|
My Prayer Box
the Newsletter of My Catholic Tradition
To subscribe to the newsletter, please follow this
link. |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
|
It Is Good: Creation |
|
 |
|
|
|
In the beginning, when God
created the heavens and the earth, - Gen 1:1 |
|
|
|
The spiritual truth in the Bible is
inerrant. But what does one do when we
have two different stories of Creation?
These two stories are very different, in
the order of creation, the writing style and
the how God appeared to his creatures.
The first Creation story, Genesis 1-2:4a
has a very orderly style of writing, almost
like a list, somber and formal. It tells us
that God created and separated the light from
darkness, then the waters above from the
waters below, then the land from the waters,
with the creation of the vegetation to the
land. Then God created the Sun, Moon and the
stars, then the birds in the sky and the fish
in the seas, then all the animal on land,
including man, "male and female, he created
them." Then on the seventh day, he saw that it
was all good, and he rested.
The second creation story on the other
hand, Genesis 2:4b, is in prose, that is to
say, in ordinary speaking style. In this
story, God first created the heaven and earth
with water welling up from it, then he created
man and breathed life into it and became a
living being. Then God planted a garden, then
created the animals in his search to find a
suitable mate to the man, and then he created
the woman from the rib of the man.
You probably also noticed that in the first
Creation story, God feels like he is sitting
somewhere far, unseen by the man and the
woman. Whereas in the second Creation story,
it appears like God walked in the garden of
Eden and visible to Adam and Eve.
According to Biblical scholars these two
stories were collected or put in writing at
different times and the writing styles are
specific to the people who collected and put
these stories in writing. Before then, these
stories were passed down from generation to
generation. This oral tradition also probably
changed the story ever so slightly over the
years until they were finally put in writing.
So which one has the inerrant spiritual
truth, according to the Catholic Church?
Both. That is because, the sequence of how
we were created is not as important as the
fact that we were created by one good
and loving God and God saw that his creation
was good.
The ancient authors consciously intended to
refute and contradict the prevailing stories
at that time that there was more than one god,
callous and uncaring, and that man was created
in chaos and in servitude to the gods who
created him.
The first story of Creation was edited by
whom the scholars say is the Priestly source,
whose writings are formal, list-like, and
present God as one up there in heavens
creating and watching. The second Creation
story was edited by the Yahwist source, in
ordinary language and presents God walking
among man.
For those who believe in the Bible
literally may have a difficult time explaining
the differences in these two stories and a few
others that are written in the ancient texts
and handed down to us. |
|
|
|
In his 1943 encyclical,
Divino Afflante Espiritu, Pope Pius XII
challenged the interpreter of the ancient
sacred writings to, |
|
"... 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."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The Solemnity of All Saints
November 1,
2009
|
|
| |
|
| |
First Reading From
the
Book of Revelation: |
| |
Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 |
| |
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God. He cried out
in a loud voice to the four angels who were given
power to damage the land and the sea,
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the
servants of our God.”
I heard the number of those who had been marked
with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand
marked from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count, from every nation, race,
people, and tongue. They stood before the
throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes
and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on
the throne, and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne and around
the elders and the four living creatures. They
prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and
thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our
God forever and ever. Amen.”
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did
they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who
knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of
great distress; they have washed their robes and
made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
|
|
Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face.Who can ascend the mountain of
the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second Reading from the First Letter of
John |
|
1 Jn 3:1-3 |
| |
|
| |
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that
we may be called the children of God.Yet so we
are.
The reason the world does not know us is that
it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s
children now; what we shall be has not yet been
revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be
like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone
who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reading From the
Gospel of Matthew:
|
|
Mt 5:1-12a
|
| |
|
| |
The Sermon on
the Mount |
| |
|
| |
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the
mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples
came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for
righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the
sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and
persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely
because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.” |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
References |
|
 |
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
 |
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. |
|
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 |
|
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
|
 |
Praying With Frederic Ozanam (Companions for the Journey Series)
- Paperback, by Ronald Cm Ramson (Author) |
|
|
|
 |
Praying With Louise De Marillac (Companions for the Journey Series)
by Audrey Gibson (Author), Kieran Kneaves
(Author) |
|
|
|
 |
Praying with Vincent de Paul (Companions for the
Journey)
2004, by Thomas McKenna
|
|
|
|
 |
The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....
(Paperback)
by
Rodney Stark (Author)
From the Publisher |
|
"... 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. |
|
|
|
 |
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) |
|
"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." |
|
|
|
 |
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 |
|
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. |
|
|
|
 |
The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
From Amazon: |
|
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." |
|
|
|
 |
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
as |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
 |
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 |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
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." |
|
|
|
|
Read more about the Liturgical Year |
| |
|
 |
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. |
|
|
 |
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 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
Learn more and read the Old Testament. |
 |
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
|
|
harmonisations
of problematic passages, but to fresh
reappraisal of difficult texts on their
own terms. -
David A. Baer |
|
|
 |
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
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Comments and
Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any
comments or contributions, please
use the form in this link.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.
If you have any comments or contributions,
please
use the form in this link.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Our Engine |
| |
 |
This newsletter
and the website is powered by Site Build It!
It really is a "Genie In A Box."
Don't forget to check out the Quick Tour Slide Show!
|
|
| |
Want to try to win a free copy of the "Genie In A Box?"
Click right here!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright
© 2006. My Catholic Tradition. All rights reserved |
Dear Friends:
Please visit us by
using this link!
I hope you visit us often and tell your friends, too!
Thank you.
Rey
|
