word of god booklet
DESCRIPTION
From the Theology for Catechesis CourseTRANSCRIPT
1 | P a g e
THEOLOGY for
CATECHESIS
The Word of God
2 | P a g e
HEAR the WORD of GOD
Take a few minutes to reflect on the following question:
Q. How is the word of God at work in you and in your community?
From St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message, and not some human thinking, and it is still at work in you who believe The word of the Lord THANKS BE TO GOD
3 | P a g e
EXPERIENCING THE WORD
As we begin in this module to explore the centrality of God’s word for our
lives it is important to keep in mind that ‘in the Scriptures we found not
only dead letters, but Christ, the eternal Word of the living God’ (CCC
108). In the Scriptures ‘it is Jesus, the incarnate Word, who comes to meet
us, for all Sacred Scripture speaks to us of Christ’ (CCC 134)
Q. When have you experienced God’s word as if Christ is speaking to you
in any of the following ways?
Challenging you
Guiding you Comforting you
Changing you Reminding you
Strengthening you
Refreshing you Calling you
4 | P a g e
UNDERSTANDING the WORD of GOD
The Scriptures are the word of God in human language. The inspiration of
the Holy Spirit was at work at every stage of the development of the
written material. The same inspiration of the Spirit was at work in both the
Jewish and Christian communities from whom the Scriptures emerged. What
follows from this is the importance of discovering the intention of the
human author. We can do some of this by being aware of the kind of
writing the human writers employ in order to communicate God’s word.
These different kinds of writings are known a literary genres, here are some
examples:
poetry parables
letters
wise sayings historical narrative
law
psalms & prayers apocalyptic writing
Q. Circle the kinds of writing that you are familiar with today……
Why do you think the biblical writers used different kinds of writing to
communicate God’s word?
Q. Examine the following passages and name the literary genre:
1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10, Jeremiah 1:4 – 10, Mark 6:34, Acts 8: 29 – 39, Nehemiah 8:1 - 12
5 | P a g e
READING the OLD TESTAMENT
This is an immense collection of 46 books gathered together over many
centuries. In these books we see how gradually the People of God become
more aware of who God is and what he is calling them to be. Within these
books some key patterns emerge in relation to how God relates to his
people, these are:
1) ORIGINS & BEGINNINGS: Genesis 1 - 11
The first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis focus on the origins of
humankind, created in the image and likeness of God. There is a constant
tension between the goodness of the creator God and humankind’s need for
salvation. The narrative of Genesis centres on key questions such as; where
did we come from, what is the purpose of our lives and choices that are
made for good or evil?
2) CHOSEN by GOD: Genesis 15 & 22
From chapter twelve of Genesis we see how Abraham becomes the recipient
of God’s promises and care. This leads to a communal understanding of
being chosen by God. The people of Israel are called and chosen by God,
the recipients of God’s free gifts.
3) EXODUS & COVENANT: Exodus 3: 1 – 15
The exodus of God’s chosen people from slavery in Egypt is central to the
Old Testament where God is revealed by both his words and his redeeming
deeds. God reveals himself to Moses as ‘I am who I am’. God enters into an
everlasting covenant relationship with His people summed up in the phrase
‘I will be your God, and you shall be my people.’
4) LAWS for LIFE: Exodus 20: 1 -17
An intrinsic part of this covenant relationship is guidance for living. This is
embodied in the law that the Lord God gives to His people to direct their
6 | P a g e
lives. These laws are described as a path to life. In the New Testament
these are completed in the teaching of Jesus who calls people to live in love,
truth and justice.
5) KINGSHIP: 2 Samuel 7: 15 – 16 & I Kings 8: 1 - 61
When the People of Israel became settled the question of leadership arose.
This gives rise to the question of kingship. Gradually the kingship of David
and his dynasty is understood to be given by God and a guarantee of God’s
rule over them and protecting presence.
6) PROPHECY: Isaiah 6, Jeremiah: 1, Ezekiel 1 – 3, Isaiah 9, 11, 42, 49,
50, 52 & 53
The prophets arise in response to the infidelity of God’s people. The
prophets do not foretell the future but rather speak with vision and clarity
about the realties they see around them and their devastating consequences.
Disaster is threatened for those who oppress and for rulers who fail to put
their trust in God. The prophets also speak words of encouragement
bringing God’s message of hope and salvation. The prophets point towards
an anointed one, a Messiah who will save His people, but this Messiah will
be a suffering servant.
7) WISDOM: Proverbs 9: 1 - 6
These writings focus on the gift of wisdom who is sometimes personified as
a woman. These books are full of wise sayings and teachings for living, some
of these may date back to the time of Solomon the wisest king.
8) PSALMS Psalm 22(21), 23(22), 146 - 150
These hymns express the range of human emotion in prayer, ranging from
lament and sorrow to praise and thanksgiving. Deep emotions are admitted
7 | P a g e
before. These psalms were sung in regular temple worship seven times a day
and would have formed the staple diet of prayer for the people of Israel.
9) VISIONS of the FUTURE: Daniel 2: 44 & 12: 1 - 3
A new kind of writing emerges towards the threshold of the New
Testament, written for a persecuted people to assure them of God’s constant
love and care. The message that evil cannot triumph is loud as is the
promise that there will be a reward of eternal life for those who are faithful.
The importance of understanding this gradual journey of revelation is
emphasised in the following passage:
Q. Take time to reflect on the ways your understanding of God has
developed over the years…………..Which parts of the Old Testament
would you like to explore further?
The books of the Old Testament show how God’s revelation gradually brings people to a deeper and richer understanding. The journey is slow and difficult because that is the nature of human learning and growth. Each of us is called to tread this ancient path, encouraged by the examples of so many individuals and communities. THE GIFT of SCRIPTURE paragraph 41
8 | P a g e
THE JOURNEY
As we read and reflect on the Old Testament we need to be conscious of
the journey of faith not only of the people and communities of Israel, but
also that we ourselves are part of that journey. If we are not conscious of
this journey then many of the writings of the New Testament will not
connect for us. In fact, the journey of God’s people in the Old Testament
paves the way for the coming of Christ. Listen to the following passage:
Take time to reflect on parts of
the Old Testament that you find easy to
connect with the person of
Christ……………….
The journey leads us through the Old Testament, the Scriptures of the Jewish faith which became part of the Christian Bible, and brings us to the New Testament and to Christ. The Church has always strongly rejected the suggestion that the Old Testament should be discarded or neglected: Without the Old Testament, the New Testament would be an incomprehensible book, a plant deprived of its roots and destined to dry up and wither.
THE JEWISH PEOPLE 84
9 | P a g e
THE PERSON of JESUS
Here are some of the ways Jesus is described in the New Testament, these
images and ways of recognizing Jesus are directly linked to the Old
Testament:
The first Christian communities recognized that in Jesus all the promises of
the Old Testament were fulfilled.
Q. In what way/s have you noticed this as you read and reflect on God’s
word?
Jesus is the Chosen One
of God
Jesus is the Alpha and
Omega
Jesus is the New Law giver
Jesus is King
Jesus is the Prophet of
God
Jesus is the Wisdom of God Jesus is the
Suffering Servant
Jesus is the Way, the Truth
and the Life
10 | P a g e
JESUS: THE CLIMAX of REVELATION
In the New Testament the early Christian community shares how it has
realized that God speaks to us through His Son Jesus. In fact the New
Testament writings reveal that in Jesus God’s revelation is complete.
Q. What actions and/or words of Jesus inspire you?
When have you ever experienced the words of Jesus in the Gospel as
Good News for you?
In these writings we learn how God,
who spoke to our ancestors through the prophets,
finally speaks to us through the Son.
He comes to proclaim the kingdom of God,
to make God known by his actions and words,
and to bring the work of salvation to its climax.
This he accomplishes by his death and resurrection,
by his return to the Father
and by the sending of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel is preached and the Church is gathered from all the nations.
Dei Verbum 17
Catechism of the Catholic Church 124
11 | P a g e
THE FORMATION of the GOSPELS – A Process
It is important to realize that the Gospels were written as part of a process
which began in the life and teaching of Jesus.
Q. How does this idea of process challenge your understanding of the
formation of the Gospels?
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Jesus returns to the Father
The Apostles preach about Jesus in light of thier encounters with the Risen Lord and receiving the Holy Spirit
The Evangelists wrote their Gospels from oral & written tradition
The Gospels proclaim the Good News to make the truth about Jesus known to generations
12 | P a g e
THE FOUR GOSPELS – The Heart of all the Scriptures
In Dei Verbum the Gospels are described as the ‘heart of all the Scriptures’
because they are our principal source for accessing the life and teaching of
the Jesus, the Incarnate Word (DV 18, CCC 125). This Gospel is sometimes
described as fourfold because we have four complimentary portraits of Jesus
from the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Q. Which of the above portraits of Jesus appeal to you most?
What Gospel is your favourite and why?
• Brings Good News to the poor
• Seeks and Saves the Lost
• Healing and Forgivng
• Reveals the Glory of God
• The Light of the world
• The Way, the Truth and the Life
• A suffering Messiah
• The Christ of God
• The Good News of the Kingdom
• Saviour of All Nations
• New Moses
• Gives a New Law
Matthew Mark
LukeJohn
13 | P a g e
The APOSTOLIC PREACHING
In the Acts of the Apostles, which originates in the school of the Gospel
writer Luke, the Good News about Jesus is preached. Here are some of the
key features of the preaching and teaching found in Acts:
The preaching takes place in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and
to the ends of the earth Acts 1:8
This preaching focuses on the death and resurrection of Jesus and
calling people to put their faith and trust in him
There is a dramatic account of the feast of Pentecost where the group
are empowered by the Holy Spirit
The early Christian community is devoted to the Apostles teaching
about Jesus, to teaching and fellowship, to gathering for the breaking
of the bread and the prayers Acts 2:42
Saul who persecutes the early Christian hears the call of Christ on the
road to Damascus
He has a conversion experience, symbolized in a change of name to
Paul and becomes God’s chosen instrument to bring the name of
Christ to the nations of the known earth Acts 9:15
Peter’s way of thinking is also converted as he has a vision of the risen
Christ telling him that all people are to be welcomed into the Christian
way of life Acts 10: 34 – 35
By the end of the Acts of the Apostles, the message of the Gospel and
resurrection of Jesus has reached to the centre of the world – Rome.
As you reflect on your work of preaching and teaching the Gospel,
when have you experienced a conversion to the person of Christ?
How does your reflection on God’s word today make as difference
to your sense of mission to the world?
14 | P a g e
PAUL – LIFE in CHRIST
The letters of St. Paul were written before the Gospels and are the earliest
writings of the New Testament. In these letters, addressed to various
Christian communities, Paul constantly points towards the importance of the
resurrection and its effects in the lives of Christians. Here are some of the
central features of life in Christ according to Paul:
Q. Pick one of these images and take time to reflect on how this impacts on
your life as a Christian today……..
We are God's beloved, called
to be Saints
We are baptised into a new life, life
in the Spirit
We are all one body in Christ
Christ open's up the way to God's
presence
All believer's share in the
priesthood of Christ through
baptism
Christ is the head of the Church
Christ offered his own life as a
sacrifice for sin
15 | P a g e
PETER – LIVING STONES
It is interesting to see that in the First letter of Peter the image of living
stones is used to describe the relationship between Christ and those who are
baptized. As living stones we are built on the foundation stone that is
Christ…….this metaphor is further extended by the following images:
Listen to these words from 1 Peter:
He is the living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to
him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that
offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God,
may be living stones making a spiritual house.
Q. Take time to reflect on one of the above images…how does it speak to
you today?
16 | P a g e
SCRIPTURE & LITURGY
From the earliest days the proclamation of the Scriptures has been an integral part of the
liturgy. Christ is present both in the word which is proclaimed and in the sacrament we
share. The lectionary instigated by the Second Vatican Council offers a richer provision of
biblical texts. The word ‘lectionary’ comes from the Latin verb lectio, which means ‘I
read’. The lectionary is the book we use to follow the cycle of readings in our liturgies
and follows a three year cycle. In Year A we follow the Gospel of Matthew, in Year B
Mark and in Year C Luke. Portions of John’s Gospel are interwoven into each of the
three years.
The lectionary also provides texts from all parts of the Old and New Testaments.
Readings from the Old Testament have become a regular feature of the Liturgy of the
Word at Mass after many centuries of comparative neglect. Such an abundant provision
of biblical readings offers food for prayer and reflection and guidance for our Christian
lives. We should be deeply aware of the importance of the Liturgy of the Word, taking
part attentively from the beginning of the celebration and well disposed to hear the
word. It is in the liturgy that we encounter ‘the continuing, complete and effective
presentation of the word of God’ (Introduction to the Lectionary 4).
Honouring the word
We honour the word of God in a variety of ways when we gather:
Reverence is shown to the book of the Gospels
It may be carried in procession and incensed,
Candles may be carried to symbolise that Christ, who is heard as His Gospel is
proclaimed, is indeed the light of the world
The ancient custom of hearing the Gospel standing signifies the prayer of praise of the
People of God who recognize the presence of Christ in His word proclaimed
Q. What helps you to listen attentively when God’s word is proclaimed?
Q. In what way/s do you honour and reverence God’s word in your life?
17 | P a g e
PRAYING GOD’S WORD
God speaks to our hearts as a person speaks to a friend
The ancient practice of lectio divina, is a 4 stage method of prayer now used in groups or
alone. ‘All Christ’s faithful people’ (Dei Verbum 25) are encouraged to pray with the
word of God as a source of spiritual nourishment. Wherever people engage prayerfully
with the Scriptures, their faith is deepened. Where families nurture a love of the Bible,
children and young people discover the liberating challenge of God’s Word and come to
know Christ as the way, the truth and the life (Novo Millennio Ineunte 39). Young
people discover in the Scriptures the call of Christ, once directed to the disciples, the
challenge of vocation. Each of us can learn to listen to God’s word, and discover that
God speaks to our hearts as a ‘living the word of God person’ speaks to a friend. In times
of suffering and sadness, when we feel lost and bewildered, the word of God offers
consolation and encouragement.
A FOUR STAGE METHOD
Here is a basic method for praying God’s word which can be adapted for groups or used
by individuals:
1. READING
2. REFLECTING
3. RESPONDING
4. RESTING
18 | P a g e
PRAYING with a PASSAGE
1. READING:
The passage is read out loud, everyone listens.
After some silence the reader asks the group to share their thoughts on the following
questions:
What do you hear Jesus saying?
What do you notice Jesus doing?
What do other people in the Gospel story say and do?
2. REFLECTING:
The passage is read once more out loud. This time after another period of silence the
leader helps the group to connect to how God’s word relates to their life experience
using some of the following questions:
What is Jesus asking you to do today in the Gospel?
Can you name any actions that you feel Jesus is asking you to do?
Who are you most like in today’s Gospel story?
3. RESPONDING:
The leader now encourages the group to pray out loud, staying with the images they
have noticed. These can be:
Thank you prayers
Help me/us prayers
Sorry prayers
Asking prayers
4. RESTING:
This should move the group into a more contemplative way of praying, so invite
them to close their eyes. Then repeat some of the phrases from the Gospel which
they noticed today.
Gather all the prayer together by saying the Glory Be to the Father together.
1. Take time to reflect on where you could use this method of prayer in your own
setting.
19 | P a g e
GOD’s WORD in our LIVES
The word of God is in no way less than the Body of Christ;
nor should it be received less worthily.
I ask you, brothers or sisters, tell me:
which to you seems the greater, the word of God, or the Body of Christ?
If you wish to say what is true you will have to answer
that the word of God is not less than the Body of Christ.
Therefore just as when the Body of Christ is administered to us,
what care do we not use
so that nothing of it falls from our hands to the ground,
so should we with equal care see that the word of God
which is being imparted to us shall not be lost to our soul,
while we speak or think of something else.
For he who listens carelessly to the word of God
is not less guilty than he who through his own inattention
suffers the Body of Christ to fall to the ground.
St Caesarius of Arles (469-541)
Sermon 300
1) How will you enable others in your teaching and catechesis to treasure
the word of God as a source of life and nourishment?
20 | P a g e
RESOURCES
Books:
‘THE GIFT of SCRIPTURE’ A teaching document of the Bishop’s
Conference of England, Wales and Scotland
‘Scripture: Nourished by God’s Word’ – Catholic Basics: A Pastoral
Ministry Series by Margaret Nutting Ralph, published by Loyola
Press
www.wednesdayword.org – ways of praying with the Sunday
Gospels for Home, School and Parish
www.goodnews.ie/lectio.shtml - A website on Lectio Divina
www.catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/ - The Cycle of Lectionary
readings online
www.sacredspace.ie/livingspace- Reflections for the Sunday and
Weekday Cycle
www.ntgateway.com - Online articles from Biblical Scholars
21 | P a g e
Notes