Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics
Every Tuesday, 7PM-8PM. This meeting is a lecture/Q&A format. It is free.
Zoom Meetings: www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy
Catholic Catacombs Website: www.CatholicCatacombs.org
House rules/notes…
1. Our meeting/classes are In-Person the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ (held downstairs in Room 5), and ONLINE via Zoom (#2).
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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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!
6. 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.
7. 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!
8. “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.
9. 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!
Our Bible Study is a combination of Exegesis and Apologetics.
Study and interpretation of Scripture
A reasoned defense of the faith
Format: Each week of the month has a repeating theme, as noted below.
Wk 1: Gospel Week – we study several Gospel stories, especially the tough ones.
Wk 2: Bible Week – we are working our way through the Bible. We are in The Book of 2 Kings.
Wk 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members:
x 1) Great Women in the Bible 2) Book of Revelation 3) Fathers, Heresies, and Church Councils
Wk 4: Member Questions/Apologetics:
1. 35% Explain Mother Teresa’s “Dark Night of the Soul.”
2. 28% What is Tradition? Is Tradition equal to Scripture in importance? (2Thes2:15)
3. What did Pope Frances mean when he said, “All religions are a path to reach God.”
4. 28% What about the atheist who leads a good life? Can I be a person be good apart from God?
5. 21% Explain what happens to animals after they die. Will we see our pets?
6. 14% Was Emperor Constantine good or bad? Was he a Christian? How was the Church affected?
7. Please explain Limbo.
8. Could you review of Plenary and Partial Indulgences again?
Each meeting is (roughly) as follows:
- 15 min Catholic topic/catechesis
- 15 min Upcoming Gospel reading
- 30 min Weekly topic/theme
1 hour
Upcoming major holy days: All Saints Day, Nov 1
Opening Prayer:
LORD, thank you for your promise that where two or three of us are gathered in your name, You are
Tonight, we ask You to join us and help us understand the meaning of John’s words in the Book of Revelation,
and how they supported Salvation History not only in the past but also in our days and in the future.
And as You taught us to pray together:
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.
TODAY: Catholic Topic/Catechesis – Ladybug
Last Sunday’s Reading – James 2:14-18 Faith without Works is Dead
Weekly Topic: Book of Revelation
Did you know?
Everyone loves ladybugs. Not only are they eye-catching—with their rosy-red mantles and dapper spots—but they also consume pests that cause serious trouble for gardeners and farmers. An adult ladybug can eat 75 aphids a day!
But did you know that the ladybug owes its name to Our Lady and has a special connection to her?
Legend has it that back in medieval times, terrible pests were devastating crops in Europe. The people, in danger of losing their livelihood and source of sustenance, prayed to Our Lady for assistance. Soon, a great swarm of small beetles—with red shells and black spots—came and ate up the offending pests. The crops were saved, and the people named the miniature heroes after Our Lady, hence “ladybug.”
Reading: James 2:14-18 – Faith without Works is Dead
Context: Book of James. Who was James?
Tradition holds that the Book of James was written by James, son of Alphaeus, also called “James the less.” If you recall, there were two Apostles named James – James the Greater and James the Lesser, the latter who was also called the “brother (cousin) of our Lord.”
Why were the two apostles named James called “the greater” and “the lesser”?
Because they needed to differentiate between them in their conversations, just like we would. “The greater” could also be translated “major” and the other “minor,” and likely referred to older and younger.
James the Greater was martyred around the year 44 AD (see Acts 12:1-2). James the Less enjoyed great authority in the church of Jerusalem. Paul described him as one of the pillars of the Church (Gal 2:9). He was also the first bishop of Jerusalem (~42-62AD) until his death in the year 62 AD and wrote his letter around 60 AD or earlier.
James teaches us that the one’s entire assent to the faith requires action from us. Without action to back up our beliefs and words, our faith is false.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them,"Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also, faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.Indeed someone might say, "So you have faith and I have good deeds?” Show me this faith of yours without deeds, then! It is by my deeds that I will show you my faith.
You believe in the one God, that is credible enough, but even the demons have the same belief and they tremble with fear.
It should be obvious, but these passages are clear that faith and works go hand-in-hand. They cannot be separated. You could say they are two sides of the same coin.
Many early Fathers of the Church compared our faith journey to the Exodus. The Israelites pray for God’s help. God helps them escape from Egypt across the Red Sea. This crossing over to freedom foreshadowed Jesus saving us on the cross. Their “40 years” in the desert prefigures our present life’s journey to Heaven (the Promised Land). Again, all this speaks to a lifetime being a journey in conversion – of forgiveness, redemption, and growing relationship with God.
Apologetics. I mention apologetics since Protestants sometimes say Christians can’t get into Heaven by their good works, only by faith. They are half right, since “only faith” is incorrect. Once again, faith is the starting point, without which there is no relationship with God, and without a relationship with God, how can once expect to have a relationship with Him after this life? As James says, “faith without works is dead.” Our relationship with the Lord increases in our works, and in our continually seeking forgiveness.
Some of the confusion on this issue may come from Jesus criticizing the “works” of the Pharisees, but the works Jesus was criticizing were their excessive ritual requirements at the expense of love and mercy. Jesus wasn’t referring to their works of mercy! Jesus goes out of his way to make acts of mercy (also called works of charity or works of faith) a requirement to enter Heaven. When explaining to the Apostles who would get into Heaven on Judgment Day, he said:
When I was hungry you gave me something to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink, when I was a stranger you invited me in, when I needed clothes you clothed me, when I was sick you looked after me, and when I was in prison and you came to visit me. And they asked the Lord when did they see him like this? He answered: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me. – Matthew 25:35-40
Every one of these requirements listed by Jesus for being able to enter Heaven are “works of mercy.”
Luke 7:1-10 Faith, Humility, Works (opt)
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us.”
Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
The centurion exhibited several good qualities that would likely impress us, the reader. What were they?
Works – he helped the Jews and built the synagogue for them.
Humility – he recognized his own unworthiness before Jesus.
Faith – he believed without any doubt that Jesus was who he said he was and could even heal his servant from a distance.
Which of these do you think Jesus valued most? Put them in order.
Humility, Faith, Works
The Jews considered the centurion worthy because of all he had done for them – his good works. But Jesus saw it bit differently. The man amazed Jesus because he approached him with humility and faith.
The reason for putting humility first is because Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to follow me must leave self behind.” (Mt 16:24)
We must remember that our good deeds are not the cause of God's forgiveness and grace, they are our response to His grace and forgiveness.
The Book of Revelation/Apocalypse – Part IV 7:35
Mary and the Dragon
Second coming of Christ
In the last 2 months, we reviewed the purpose of the book of Revelation, and the meaning of “prophecies” and a number of symbolic references (Beast, Babylon, Anti-Christ, the Dragon, Rapture, the Great Tribulation). Revelation is also called “Apocalypse” in some Bibles, which is simply Greek meaning “unveiling” or “revelation.”
The book was written by the Apostle John towards the end of the first century while exiled on the island of Patmos.
Apocalyptic literature like Revelation wasn’t new. John was continuing the same genre as found in the OT prophets Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah. Apocalyptic literature typically deals in prophecy – usually in the immediate future but also the End Times. The study of the End Times is called “eschatology” and refers to: Christ’s Second Coming, Judgment Day, and the New Heaven & New Earth.
Revelation is easily the most difficult book of the Bible to interpret, but its goals are actually very practical. It contains a series of warnings addressed to people of all ages about internal and external dangers which affect the Church but often from an eternal perspective.
As for the prophesied “New Age,” it has come and we are living in it. It is also called the “Messianic Age,” the “Age of the Holy Spirit,” and the “Age of the Church,” and it is during this age that Heaven has been re-opened for business and God seeks to populate Heaven with as many humans as possible, if people will simply choose better than Adam & Eve.
In Revelation, this age is referred to as “Christ binding Satan for a thousand years.” The thousand years is symbolic for a long time, and Jesus dying on the cross opened the gates of Heaven, which had been blocked by Satan.
The primary prophecy in Revelation – which is the “hub” of the book – involves the Roman Empire’s attempt to crush the Church. Around it John gradually unfolds the plan that God has for the future of his Church. To do this, he uses apocalyptic images very much like those used by the prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. All of John’s “predictions” have to do with the Church both then and now and are an echo of what Jesus himself foretold:
In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33, Luke 18:7
Memory check:
Who is the Beast?
John is “generally” referring to the Roman Empire. It’s seven heads refers to the seven hills around Rome. However, he is also “specifically” referring to the Roman Emperors, particularly the last 7 emperors of persecution.
Where is Babylon?
Rome
Who is the Dragon?
Satan
What is the Great Tribulation?
This is the last period of our time before the Second Coming of Christ. During this “Great Tribulation,” the Antichrist will win many humans over to his side. Christ will come at that time, destroy the Antichrist, and lock away Satan forever. This event will then usher in the Final Judgment.
Who is the Antichrist?
There are several references in scripture to Antichrists – Paul says many have come already, just like there have been many “tribulations” for the Church. But the last Antichrist appears to be a major earthly leader who opposes Jesus Christ and his teachings and may falsely substitute him/herself as the true savior of humankind. This Antichrist will seek to convince humans that humanity has all the answers, and that Christ is a lie, bringing about a period of great apostacy.
The Antichrist will be charismatic and easily win people over. Looks like Jesus, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
What does the Millenium refer to?
Those who read Revelation literally see this as meaning that Christ will come back to earth to physically rule for a thousand peaceful years after the Great Tribulation but before Judgment Day. Catholics and many Protestants teach that the millennium refers to a long period of time, usually the Messianic Age that we are in now.
In Protestant circles, you may hear the following terms that Catholics don’t bother with since we do not consider them to be correct interpretations:
Premillennialism – Christ’s Second Coming will occur first, then Jesus will rule on the earth for a thousand years.
Postmillennialism – Christ’s Second coming will occur after the millennium, but during the millennium he will rule from heaven and this will be a golden age on earth. This was popular in the 19th century, but fell out of favor after the two great World Wars. A “golden age” was no longer in view.
Amillennialism – This is the same as what Catholic refer to as the Millenium (we just don’t need three different terms). It means we are living in the Millennium now, then will come the Great Tribulation, then the Second Coming of Christ, which will usher in Judgment Day.
Mary in Revelation
Mary’s role in Revelation 11-14 is seen by the Early Fathers as both Mother of the Church and Queen of Heaven. First, John’s vision at the end of Rev 11 begins with the Ark of the Covenant being revealed inside the Heavenly Temple.
Q: What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?
The prophet Jeremiah (650-570 BC) was present at the time of the Babylonian war on Jerusalem. Knowing that Jerusalem was about to fall, he took the Ark of the Covenant from the temple and hid it. Nobody knows where. Jeremiah was also taken into exile and died in Babylon. When the Jews were allowed to return some 50 years later and re-built the temple, they no longer had the Ark. God no longer came to the Temple like he did in Solomon’s Temple, and even Jesus referred to it an empty house.
Who remembers why Mary is considered the New Ark of the Covenant?
The original Ark of the Covenant contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (word of God), the staff of Aaron (priestly authority), and the manna (“Bread of the Presence”). Mary as the New Ark of the New Covenant contained in her womb: Jesus (the true Word of God), the high priestly authority on earth, and the true “Bread of the Presence” (the Eucharist) enacted at the Last Supper.
Some say the representation of the woman in Revelation is the Church, not Mary. What does the Church say?
It is both! Mary is not only the new Ark, she is a daughter of the Old Covenant and the mother of the New Covenant. She is not only the mother of the new Church, she is its first member. So yes, the woman represents Mary and the Church.
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.
And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
First of all, it is astounding that John sees the Ark of the Covenant in the Heavenly Temple since for the Jews it has been missing since the Babylonian Exile. The lightning and thunder then point to something great happening, which is John’s next vision replacing the Ark with a woman giving birth. The pain spoken of here echoes Isaiah’s description of the Church’s struggle to secure eternal salvation for believers. Jesus coming does not mean an end to persecution, but of reopening the gates of Heaven. (Is 26:17)
Who is giving birth to whom?
Rev 12:5: “… she gave birth to a son.” Can you guess?
Mary is giving birth to Jesus, but also giving birth to the Church. Her being clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet indicates her bodily transcendency (the “Assumption”). The crown indicates her queenship.
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born – Rev 12:3-4.
Who is the dragon?
The dragon is Satan.
What does it mean that his tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky?
Theologians say it likely refers to the fallen angels that followed Satan, since it is thought a third of the angels fell.
Why does Satan confront the woman?
Satan confronts the woman “so he could kill the child as soon as it was born.” Satan’s goal since the Fall of Man is to stop God’s plan for the “Messiah” and seal his victory once and for all. Likewise, this would kill the new Church he had come to establish on earth.
Did Satan try to kill Jesus before his birth?
Yes. Herod sent his soldiers to kill all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two. However, Joseph dreamed had a vision in a dream telling him depart immediately for Egypt.
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne, while the woman escaped into the wilderness where God had prepared a place for her to be looked after for twelve hundred sixty days.” (Rev 12:5-6)
Any ideas?
The child taken to God represents Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven after his Resurrection. The woman’s flight into the
desert is a picture of the escape of the new Church of Judean Christians from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Recall Jesus predicting the fall of Jerusalem and instructing his followers to flee to the wilderness. 1260 days is 3 ½ years, enough time for the wrath of the Romans to blow over.
There are also reasonable parallels to two other stories – the escape of the Israelites from slavery into the wilderness, and the escape from Bethlehem of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt when Herod sent his soldiers to kill all boys under the age of two.
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough, and he and his angels were thrown out of heaven. And so the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God. They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb…” – Rev 12:7-11
“By the blood of the Lamb…” (Rev 12:11) – this means Jesus has made it to the cross.
Besides being an Apostle, how else might John be qualified to speak about Mary in this way?
On the cross, Jesus gives his mother to John to care for her. Mary not only finishes out her years with John but tradition says she remained a source of love and encouragement for the apostles.
John’s vision also takes place after the death of Mary.
Mary’s job is not complete upon her death. Her soul did not go alone to Heaven to await Judgement Day; she went there body and soul, and so she appears to us this way. The Church continues to employ the Ark of Mary against the forces of darkness. That is what we do when we seek her intercession in the Hail Mary, the Rosary, and the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The closing prayer will be the prayer of St. Michael, who defeats the Dragon in Rev 12.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
by the power of God,
Thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who
wander through the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
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