate this maze of difficult choices?
We were never meant to do the spirit-thing alone. With God in our lives, they are not so difficult. The good news is that there is happiness and joy to be had in the spiritual sense that the material world can’t touch.
Q: Why do we need to be commanded with commandments?
In Exodus 20:1 is written, “And God spoke these words” (not commandments); although later on Moses also calls them instructions, statutes, decrees, and commandments. But when God gave them to Moses, he uses “words.” If we look the Hebrew up for this we get:
words: הַדְּבָרִ֥ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause, explanation
I came to realize that the word “commandment" was not intended to order us around, for if God really wanted to that he could just force us to whatever he wanted, right? The better word is instruction, as in an instruction manual.
What happens if you don’t follow a manual’s instructions? The thing doesn’t work! Do we have to follow the instructions? No, but if we want the thing to work, then yes. In that sense, an instruction manual might better say “commandment manual,” because you must follow them for the thing to work.
The same is true with the Ten Commandments/Instructions. God is giving Moses a set of “beginner’s instructions” to help them make good, wise decisions – good choices. It doesn’t take much reflection to see that these are the path to learning how to love.
Think of a parent helping a child who is learning to write the alphabet. The parent may at first hold the child’s hand as they make the letters and then the child begins to do it on their own. Once they learn to write, they can do many things, even write books, but not if they go off making up their own rules and letters.
So, what are these ten “instructions"?
1st three: love and respect for God; 4th love of parents; 5-10 (thou shall not lie, cheat, steal, murder) is the basis for love of others. It is a “How to" love manual for beginners. Jesus brings us the advanced manual – which is a bit harder – but he also gives us the HS.
Back to the 3rd Commandment – Keep holy the Sabbath Day. Sabbath means rest, the 7th day of the week.
Q: Where did this 3rd Commandment come from?
Gen2:2 - God rested on the 7th Day.
Q: Rested from what?
It says from his work of creation – from all his worldly activity/matters.
Q: What does this mean? Did God need rest? What did Jesus say about it?
He explained to the Pharisees that the Sabbath was made for man, not for God (Mk 2:27).
Q: Whoa, what does this mean?
Per Jesus’ explanation, let’s restate this for man. On the 7th Day we are to rest from our worldly creation, activities, matters.
Q: Why?
Because we have 6 other days for those. One day should be for the foundation and premises that govern the other six days, since this foundation and these premises determine who we are. They help us remain strong in the shifting circumstances of the world. It is also because we need to practice gratitude, because we will forget.
Because God knows humans will get distracted and soon the worldly matters will take precedence. Then “who we are" will be determined by the world. The world is the apple. It’s attractive and desirable, but it’s fool’s gold. As Jesus says: We are to be in the world, but not of the world.
Q: Ok, so no worldly activity leaves what?
Spiritual activities. The Jews would cease all work – which even applied to visitors and their animals – and they would go to the Temple or synagogue on these days to worship God because God is the source and summit of our lives. Other worldly activities like running errands shows you have other priorities, so those are left to the other days. Besides, true work-life balance isn’t just more busywork when you’re not working, is it? Won’t that leave us just as stressed and tired? God knows what he’s doing here. The Sabbath is for us to truly rebalance once a week.
Q: So, what else should we do on this day?
1. Keep God central to everything.
2. Evaluate how your week went compared to Christ’s teachings: to be honest, to be kind and help others even when inconvenient, to be open to correction, to freely admit when you are wrong and apologize, to listen more than talk, to work hard for the betterment of those around you, and to pray for your enemies. Wherever your week did not align with these, discuss your plans to do better next week with God and remain open to His input.
3. Love parents and family. Choose to do activities that focus on God, family, and providing service, such as:
1) Visit family. Zoom or phone if nec.
2) Write in your journal.
3) Learn more about your ancestors and family history.
4) Go for a walk and enjoy God’s creation.
5) Take food to someone who is sick. Or visit the elderly in a retirement home.
6) Call, text, or message a friend who’s been on your mind. Visit friends in the spirit of God’s love.
7) Plan or participate in a service project.
8) Read the bible or something spiritual.
9) Have a weekly family game night.
10) At the end of the day as you are retiring, thank God for everything and for being with you in the week ahead.
God promises amazing blessings to those who keep the Sabbath day holy. It will strengthen your family relationships and give greater focus and confidence to life. As you show your love for the Lord by keeping this day special, His grace will automatically flow into you and your life.
Q: What else might this 7th Day of Rest mean, eschatologically?
After this life is over, our 6 days of labor will be successfully completed, and we will enter the 7th Day completely.
x
16 Birth of Ishmael
Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. Now she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.
Sarai said to Abram: “The LORD has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse with my maid; perhaps I will have sons through her.” Abram obeyed Sarai.
So then Hagar became pregnant. However, a falling out between Hagar and Sarah and ensued, as Sarah felt that Hagar had a “pride of place” in the family, displacing Sarah. Apparently Hagar was guilty of this, although that was not uncommon in those days, especially when the other woman was barren, which was considered a disgrace. However, Sarah was having none of it and began mistreating Hagar. No doubt, there was drama at Abraham’s dinner table. It got bad enough that Hagar ran away. But then God talked to her, He told her to be understanding and brave, and that her son, Ishmael, would be a great leader and chieftain in his own right. Hagar returned and bore Abraham’s son, and he was named Ishmael.
Thirteen Years Later
17 Covenant of Circumcision
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said: I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless. Between you and me I will establish my covenant, and I will multiply you exceedingly.
No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a multitude of nations.
Abram means “exalted father,” and Abraham means “father of many nations.”
So Hagar became pregnant. However, a falling out between Hagar and Sarah and ensued, as Sarah felt that Hagar had “pride of place” in the family. Sure enough, it seems Hagar did start looking down on Sarah, which was not uncommon in those days, especially as barren women were considered broken.
I will maintain my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
The covenant between me and you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.
Throughout the ages, every male among you, when he is eight days old, shall be circumcised, including house-born servants and those acquired with money from any foreigner who is not of your descendants’
God further said to Abraham: As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Her also will I bless; she will give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples will issue from her.
Sarai and Sarah are variations of the same name, both meaning “princess.”
Abraham fell face down and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at ninety?”
God replied: your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. It is with him that I will maintain my covenant as an everlasting covenant and with his descendants after him.
(Who said God didn’t have a sense of humor. Isaac means “laughter.”)
When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God departed from him.
Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all his slaves, whether born in his house or acquired with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins on that same day, as God had told him to do.
18 Abraham’s Visitors.
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “If it pleases you, sir, do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest under the tree. Now that you have come to your servant, let me bring you a little food that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.”
“Very well,” they replied, “do as you have said.”
Note that the chapter starts out as “The Lord appeared…” but the next paragraph says, “he saw three men.” According to the opening line, the LORD himself has come to visit Abraham. The other two seem to be angels. As the verses continue, the singular and plural are both used, which could mean he was addressing the leader (the LORD) and other times all three. Or maybe all of them are the Lord – the Eastern Orthodox Church interprets the three as the Trinity. We will treat them as the Lord and two angels, as it seems these are the two angels who will travel to Sodom in the next chapter.
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick, three measures of bran flour! Knead it and make bread.” He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them, waiting on them under the tree while they ate.
Note the level of hospitality that the Jews are expected to give strangers. Abraham did not seem to know who they were at first; nevertheless he showed them great kindness. I point this out for two reasons: 1) hospitality is a form of love – especially to strangers, and 2) we will want to compare Abraham’s hospitality with the reception that the two angels get in Sodom.
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There in the tent,” he replied.
One of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.”
Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her menstrual periods. So Sarah laughed to herself and said, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?”
But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But he said, “Yes, you did.”
The commentaries say this was an endearing end of conversation, not an accusation.
18 ½ Abraham Intercedes for Sodom.
As Abraham walks with them to see them on their way, the men set out from there and looked down toward Sodom.
“The LORD said to Abraham: The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I will go down to see whether or not their actions are as bad as the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.”
Then Abraham drew near and said: “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous people in the city; would you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it? Far be it from you to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world do what is just?”
The LORD replied: If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am only dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty righteous people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?”
I will not destroy it, he answered, if I find forty-five there.
But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?”
He replied: I will refrain from doing it for the sake of the forty.
Then Abraham said, “Do not let my Lord be angry if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?”
He replied: I will refrain from doing it if I can find thirty there.
Q: Why is Abraham so concerned about the people of Sodom?
Lot and his family live there.
Abraham went on, “Since I have thus presumed to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?”
I will not destroy it, he answered, for the sake of the twenty.
But he persisted: “Please, do not let my Lord be angry if I speak up this last time. What if ten are found there?”
For the sake of the ten, he replied, I will not destroy it.
The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.
Q: Does anyone know what Sodom’s sin was? Hospitality? Greed? Lack of charity? Sexual immorality?
Probably all of these, although they all fall under the heading of “violations of the Jewish sacred duty of hospitality” – even their threat to rape Lot’s guests (the angels).
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank you for our lives, our relationships,
And for your goodness and truth that draws us here.
We wish to transform our will into yours,
So that we may participate in the equanimity of your self-emptying love.
Grant us the wisdom to see others as you do
To love as you do
And to be a conduit between you and others.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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