Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics House rules/notes… 1. Meetup is www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy Zoom Meeting Logon info is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952 2. Questions encouraged. If you have questions about anything, you can ask in the chat, email the Meetup group, or me directly at ron@hallagan.net. 3. Unedited recaps of meetings are posted via Meetup after our meeting. The final edited recap is posted on our Catholic Catacombs Light website www.catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/recaps a week later. You will be notified via Meetup of both. 4. See The Chosen. Knowing Jesus Christ means being able to better relate to God. Check it out: The Chosen at https://thechosen.link/1Y1R7. 5. Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and between Christian denominations, and agree to be respectful at all times. Specifically, Protestants are our friends and brothers in Christ, and 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 the Bible, explain the Catholic faith, and help members develop a closer relationship with the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. 7. Catholic Prayer, Fellowship, and Spirituality Meetup led by fellow member Jason Goldberg: https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/ 8. Prison fellowship – opportunities to volunteer one Saturday per month for 2 hours (12-2 or 2-4) serving Catholic prisoners at the Fairfax County Jail. Ask Ron (ron@hallagan.net) or Gina (gmasterson99@gmail.com) for details. Why? "I was in prison and you visited me." – Matt 25:36 9. RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending or just reading the notes afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give us recognition, which will draw others to us, which is our way of evangelizing! Bible Study Format: 5 min prayers, 10 min Catholic topic, 45 min main topic from the weeks listed below Week 1: Gospel Week: Make friends w/dishonest money? (Luke 16:1-15); “To be my disciples, you must hate your parents”? (Luke14:26) Week 2: Oct 11 – Bible Week (Gen àRev): Exodus, the 2nd book of Moses, class 2. Week 3: Sept 20 – Survey Topics Voted on by Members: We are currently completing Purgatory.
Ö 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven 3) Christian Comparisons 4) Great Women in the Bible 5) Why is there suffering? 6) World Religions 7) Book of Revelation 8) Major Councils/Crusades/Inquisitions
Week 4: Sept 27 – Open Mic Week (1, 2, and 3 are next):
1. Can you provide me with an elevator response for the Crusades?
2. How does the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe affect our Catholicism?
3. How should we celebrate/honor the Christian Sabbath Sunday?
4. What is justice? Is it always good? Does God cause bad things to happen? If one suffers but the results are good, is that justice?
5. The History of the Mass going back to Cain & Abel, and the meaning of the Eucharist now.
6. The love and unity of the Holy Spirit are two of its Trinitarian descriptions. How are they different? How does they affect us?
7. The knowledge of God is “participatory.” Is that why nonbelievers have difficulty?
8. Are Charity and Love synonymous? How are they different? What are the 4 highest forms of Charity?
9. What race was Jesus?
10. Do we have suffering for a reason? How do we offer up our sufferings? When should we embrace the cross vs wait for a miracle?
Next Holy Days
Solemnity of All Saints – Nov 1
Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) – Nov 2
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Rosh Hashanah – Sep 25-27 – is the Jewish New Year. The lunar month is Tishrei, so Rosh Hashanah is the 1st of Tishrei. This is year 5783 of celebrating the anniversary of the creation of Adam & Eve and coronation of God as King.
Q: In 10 days, Judaism will celebrate Yom Kippur (Oct 4-5), which is the Jewish Day of Atonement, commemorating which bad event in history?
The Golden Calf
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord
In this week’s lesson we seek to understand finish Dante’s journey through Purgatory.
Help us learn from his efforts, particularly the addictive/deadly sins of anger, greed, and lust,
So that we may avail ourselves of all your wisdom before, during, and after our times of need!
And as Jesus 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.
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ prayer… “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Q: Regarding the second petition, Jesus often said, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” What did he mean?
He means the Kingdom it is right in front of them (Jesus). The gate will be opened to everyone very soon – after his death and resurrection. Then, we simply have a choice to make.
Q: Why do we have a choice to make?
1) Because we have freedom to choose, and
2) The fall of man is being reversed/canceled, and so now the choice is ours again. Our first parents failed, so now it’s your turn.
Q: How do we make this choice?
It’s right there in his statement, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Repent. It’s the ONLY way.
Q: How do we repent?
From Etymology.com: Latin penitire "to regret," from Latin poenitire "make sorry." “To repent is to regret so deeply as to change one's mind or course of conduct and develop new mental or spiritual habits.”
In other words, it means to turn your life around by making God your center, and your “self” second. We talk to ourselves all the time, which is like checking in the mirror for a 2nd opinion, which will only confirm every bad idea you ever had. The HS took up residence in our souls at your Baptism, but we have to open the door and start talking to Him. Start using the HS for your second opinion instead of yourself, and you are off to the races.
Q: The question was asked: when talking to God, how do we know it is His responses, or not Him?
Great question. This is referred to discernment and there are many books written on it, so it is worth investigating. Some quick start suggestions, but keep in mind this is from my own experiences/learning:
1. Make sure it is within Church teachings, which are derived from Christ in scripture and Apostolic tradition. If you travel outside these teachings, you run the risk of starting your own religion (“heresy”) or listening to your ego, or Satan, not God.
2. God does not often tell you what you want to hear. What we want to hear is usually myopic, short-term, and based on the quickest gratification. These are not necessarily bad, but God is more interested in our eternal growth and well-being, so it will have to satisfy that goal.
3. Is it love? Love is about service, humility, sacrifice for others or the greater good.
4. In the end, even if you are unsure, hand it back to God and say, “Please give me wisdom, Lord. May Your will be done.”
Dante’s Divine Comedy (trilogy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso
Dante ALMOST completes his journey through Purgatory
Last month we talked about how “habits” work, and that virtues were good habits and vices were bad habits. Then we finished the levels of Pride and Envy.
Now he suddenly finds himself surrounded by thick, dark smoke, and hears voices singing “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) in the distance. The smoke is so thick he can’t see, so Virgil lends him an arm to guide him.
Dante has entered the Terrace of Anger/the realm of Wrath. We are talking about unrighteous anger; righteous anger isn’t punished.
The Terrace of Anger
A voice from behind them – belonging to a man named Marco Lombardo – asks who they are and where they are going. Dante explains, and Marco points the way and walks with them.
As they walk along, Dante sees the souls in this terrace walking through the thick acrid smoke that seems darker than night, yet he can somehow make out their images. Dante asks what’s happening to them?
Marco tells Dante that these souls are purging themselves of their wrathful dispositions.
How?
They are unable to see anything with their own eyes because that is the source of their burning anger. So the acrid, burning smoke fills their eyes. Instead, they see visions as they walk along – hallucinatory-like visions – of one kind, and then another kind. The first kind are visions of meekness (the virtue that is opposite of wrath), and the second kind are scenes of terrible wrath and violence; sometimes it is their own. Then see a beautiful scene of meekness playing out, then one of folly and destruction; etc., continuously.
Q: What is Meekness? Isn’t meekness weakness?
It is not. We think of meekness as weakness, but that’s a mistake. The difference between weakness and meekness is that meekness is a choice. Meekness is gentleness, but a very conscious choice to be gentle. Rather than weakness, it is shows incredible strength, because there are other, sometimes more emotionally attractive, choices. For example, Jesus was incredibly strong, and also incredibly meek. Moses was another.
A synonym of meekness might be equanimity: “mental calmness and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations.”
As they continue walking, Dante wonders at these scenes and suddenly his own eyes begin to go dark and burn! Images in front of him begin to appear. It is as though he has been transported to another time and place. The experience and scenes almost knock Dante to his feet, but Virgil is there to catch him.
Q: Who can define anger? Or wrath?
Theologians have dubbed anger a “subtle form of murder” when unchecked. Its root is perceived injustice that grabs a hold of us and then rules over us. The worst part about it is that it causes its “victim” (the person who is angry) to feel more strong and powerful and even in control of the situation, but those are lies/illusions. In fact, they become anything but “in control,” and their power tends toward harm – usually verbally at first and then physically. Just try asking them to stop.
Note “perceived” justice. Remember, all evil is a perverted good, and this one is perverted justice. Perceiving that fairness/justice has been violated gives the anger it’s “justification” to proceed. However, once it’s fully out of the gate, it needs a miracle to stop it. Reason is no longer in the game.
Many relationships have been shipwrecked because of this, and often afterwards people can’t recall when or how things went so wrong. There can be much regret, apologies, etc., but the problem continues to return. Outside help is usually needed.
Many years ago, my company sent me to an “anger management” class! It made me very angry.
Q: Does being Christian help us be less prone to anger?
In general, yes, but not always. It really depends how bad the issue is and if he/she has decided to face it honestly
If one is truly close to Christ in humbleness and forgiveness, then one would be more aware of themselves and open to fixing their negative tendencies. But usually, some outside help is needed.
Sometimes religion IS the issue. If someone holds strong religious beliefs, what could be more personal?
Example: I was once talking with a Protestant that strongly believed that once you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior, you were saved regardless of what happened afterwards. As I began to give him hypothetical examples of someone who believed this way and then did some horrible things, he defended his position by saying either there were extenuating circumstances or else the person never was saved to begin with. I asked, “What if he really believed it and was truthfully committed beforehand, but then something terrible happened and he changed his mind. Do you think people can’t change their mind?” He was visibly angry and said “You don’t get it.” If this discussion had gone any further, we would have both gone to Hell.
So, just being religious doesn’t necessarily give one an “anger pass” or “get out of jail” card.
Q: What is the Virtue for overcoming Anger?
Meekness is one. The Angel of Mercy comes to Dante and calls out the beatitude that Jesus spoke in Mt. 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will inherit the earth!” The Virtue is Peace.
The virtue of peace may sound vague to us, particularly in response to correcting anger, but we have to give this more thought. Is not the “peacemaker” the opposite of anger and wrath? Should that not be the goal, then?
Q: Last week we discussed how Ignatius was fighting his own demons of pride and vanity and he recalled the ancient Greek philosophy about the bent branch. Does anyone recall this?
If the branch of a tree is bent one way and you wish it to be straight, do you hold it in the straight position for a while and hope that when you let go it will remain straight?
No, you bend it the complete opposite way for a long time, and then when you let go it will be straight.
An angry person cannot just try to stop being angry. He/she ought to actively practice the complete opposite behavior, looking for opportunities to act meek and be a peacemaker! Shock the world.
Q: What is the “Image of the Ideal?”
Mary again, this time after she and Joseph find Jesus at the Temple after having lost him for three days. I know what my response would have been. Mary’s response was controlled – even gentle.
Q: What other advice might Jesus and Paul give us on anger?
Paul said don’t give the devil a “foothold in your soul, and do not let the sun go down on your anger.” - Eph 4:26-27
Jesus: “If you have something against your brother, leave your gift at the altar and go be reconciled, then return…” - Mt 5:24
Q: What is Sloth? –
Although sloth refers to more to our soul than our body, one can see how the one affects the other. Sloth is a lack of caring.
When a slothful person is busy, it is like a hamster running on a wheel. Very busy, but going nowhere, really.
The early Christians called it “acedia,” which is Latin for sloth, a term that is used to describe spiritual dryness, a sluggishness of the heart, or no will to care.
It has also been referred to as “Devil of the Noonday Sun” (or Noonday Devil), referring to the mid-afternoon summer when the movements of living things became sluggish in the heat of the afternoon.
Q: Aquinas calls sloth the sin of the Sabbath. Why would he call it that?
The Sabbath is a day of rest, but that means rest of your worldly life. In the “7th Day,” we step out of our 6th Day routine and spend time celebrating God in our lives with those we love, and doing grateful and good things.
If the Sabbath is anything, it is about caring more than all the other days combined, times a million.
Sloth is about not caring. It is a sin against the Sabbath.
Q: What is the opposite Virtue?
Zeal. Zeal is an eager desire or fervor for a person or cause. It exists within all humans. Sometimes it is buried in a lot of personal mud, and you need to dig it out.
Q: Who is the “Image of the Ideal”?
Who remembers the Samaritan woman at the well?
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord
Thank you for the knowledge that makes us wiser.
Thank you for the forgiveness every time we ask.
Thank you for the help you offer along our journey
For it is through our trial and errors with you that we learn your ways and raise ourselves up closer to You.
Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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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