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My Prayer Box
the Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
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Bring it On! |
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"He shakes the earth out of its place,
and the pillars beneath it tremble." Job
9:6 |
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| This might seem very basic and elementary, and
ultimately boring, to a lot of our readers,
but certainly, the new biblical research endorsed
by the Church, has caused me to look at the
Old Testament in a very different light. First of all, the book,
Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction ,
by Lawrence Broadt, is our main reference, and
is endorsed by the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Orange
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County, California. It is published by Paulist
Press, The Missionary Society of St. Paul the
Apostle, NY. Lawrence Boadt, CSP, is an
ordained priest in the Paulist Fathers, and
professor emeritus of Scripture Studies at the
Washington Theological Union. He has written
and spoken widely on Old Testament topics, and
currently serves as the president and
publisher of Paulist Press in Mahwah, NJ. |
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In short, this book is not written by a
"nutty professor involved in a worldwide
conspiracy to destroy what is Catholic," but an
authoritative book written by a Paulist
priest. As we know, the Bible is a
collection of inspired writings whose
underlying message is inerrant - meaning is
not in error. This means that the essence of
each story is more important than the ancient
story, which may not guarantee facts. Why is
this important? In his 1943 encyclical,
Divino Afflante Espiritu, Pope Pius XII
challenged the interpreter of the ancient
sacred writings to, |
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"... go back wholly in
spirit to those remote centuries of the
East and with the aid of history, archeology,
ethnology and other sciences, accurately
determine what modes of writing the authors of
that period would be likely to use, and in
fact did use."
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What this means clearly is acknowledgement
that instead of being threatened by research
and archeological evidence, the Church now
welcomes those insights. Personally, this is
evidence that the Church has so much
confidence in the theological truths in the
Bible, that she is calling science to, "Bring
it on!" You may have noticed that, for
example, there are two Genesis stories, each
very different from the other.
To unravel this mystery, we have to look at
the source or sources, the ancient Hebrew
texts.
Did you know that the ancient Hebrew texts
were written only in consonants? In fact they
were.
This is not a minor piece of trivia, with
which to delight and astound your hapless
friends, but the fact and therefore, problem
presented to the interpreters of the Hebrew
texts.
For example, although this is in English,
if I write,
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"Dvd lvd t s th wrld."
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Now, the interpreter, meaning you, will
have to look at what I actually meant
when I wrote this sentence, at the
time I wrote it. Notice the "bold
highlights" in the previous statement.
As you can see, there are at least two
different "interpretations" to this:
"David loved to see the world."
Or
"David lived to see the world." |
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But what if I was a bitter old man at the time
of this writing, so that the following will
not be out of character, will it?: |
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"David loved to sue the world."
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As you can see, these sentences are totally
different in meaning and intention. Now I
hope you can imagine one of the major the
problems researcher and interpreters of
ancient Hebrew texts had to face when
presented with writings that are often
incomplete, illegible or with characters as of
yet cannot be deciphered.
So the next time you read Genesis, think of
how the original inspired texts were really
written.
That effort spent in translating should
give us all a lot of inspiration it itself!
An Assignment:
If you have not done so lately, please read
the first two chapters of Genesis - Genesis 1
and 2. |
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Twenty-ninth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
October 18,
2009
"The cup that I drink, you
will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you
will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine
to give but is for those for whom it has been
prepared." |
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First Reading From
the
Book of Isaiah: |
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Is 53:10-11 |
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The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.
If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he
shall see his descendants in a long life, and the
will of the LORD shall be accomplished through
him.
Because of his affliction he shall see the light
in fullness of days; through his suffering, my
servant shall justify many, and their guilt he
shall bear. |
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Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
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Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 |
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R. (22)Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we
place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear
him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you. |
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Second Reading from the Letter to the
Hebrews |
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Heb 4:14-16 |
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Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us
hold fast to our confession.For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested
in every way, yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of
grace to receive mercy and to find grace for
timely help. |
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Reading From the
Gospel of Mark:
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Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 |
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James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus
and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask
of you." He replied,
"What do you wish me to do
for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your
left." Jesus said to them,
"You do not know what you are
asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized?" They said to him, "We can." |
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Jesus said to them,
"The cup that I drink, you
will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you
will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine
to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at
James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers
over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over
them felt. But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will
be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the
slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for
many." |
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or |
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Jesus summoned the twelve and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers
over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over
them felt. But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will
be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the
slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for
many." |
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References |
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Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction
by Lawrence Broadt,
published by Paulist Press, 1984. Reading the Old
Testament is a clear and carefully organized
introduction for contemporary readers. It is
designed to guide the student of the Bible through
the text and its problems, enrich their
understanding of the individual biblical books,
and explore the way the Bible came to be written.
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Reading the Old Testament combines the latest
scholarship with sensitivity to religious issues
and Israel's ever deepening understanding of God's
ways. The author gives special attention to
recent archeological discoveries in the Middle
East and how these affect our understanding of
the Old Testament. The book contains numerous
maps, charts, and drawings.
Reading the Old Testament is particularly
illuminating about the way Israel's religious
experience was translated into written records. No
other introduction offers the same thorough
treatment of the Exile and the post-exilic periods
as crucial times in the formation of the Old
Testament.
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Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life
by
Charles J. Chaput
(Author)
“At a time
when the ‘faith and values’ vote has never
been more important, Archbishop Charles Chaput
deftly explores the intersection of morality,
reason, and politics. |
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This isn’t
just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who
cares about the state of America’s soul —and
how that concern might shape the 2008
elections.”
—John
L. Allen Jr., NCR and CNN senior Vatican
correspondent,
Amazon |
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Happiness Is a Serious
Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
by Dennis Prager.
In this unique blend of self-help and moral
philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager
asserts that we're actually obligated to be
happy, because it makes us better people.
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Praying With Frederic Ozanam (Companions for the Journey Series)
- Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
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Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
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Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the
Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
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The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback)
by
Rodney Stark (Author)
From the Publisher |
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"... this account of Christianity's remarkable
growth within the Roman Empire is already the
subject of much fanfare. "Anyone who
has puzzled over Christianity's rise to
dominance... must read it," ...
Read
the first page. |
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Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities - Year B - 2009
by C.PP.S. Joyce Ann
Zimmerman (Author), Thomas A. Greisen (Author),
S.N.D. de N. Kathleen Harmon (Author), M.S.
Thomas L. Leclerc (Author) |
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"Perfect for home use or to prepare for weekly
liturgy . . . It includes help for the
celebration, ideas for catechesis on the
particular event, and ways to understand the
readings more deeply. Finally, it includes
sample questions from which priests, deacons,
lay groups, ministers and others can jump off
into deeper discussion." |
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Straight Answers, Answers to 100 Questions about
the Catholic Faith
by Ph.D Rev. William P.
Saunders (Author)
Review by:
Reverend William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte
Straight Answers offers Catholics a simple and
direct response |
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to the many questions
concerning the Catholic Church. It spells out
profound truths in very simple language for all
who seek a better understanding of their Faith.
I highly recommend it for Catholics, both young
and old. |
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The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon: |
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After years of spiritual study and reflection,
inspirational speaker and bestselling
author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed
teacher. His current message about tapping into
the power of intention may sound like good old
positive thinking: just stay focused on what you
want, rather than focusing on the lack of having
what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper
than just controlling thoughts (although he does
acknowledge that thought control is a
surprisingly challenging and significant
endeavor).
This book might
help readers land a better job, but it's more
relevant for those who are ready to detach from
an ego-driven life filled with quick fixes of
happiness and step into a more authentic,
joyful, and spiritually fulfilling life. His
core teachings speak to tapping into a universal
source of energy that can also be called the
"power of intention." |
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The Chariot of Israel: Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah
THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL: When Elijah was caught up
to heaven, his disciple Elisha cried out, "the
chariot of Israel, and its horsemen." Elisha was
referring not to the chariot but to the prophet.
This study of Elijah’s life will captivate you
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it walks you through a
pivotal period in Israel’s history, and
illustrative maps will give you a better
picture of the physical geography of this
ancient land. |
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The First Book of Kings (Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the Old Testament) This
volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings
follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New
Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided |
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by the New English Bible
itself, but these are further subdivided for the
purposes of the commentary, which is printed in
short sections following the relevant portion of
the text.
Canon Robinson suggests that the editors of I
Kings compiled their history in order to teach
the Hebrews that their existence as Israel, the
covenant people of God, depended upon their
continuing loyalty to their own religious
traditions, and their refusal to exchange them
for the very different traditions of the
Canaanites among whom they lived.
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I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in
the book:
""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that
part of the history of Israel which describes
the foundation of the State, running from the
close of the period of the Judges to the
establishment of the united kingdom." |
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Read more about the Liturgical Year |
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The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo
Books)
by
Thomas J. Talley
(Author) The Rev. Dr.
Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics
at the General Theological Seminary in New
York, is one of the leading liturgists in
the country. He gives us a fresh
examination of the complex history of the
Liturgical Year. |
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The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday)
by
John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader
Review: The book by Pilch provides those
who not only fill the pulpits across this
country but also all interested in the |
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cultural world in which Jesus lived with a lot
of pertinent information that sheds light on a
lot of areas that have been "muddled" in the
past. Yes, I highly recommend this book. -
James Mauldin |
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Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
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Preaching from the Old Testament
by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader
Review: The author of these
thirty-two short chapters begins and ends
with the assumption that problems we
experience with the Old Testament are our
problem, not the Bible's. This
subordinating of the Bible reader to the
well-weathered book he holds in his hand
opens doors, not to forced
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harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
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The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament)
This volume helps you make the first five
books of the Old Testament a vital part of
your spiritual reading and practical
growth in the Christian life. It contains
the full English and Latin texts of these
books, along with extensive and
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faithfully Catholic
commentaries. Like other volumes in the
world-renowned Navarre Bible series, these
commentaries draw on Church documents, the
exegesis of Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary
spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría
Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible
project. |
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Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any
comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
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Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
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Copyright
© 2006. My Catholic Tradition. All rights reserved |
Dear Friends:
Please visit us by
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I hope you visit us often and tell your friends, too!
Thank you.
Rey
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