Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics Online via Meetup/Zoom or in person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ 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. I send out Meeting Recaps the same night as our sessions – they are unedited versions with no pictures. An edited version with pictures is posted on our website at https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/recaps by Taylor before the next meeting - she notifies everyone who signed up. 3. 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. 4. 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; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them! 5. 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. 6. Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying with other Catholics during the week? Fellow member Jason Goldberg has started just this at “Catholic Prayer, Fellowship, and Spirituality Meetup.” Sign up at: https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/ 7. “The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy at first. It helps when we can relate to Him if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen has captured the real Jesus as close as any show I have ever seen. Just watch the first two with Mary Magdalene and you will see what I mean. 8. RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recap notes afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give us exposure, which will draw more people to us, which is our way of evangelizing! Please RSVP when you get the Meetup invite weekly. Our Bible Study Format: 5 min greeting/prayers, 10-15 min Catholic topic, 40-45 min on the main topic from weekly List below: Week 1: Feb 7 - Gospel Week: The Eight Beatitudes Week 2: Feb 14 – Bible Week (Gen àRev): We are in EXODUS, the 2nd book of Moses. Week 3: Feb 21 – Survey Topics Voted on by Members: We are currently beginning Christian Comparisons/World Religions.
Ö 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables Ö 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven 3) Christian Comparisons/World Religions 4) Great Women in the Bible 5) World Religions 6) Book of Revelation 7) Major Heresies and Church Councils
1. The History of the Mass going back to Cain & Abel, all leading to the sublime meaning of the Eucharist.
2. Can you review origin and meaning of the 12 statements of belief in the Creed?
3. Since you said that Gen 1-3 is likely mostly allegory, how do you think The Fall actually took place?
4. “Who am I?” It seems we all ask this question at some point in our lives. Some ask it all the time. How do you answer this?
5. Are Charity and Love synonymous? How are they different? What are the 4 highest forms of Charity?
Opening Prayer
Father in Heaven, we thank you for your Word.
We give you praise and glory for who you are and what you do for us.
We ask that you please be with us tonight as we discuss our Lenten journey with you,
and your travels with Moses and the Israelites as they depart Egypt.
Enlighten us, please, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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.
Next major upcoming events in the Church
Lent – Wed, Feb 22 – Thurs April 6
Triduum – Friday, Apr 7–Sun Apr 9
Easter – April 9
Catholic Catacombs Website: https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/recaps
Lent begins Wednesday, Feb 22
Q: What is Lent?
The root of the word “lent” comes from the Old German Lenz referring “springtime.” From this we get “new beginnings.” Specifically, it memorializes Jesus’ 40 days in the desert that ushered in the beginning of Christ’s ministry on Earth, a new beginning for mankind.
Recall the number 40 represents a time of purification or preparation. Like Christ’s preparation and purification in the desert, during the Lenten season Christians practice various forms of service and self-discipline in preparation for Easter Sunday.
Q: When did the practice of Lent begin?
Tradition says it was present in apostolic times. Our first written document about Lent dates to the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Q: Do all Christians participate in Lent?
All Catholics and most mainline Protestants practice Lent. The evangelical, charismatic, and Pentecostal Christians do not formally observe Lent.
Q: How long is Lent?
The dates above total 46 days. If you subtract the 6 Sundays, you have 40 days, which is how long Jesus fasted in the desert and encountered Satan’s temptations as he undertook reversing the Fall of Man.
Q: Why aren’t Sundays counted?
From the earliest days, the Church as declared that Sunday – the day of Christ’s Resurrection – is always a feast day, and therefore fasting on Sundays has been forbidden. Likewise, “Communion” (the Eucharist) is always an exception during fasting.
Q: What is the purpose of Lent?
As the Apostle James says, humans seem to have split minds, or double minds, like two people inside us: the worldly one that always wants to satisfy the body or the ego, and the other that seeks to do the right or good thing. Our goal on this earth is to unite the two. During Lent, we want to practice putting the worldly self on a short leash and lavish attention on the spiritual one.
Remember that our worldly/physical desires seek to addict us to the things of this world, so it is advisable whenever possible to practice detaching ourselves from these things. It’s good practice, not only to show we are still in charge of ourselves, but to strengthen our wills.
Q: What must we do? What should we do?
Catholics are expected to abstain from eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. This obligation is modest because Lent should be more of a personal quest than something that is required of you.
During Lent, you may wish to consider soul-will-strengthening exercises that correspond to the same 3 temptations that Jesus experienced and that caused the Fall of Humanity. As the Apostle John said in 1 Jn 2:16,
For all that is in the world—the cravings of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
As indicated in the picture at the top of the page, tackling these 3 temptations mean engaging in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These are called the 3 Pillars of Lent, and here are some thoughts on each:
1) Physical desires/cravings and/or selfish behaviors: fast from favorite foods (i.e., sugar/alcohol); or from unkindness, indifference, tardiness, arguing. In regard to unpleasant behavior, in some cases it is better/easier to practice the opposite behavior. For example, instead of stopping unkindness, practice kindness. Instead of judgmental thoughts about someone you don’t like, say a 10 second prayer to help them heal. Instead of just avoiding arguments, practice admitting you are wrong and apologizing, even if it’s only partially true. All of these are forms of humility, the most prized virtue of God and humans.
2) Desires of the eyes means the inordinate desire for material possessions or worldly recognition. Instead buying things or wishing for attention, do the opposite. Offer the desire up to God, for that “offering” can be used by God to help others, including yourself. Pray a Psalm daily, or read the life of a Saint, or Augustine’s Confessions. The Psalms are great meditative readings and the last two are actually exciting reads.
3) The third one, the “pride of life,” refers to egoism, which seeks to put self first and God/others last. “I don’t need to worry about anyone but me and mine.” The remedy for this is almsgiving: giving money, food, clothes, or time to help others in need or less fortunate than you. Giving to others that you have the power to help just for the sake of helping them is a purely spiritual act and medicine for our world-driven souls.
The possibilities go on and on. Do anything. Do something.
Q: How can we make a difference in this big messy world that has millions of problems?
Story of the starfish. The lesson is to start with whoever is in front of you. God only wants you to get in the habit of helping; and then others around you will be affected, too.
Q: What is the purpose of the ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday?
1) The ashes symbolize the brevity, the mortality, of this life. Our souls are spiritual and immortal, so it is important not to overemphasize worldly success at the expense of our spiritual progress. Do not wait until you’re retired or on your deathbed to start planning for the next life – it might be too late, and you may die sooner than expected.
2) Do you recall “sackcloth and ashes” in the Bible?
· Sackcloth was a burlap-type material and ashes/dirt represented total humility – that we are but dirt – recalling what God said about creating us from the earth. As He told Adam & Even after the Fall: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” – Gen 3:19 Without God, that’s all we are. With God, our souls are saved and our “dirt” will be reconstituted into glorified bodies on Judgment Day.
· Recall the 2nd Beatitude from last week, “Blessed are those who mourn” which refers to our recognizing and regretting our own mistakes and hurt we have caused others. That is also what Lent is about.
· Recall that King David wore sackcloth and ashes after God called him out for his having Uriah killed and then taking his wife, Bathsheba, as his own.
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt on them. – Neh 9:1
So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. – Dan 9:3
For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. – Matthew 11:21
Q: Where do the ashes come from?
The ashes come from the palms on Palm Sunday that were burned and saved from the previous year.
“In the Old Testament the New is concealed, and in the New Testament the Old is revealed.” - St. Augustine ~420 AD
Week II is Bible Timeline
EXODUS
Chapters 11-14
We left off last month with the Passover Meal the night before the Israelites’ departure/escape from Egypt. The Passover Meal is a big deal – it is the pinnacle of Jewish history and the foreshadowing of Jesus at the Last Supper. Review:
Q: What were the parallels between the First Passover and the Last Supper?
Passover: God describes the blood of animal sacrifices as the “life” of the animal. Therefore, in exchange for their sins, the life of the lamb is transferred to the people. Normally, this would be the end, but Yahweh insists in sharing their sacrifice with them. It is a form of communion with God. God doesn’t want to LORD over them like other gods, He wants to be part of their lives and help them.
Because the lamb they sacrifice cannot replace human sin completely (especially because humans keep on sinning), the sacrifice will need to be repeated at every Passover.
Last Supper: Who does the lamb prefigure? What does John the Baptist say when he sees Jesus for the first time?
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” – John 1:29
The Blood of the Lamb of God – Jesus’ blood – is life that will be passed onto us, but this time it is eternal life.
“I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is the flesh of the life of the world.” – John 5:51
Because the sacrifice was God Himself, not an earthly animal, it was sufficient for all humanity for all time. It would never need to be repeated.
Passover: The word Passover, or pesah, means to “pass over,” and refers to the angel of death who would pass over their homes. Unleavened bread is used because they must depart quickly, which is why Passover is also called the “Feast of the Unleavened Bread.”
Last Supper: The Eucharist, or paschal lamb, also means to “pass over,” and refers to the death passing over our lives for eternity. The bread used for the Eucharist is likewise be made of unleavened bread.
The Sacrifice of the Mass (Last Supper) is not another sacrifice. It is the same one that extends through all time.
· Just because Jesus’ sacrifice was totally perfect and sufficient does not means it accrues to humans without their free will.
· Once we accept God’s offer of salvation in conversion/Baptism, this does not mean we do not need to seek forgiveness thereafter. Of course we do. Jesus sacrifice is always present, our debt is already paid every time we ask for and receive forgiveness.
· It is our coming back to him again and again – not just in Confession and weekly Eucharist but every day that God desires – how else does a relationship develop? He is willing to pay off our sins anytime we seek it in the hopes of maintaining His relationship with us for the rest of our lives.
God granting us forgiveness is the easy part. The best part is that this is just the beginning, or continuing part of, our journey with Him. The sky is the limit in this journey.
Q: Who recalls who Jesus conversed with during his Transfiguration?
Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah. Recall that Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to see his transfiguration both to encourage them and to show them that there something much greater being accomplished connected to his suffering in Jerusalem.
“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became a radiant white. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about His “Exoden” (departure), which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem…”
– Luke 9:28-32
Jesus was not only the New Moses – he was also bringing about a New Exodus.
The Morning After Passover…
“And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer… so God led the people around by the way of wilderness toward the Red Sea.
“And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will surely attend to you, and you shall carry up my bones from this place.”
“So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness.
“And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel day or night.” – Exodus 13:17-21
How many Hebrews?
Exodus 12:37 says about 600,000 Hebrews men left on foot, plus women and children, which would mean over 2M. This could be due to the difficulty in translating the Hebrew word ‘lp, which can mean thousand, troop, or leader, depending on the context. Estimates from historians range from 6,000 to 600,000. But the fact is that we don’t know.
I tend towards a higher number because if one extrapolates from the 70 members of Jacob’s family that migrated to Egypt around 1750 BC and assumes 8-9 children per family (which was the average) for 400 years of slavery, you get well over 600,000 males. But, again, nobody knows anything for certain.
Chapter 14: Pharaoh has a change of heart (for the 10th time)
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”
So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him.
The Red Sea – next time!
Closing Prayer
Songs of Miriam
I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
Ave Maria
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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