House rules/notes…
Our meeting/classes are In-Person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ (usually held downstairs in Room 5), or ONLINE via Zoom (see #2).
To sign up for Zoom notifications and to receive the Meeting Recaps, go to www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy and join us! The Zoom Logon is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952.
After each meeting, I send out Meeting Recaps of what we discussed. Please remember these recaps are unedited and without the pictures. The edited version with pictures will be posted on our website before the next class at www.catholiccatacombs.org. Taylor will notify everyone at that time and provide a link.
Questions encouraged. If you have questions, we ask that you keep them on topic and brief. You can ask in the chat box during the class, or email through Meetup.com, or email me at ron@hallagan.net afterwards.
Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Protestants especially are our friends and brothers-in-Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them!
No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith.
Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week? Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!
“The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing!
Catholic Catacombs website: www.CatholicCatacombs.org
Each meeting: 5 min greet/prayer, 10 min Catholic topic, 15 min Gospel, 30 min weekly topic.
Bible Study Format: Each week of the month has a repeating topic, as noted below.
Each meeting: 5 min greet/prayer, 10 min Catholic topic, 15 min Gospel, 30 min main topic.
Week 1: Gospel Week
Week 2: Bible Week (Gen to Rev): We are in The Book of 1 Samuel.
Week 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members:
x 1) Great Women in the Bible 2) Book of Revelation 3) Fathers, Heresies, and Church Councils
Week 4: Apologetics and Member Requests:
57% Miracles since the NT
57% How do I live my Christian faith at work when my faith is not accepted there?
35% Why does God allow suffering?
35% What should our response be to those who ask us about priestly sex abuse?
35% Explain Mother Teresa’s “Dark Night of the Soul.”
28% What is Tradition? Is Tradition equal to Scripture in importance? (2Thes2:15)
28% What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?
21% Explain what happens to animals after they die. Will we see our pets?
14% Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he a Christian? How was the Church affected?
Reader - Carl
Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying the rosary, etc. with other Catholics during the week? Follow fellow member Jason Goldberg at https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. Daily/weekly prayer is saintly!
Upcoming major holy days: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Aug 15
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we gather together to learn, to grow and to change.We lay our lives down before you and ask that you move amongst us.Stir up our thoughts and grant us the wisdom and grace to love and forgive like You.
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. Amen.
National Eucharistic Congress July 17 – 21, 2024
60,000 Catholics, 200 bishops, 1200 priests from 50 states & 17 countries made the pilgrimage.
Masses said throughout the day in Latin, English, Spanish, Vietnamese plus three separate Easter Rite liturgies. Next pilgrimage is 2025 in Los Angeles. Next Congress 2033 marking 2000 years since the death of our Lord.
Today
Exegesis – The Lord’s Prayer: “And Lead us not into temptation.”
Apologetics – Worship
Gospel Reading for July 28 (17th Sun Ord. Time) John 6:1-15 – Jesus Feeds 5000?
Member Questions: 1) Miracles since the NT (New Testament), and 2) How do I live my faith at work?
Quote of the Week:
The modern crisis of man is that if he can surround himself with enough material comforts, he is often willing to get by with the fleeting satisfaction of mere self-existence. – Cardinal Ratzinger’s Intro to Christianity
Apologetics and Exegesis Terms
Exegesis is the study and interpretation of the Word of God. It is what we do every week. We are all exegetes now!
Catholic Apologetics– apologetics means to defend a belief, so Catholic Apologetics is the art of defending the Catholic faith using reason, tradition, and Scripture.
Apologetics of the Day: Worship. What does it mean?
Worship is the act of expressing praise and gratitude for that which we hold highest in life. For Christians, that place of honor belongs to God. If God doesn’t hold that high place, then we will still worship, for humans are made for worship (meaning that we cannot help but seek that which is greater than ourselves, even if it a vision of ourselves). We give similar kinds of praise and awe to other people all the time (entertainment, politics, science, historical figures). The ancient pagans gave the same to idols – there is little difference. Worship comes from the word “worth,” or “worthy,” so it refers to that which we hold highest (worthiest) in life. Said simply, our highest priorities in life are, by default, that which we worship.
“If you do not worship God, you worship something, and nine times out of ten it will be yourself. You have a duty to worship God, not because God will be imperfect or unhappy, but because you will be imperfect and unhappy.” – Fulton Sheen
Exegesis of the Day: “And Lead us not into temptation.”
Does this mean God leads us into temptation, so that we have to ask him to stop?
In all good exegesis, we verify what we are evaluating by comparing statements with other similar passages in Scripture. If we find conflicts, we must delve deeper into the meaning. The Apostle James states very clearly (unequivocally):
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. – James 1:13
So then, what does “lead us not into temptation” mean?
The meaning of this petition is nicely restated in Matthew Henry’s commentary on Luke 11:4:
"Thou knowest, Father, how weak I am; let me not be tempted above that which I am able."
This implies that temptation is a fact of life, and that the petition is asking God to help us make the right call – to lead us OUT of temptation. The word, “not” (lead us not) in Greek means negation, which could also mean “out of” or “away from.”
The CCC (2863) says: When we say, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are asking God not to allow us to take the path that leads to sin. This petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength and requests the grace for vigilance and perseverance to the end.
Does this mean God allows us to be tested?
Absolutely. How do you teach your child how to walk, ride a bike, play the piano, or learn math? We must learn spiritual skills the same way.
We must remember that these temptations and tests come from our own lives, our own weaknesses, and, of course, the devil. These trials are part of the “boot camp” of this life. Anyone who has been through boot camp in the military will tell you they usually enter “out of shape and weak,” but leave “strong, fit, and able to meet difficulties head on.” Heaven’s boot camp is our life on earth – our Jesus apprenticeship – readying us not only for battling evil here, but for entering Heaven.
We should also be aware that God may let us fall if our pride needs a lesson. It’s called tough love and is oftentimes necessary. In all cases, remember, it is OUR WILL that chooses. Without free will, there would be no sin.
Fortunately, Christ is there always – if we call on him – to catch us, forgive us, help us learn from it.
Gospel for Sunday, John 6:1-15, Jesus Feeds 5,000
This is the year of Mark, so why are we reading John? The next month of Sundays will be dedicated to John chapter 6, which deals with Jesus’ claim to be the Bread from Heaven. Today’s reading of the feeding of the 5,000 is found in all four Gospels, but the remainder of John’s chapter takes a stunning deep dive into this “Bread of Life” topic for our next month of Sundays. Because of this and its centrality to Catholicism – and because it comes on the heels of the National Eucharistic Revival – we will be spending more time on this topic as we work our way through John 6.
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five small barley loaves and two small fish; but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Exegesis of John 6:1-15. I will simply repeat the reading below and insert our study Q&A between the verses.
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
John uses the word “signs” because he is pointing us to something beyond the miraculous events themselves. In this case, the miracle is pointing to two things: What are they?
The miracle is pointing to Moses/Exodus and to the Bread at the Last Supper.
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
What OT connection are you reminded of by the words “mountain” and “Passover.”
Moses. Jesus is not only the Messiah but he is a New Moses.
How does the “New Moses” tie in with Jesus’ mission?
The First Passover was the Old Covenant which led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and from worldly idols.
The New Passover (Last Supper) is the New Covenant that leads humans out of bondage to sin and this world.
Jesus is not only the New Moses but the New Exodus. He is completing/fulfilling/elevating the Exodus of Moses.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little."
Why did Jesus test Philip and what was the test?
There are two things that this points to:
Jesus already intends to perform a miracle. He asks this question both to show that what needs to be done is beyond human power and at the same time invite human cooperation. Isn’t that how our relationship with God works?
Also interesting is to note that Philip’s question (“Where can we get enough food for them to eat?”) is similar to a miraculous feeding of the multitudes in Exodus 16, when Moses asks Yahweh a very similar question: "Where am I to find food to give all these people?" At that time, Yahweh accepts Moses' question as a petition and provides food for the children of Israel (manna and quail). Here we see God (Father) providing the food in Exodus and God (Son) providing food in today’s reading.
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five small barley loaves and two small fish; but what good are these for so many?"
What is the point of this reference to Andrew’s comment about a boy, 5 small barley loaves, and 2 small fish?
The whole force of Andrew's use of diminutive words – small boy, five small loaves, two small fish – rests upon the smallness of their power to help; whereas Philip dwelled on the greatness of the need. This is akin to Jesus saying the kingdom of God was like a mustard tree – small and humble in appearance, but great in its power to accommodate the whole world.
How might this be relevant to us today?
Every day Jesus asks us to give Him our insufficiency, not matter how large the task of life is. What He seeks to work within us and for us is beyond our comprehension and power. But He also desires our cooperation in the work of salvation. He desires that we give what little we have so that He can accomplish great things with it. (BB)
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them…
How is Jesus’ language similar to the Last Supper?
These are the word Jesus uses at the Last Supper – the same word for thanks is used (eucharistia!) – which is the culmination of salvation history in which the eternal doors are reopened to mankind.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
What does “Gather the fragments…so none will be wasted” and the 12 baskets represent?
As often happens with anything Jesus does, there are several layers of meaning:
The first meaning refers to Jesus fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah will come to “gather” the 12 tribes
of Israel, which had been scattered by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. But Jesus doesn’t come to gather them for an earthly kingdom but for the eternal Kingdom. The 12 baskets represents not only the 12 tribes of Israel but also the 12 Apostles who Jesus has selected to pick up where the 12 tribes left off, to take the mission to the who world.
“So that none will be wasted” implies that the bread can be saved for later, completing another Old
Testament limitation. In Exodus, the Israelites could not save their bread or else it would spoil. The bread of Moses was intentionally limited to teach the newly-freed Israelites to depend on God. Although we, too, must depend on Jesus’ bread, this bread is eternal.
Thirdly, this has a reference to the Bread we share at Mass. The Eucharist is spiritual food that requires
spiritual exercise (reflection) in order for it to increase our health. Which means we should take time to give thanks after Holy Communion. This isn’t just good manners. It’s also the way we secure and assimilate the graces given to us. The forgetful communicant doesn’t benefit from the Eucharistic graces extended to him. Only the one who gives thanks – who gathers the fragments left over – incorporates this gift more and more into his daily life. That communicant comes to live by the bread that is both daily and supersubstantial.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
Why did Jesus withdraw from everyone when the people were ready to make him king?
The crowd’s desire for a national, political Messiah was not the plan. It was not about another earthly kingdom, but about bringing the Kingdom of God to mankind; and his hour had not come.
Was there a point to the number 5000?
Five thousand certainly makes it clear this is a miracle and not some sleight of hand. But the larger point is that there is no limit to the reaches of Jesus’ miracles, particularly his miracle of the bread. Jesus will make this clear later in this chapter, and finally at the Last Supper. When he tells his disciples to continue doing this after him, his reach will be to the ends of the earth.
Moses and the Israelites always kept bread in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. What did they call this bread?
The Bread of the Presence (of God). Sometimes also called “face bread.” (The face of God). Can you see a fulfillment of this happening at the Last Supper?
Have you ever noticed that every time Jesus breaks bread, a miracle happens?
The multiplication of loaves for 5000, the multiplication of loaves for 4000 (Gentiles), the Last Supper, and in Emmaus.
Q: How do I live my Christian faith at work when my faith is not accepted there?
Personal vs Public Myth
Some say that our personal faith and our public lives should remain separate affairs but this is a failure to understand what Christianity is. For the Christian, separation of one’s faith and public life is … impossible. Christianity is a way of life. We live to serve, to be honest, to be humble, to be just, to be merciful, to be the best we can be with the talents God gave us but always in a way that serves God and others. How can these be separated from anything in life we do? It’s not possible.
We are Christians and we must act like Christians in everything: the way we work, the way we play, and even chores around the house like doing the dishes or taking out the garbage.
Although we can’t always evangelize with words, we can always evangelize with our actions. Not only will we attract others to God, but we will be ready for what comes afterwards when this life ends, whenever that may be.
By our identifying as Christians and living as Christians, people will begin to experience a new version of Christianity that is trustworthy and respectable since it includes sticking up for what is right, telling the truth, unwilling to cut corners or cheat, not participating in gossip, etc. BTW, these behaviors are the only way to build trustworthy relationships to begin with – that are worth having. They can also open doors of inquiry – or at least plant seeds.
By planting seeds, we mean that only the Holy Spirit can convert people, not us. We can just plant seeds and open doors. Sometimes conversion is a long process – taking years or even decades – but the seeds we plant – our words, our helpfulness, our truthfullness, our refusal to condemn others or participate in “rumor-mongering” – are the kinds of the things that people remember for a lifetime. That is the only opening the Holy Spirit needs to go to work.
Q: What is Christian behavior?
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of Christianity – and it’s the fruit of every Christian for the asking (and practicing). Galatians 5:22-26 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Q: Sometimes it seems we can’t do anything Christian in the workplace. Advice?
As my Christian lawyer friend once reminded me, there is no law against love in the workplace. There is no employee handbook that can object to conduct exhibiting the characteristics listed above. If as Christians, we adhere to these actions, we will stand out; people will notice that we are different; they will seek our counsel and advice on both business and personal matters. I can attest to this in my own career.
Granted, this may involve subtle ways of sharing your beliefs, such as displaying religious symbols or engaging in acts of charity. Although proselytizing is often not allowed in the workplace, there may be other ways to discuss the faith or answer questions discreetly and respectfully, such as at lunch breaks or after work. But be careful not to go any further especially if there is no/little interest shown by the other person.
Religious acts that are protected in the workplace:
Wearing religious symbols or clothing that follow work safety protocol.
Displaying religious objects on one’s person or in their workplace (i.e. personal desk) without posting a work hazard.
Following dietary restrictions such as a religiously prompted fast.
Opting out of activities that go against or might conflict with one’s religious beliefs.
Ron’s office
As Pope John Paul II advised, you should make "the courageous, respectful and careful proclamation of the Gospel" in your workplace, recognizing that "Christ is awaited by the heart of every person."
Q: Is Christ awaited by the heart of every person?
Remember in Gen 2:7, God breathed His spirit into humans. Because of this, it’s like human beings have a homing device that causes them to seek meaning, purpose, goodness, justice, mercy, and love. In other words, God. It is God-become-man in Jesus Christ who makes all those things possible and achievable. However, since they are from God, it is only through Jesus can we get make them ours. He not only opened the door for us; He is the door.
We are told to rely on God’s wisdom and strength. Is there help for this?
When faced with difficult situations at work that challenge our faith, the Church encourages us to turn to God in prayer and to seek the guidance of the Church’s teaching, which anyone can find online from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Encyclopedia, Catholic Answers, a priest, or a spiritual director. Take advantage!
The “gift of wisdom” – promised to us from the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments – can help us find the best way to bear witness to the truth, even when taking a stand against the prevailing mentality.
Closing mantra: Here’s a parable of the tractor on a county road to help you remember how to think about this…
Have you ever gotten stuck going down a small country road where two cars could barely pass each other? If someone was coming the other way, you’d have to ease over to the shoulder to get by, or let someone by.
Now, imagine you are stuck behind a big tractor going down this road. There would be NO passing this thing! Regardless of whether you had better things to do or were running late somewhere, you are going to be stuck driving behind this tractor for as long as you are both on this narrow road.
What’s the point?
We need to think of our faith just like this tractor. We make it a habit that we aren’t going anywhere without it no how demanding our worldly matters are. We will not pass the tractor – God – and leave Him behind. If we let our faith be the tractor, it will always help us slow us down in life, as well as handle anything coming our way MUCH better than our “busy little selves” ever would.
The tractor is our friend! Don’t pass Him; follow Him!
Another example of the same thing:
Miracles since the NT
There were so many miracles worth investigating that I hardly knew where to begin. The biggest that surfaced right away were the Shroud of Turin and Our Lady at Fatima, which I have – as well as the miracles of St. Padra Pio. If you want to do more than these, then perhaps we could tackle one miracle a week. Or we could dedicate the next four 4th Tuesdays to just miracles. You need to let me know. For now, let’s consider the many types of miracles. The following categories are fluid, meaning that they can overlap. Many miracles involve two or more categories.
Individual Miracles
Most of us have experienced miracles in our lives, or at least amazing occurrences against all odds. I sure have. The Catholic Church acknowledges that God can and does work miracles in the lives of the faithful, even in our daily experiences. However, because misunderstanding these occurrences have often led people astray, to cults, and to heresy, the Church prudently encourages the discernment of these phenomena, while also exercising caution and providing guidance to the faithful, to ensure that they are properly understood, and their spiritual fruits are fostered.
Miracles caused by Relics
Relics are objects or remains of religious significance from the past that are preserved for veneration as a tangible memorial. They can be categorized into three classes:
First class relics: Body parts of a saint, such as bone, blood, or flesh
Second class relics: Possessions that a saint owned
Third class relics: Objects that have been touched to a first-or second-class relic or the saint has touched them.
Miracles of Saints
The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that "from the time of the Apostles to the nineteenth century the lives of the saints show us that the laws of nature have been suspended at their prayers. In numberless cases the evidence for these events is so ample that nothing but the exigencies of controversy can explain the refusal of anti-Catholic writers to admit their occurrence."
The following are some saints who are known for their miraculous healing powers and apparitions:
St. Bernadette Soubirous: The young visionary who experienced apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France in 1858. These apparitions led to the establishment of the famous Marian shrine at Lourdes, which has been the site of many reported miraculous healings.
St. Martin of Tours: The resources mention that in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, healings were connected with places of prayer, such as the shrine of St. Martin of Tours, which contributed to the popularity of pilgrimages to these sites.
St. James (Santiago de Compostela): The Cathedral of St. James in Compostela, Spain was also a popular pilgrimage site in the past due to reported healings.
St. Anthony of Padua: The city of Padua, Italy is a center of pilgrimage to the relics of St. Anthony, with devotion to this saint increasing enormously in recent years.
St. Melangell: The resources mention a shrine built to St. Melangell, an Irish maiden, in Pennant Melangell, Wales, which was evidently a place of note.
St. Padre Pio: The Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic, mostly known for his deep wisdom and prayer, his conducting confessions for 8-12 hours in a row, his stigmata, and miraculous reports of his bilocating.
Marian Apparitions
The Church maintains a discerning approach with regards to miracles, which includes Marian apparitions. While it does not provide an official, exhaustive list of approved apparitions, it does recognize the spiritual significance of certain some of them. Pope John Paul II's Rosarium Virginis Mariae highlights two particularly influential Marian apparitions that have received "authoritative recognition" from the Church - those of Lourdes and Fatima. These shrines continue to attract many pilgrims seeking Mary's intercession.
Eucharistic Miracles
Although the Church does not require belief in any particular Eucharistic miracle, it has recognized the spiritual value of certain well-documented events, such as those at Lanciano, Bolsena, and Buenos Aires, in strengthening the faith of the faithful in the Real Presence. These miracles continue to draw pilgrims seeking to encounter Christ in the Eucharist. I have a whole book on Eucharistic miracles.
Closing Prayer
Our Lord Jesus Christ, I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness … May I receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords … with the purity and faith … that will help to bring me to salvation.
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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