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Bible Study Evangelista - The Bondage of Busyness

Category: Dew of Heaven Tag: busyness, faith, rebellion, rest

 

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His peoples, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God: and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more: the first things are passed away. And He that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:2-5).

Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Nancy H; Anneleisa F; Brigid O; Kay C; Kathleen A; and Jill D. Thank you for loving and lifting me!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Take a few moments to identify someone who is “busy” with their duties and service to others. Offer to take one of those practices or services on yourself, and commit to doing so on their behalf for an agreed upon period of time.

I | Ignatian – Using all your senses, spend some time imagining Sarah’s predicament regarding Hagar and Ishmael, particularly the scene where Sarah witnesses Ishmael “mocking” Isaac. What do you hear, see, feel, taste, touch and smell? How do you feel? How do you react?

A | Augustinian – Meditate on how God always refreshes and even blesses those in the midst of judgment and discipline, namely both Hagar and Sarah, and the whole people of God in Babylonian exile (as in Is 54).

If you are in a desert place of discipline, can you identify ways that God has also provided refreshment for you? Identify another person who is in a desert place of discipline. How can you offer refreshment to them this week?

T | Thomistic – Although Hagar’s son was born first, because she was a slave and Sarah was freeborn, Isaac would have, and did, immediately become Abraham’s ranking heir over Ishmael. This younger-over-older preference (especially among brothers) is a repeated theme in the Bible that foreshadows the New Jerusalem having eventual position over the older. How many instances of this younger-over-older principle can you list? What do you learn from that?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

As a member of the New Jerusalem, Lord, living under the law of your love and grace, may I always seek charity for my neighbor, but also for myself in seeking, depending on, and hoping in your freedom from my sin. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Bible Study Evangelista - Between Kadesh and Bered

“IN this unpretending chapter we have laid bare to us the origin of one of the most striking facts in the history of religion: namely, that from the one person of Abram have sprung Christianity and that religion which has been and still is its most formidable rival and enemy, Mohammedanism.

“To Ishmael, the son of Abram, the Arab tribes are proud to trace their pedigree. Through him they claim Abram as their father, and affirm that they are his truest representatives, the sons of his first-born. In Mohammed, the Arabian, they see the fulfilment of the blessing of Abram, and they have succeeded in persuading a large part of the world to believe along with them.

“Little did Sarah think when she persuaded Abram to take Hagar that she was originating a rivalry which has run with keenest animosity through all ages and which oceans of blood have not quenched. The domestic rivalry and petty womanish spites and resentments so candidly depicted in this chapter, have actually thrown on the world from that day to this one of its darkest and least hopeful shadows. The blood of our own countrymen, it may be of our own kindred, will yet flow in this unappeasable quarrel. So great a matter does a little fire kindle. So lasting and disastrous are the issues of even slight divergences from pure simplicity” (Expositor’s Bible).

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Not speaking about danger, here, merely petty injustice, but what unjust situation have you run away from that God wants you to return to? Have you considered that your submission may include a promise, along with punishment for the one who acted unjustly?

I | Ignatian – Using all your senses, spend some time imagining Hagar’s situation and circumstances from the time Sarah gave her to Abram, through her conversation with the Angel of the Lord, and her return back to their home. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, touch, taste as you begin traveling back to Egypt, your homeland; receive refreshment by the spring; and attempt to gather the guts to go back and submit to Sarah? What happens when you get back?

A | Augustinian – Are you living fully in God’s will? How do you know? Have you asked Him?

T | Thomistic – What do you learn from the following Bible encyclopedia entry?

Kadesh-Barnea
kā´desh-bar´nḗ-a (קדשׁ בּרנע, ḳādhēsh barnēa‛; Καδής, Kadḗs): Mentioned 10 times; called also “Kadesh” simply. The name perhaps means “the holy place of the desert of wandering.” There are references to Kadesh in early history. At En-mishpat (“the same is Kadesh”) Chedorlaomer and his allies smote the Amalekite and Amorite. Abraham dwelt near Kadesh, and it was at Beer-lahai-roi between Kadesh and Bered that the Angel of Yahweh appeared to Hagar (Gen_14:7; Gen_16:14; Gen_20:1). It was an important camp of the Israelites during their wanderings, and seems to have been their headquarters for 38 years (Deu_1:2; Deu_2:14; Judith 5:14). There the returning spies found the camp (Num_13:26); there Miriam died and was buried (Num_20:1); from thence messengers were sent to the king of Edom (Num_20:14; Jdg_11:16 ff). There the people rebelled because of the want of water, and Moses brought water from the rock (Num_20:2 ff); it was called therefore Meribath – or Meriboth-Kadesh (Num_27:14; Eze_47:19; Eze_48:28). It was situated in the wilderness of Zin (Num_20:1; Num_33:36, Num_33:37) in the hill country of the Amorites (Deu_1:19), 11 days’ journey from Horeb, by the way of Mt. Seir (Deu_1:2), “in the uttermost” of the border of Edom (Num_20:16), and on the southern border, probably the Southeast corner, of Judah (Eze_47:19; compare Judith 19). See Cobern, Homiletic Review, April and May, 1914.

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone” (Thomas, Merton, Thoughts on Solitude).
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

Pray for Us

The pilgrimage is full. Plan to go next year!

Share the LOVE

Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Bible Study Evangelista - Legalism vs Rest

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Because they have a natural aversion to “rule-keeping,” Franciscans often have trouble being consistent. What area of your life needs more structure and discipline? What single, small practice can you begin right away that will add some structure and discipline to that area?

I | Ignatian – The best working definition of grace I know of is to treat someone better than he deserves (when it’s in his best interest). Sometimes this principle is known as “paying it forward.” Spend your whole day seeking little ways to offer graces to your neighbors.

If you struggle with perfectionism, OCD, or attempts to obligate God to you, what has God said to you about how to accept unconditional love, and His other gifts from Him?

A | Augustinian – Your assignment this week is the same as the Ignatians’.

The best working definition of grace I know of is to treat someone better than he deserves (when it’s in his best interest). Sometimes this principle is known as “paying it forward.” Spend your whole day seeking little ways to offer graces to your neighbors.

If you struggle with perfectionism, OCD, or attempts to obligate God to you, what has God said to you about how to accept unconditional love, and His other gifts from Him?

T | Thomistic – Look up the terms Law and grace in a Bible dictionary. What do you learn?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

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. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Share the LOVE

Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Bible Study Evangelista - Desert Ways

“Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants” (Deut 1:8).

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Through a food pantry or food kitchen, a specially cooked meal, or as an Extraordinary Minster of the Eucharist, how can you offer the bread of God to others?

I | Ignatian – Imagine or remember yourself in the desert. Feel yourself there, accepting that God led you to this place. What do you long for in each of your senses? What do you wish you tasted, heard, felt, saw, smelled?

A | Augustinian -If you are in the desert, what has God said to you about trusting Him through this show?

If you have made it through the desert and are in the Promised Land, what has God said to you about how to make it through the prosperity and ease of the Promised Land in a way that does not compromise your soul?

T | Thomistic – Using a map of Palestine, outline the literal and spiritual stages of the move from Egypt to the Promised Land. How does this outline speak to you about your own journey?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

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. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Bible Study Evangelista - Holy Balance Pt. 2

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ‘Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble'” (Matt 6:33).

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Gather a small stone for each of the things you can think of for which you are seeking, other than “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Throw each of the stones into a pond or lake, in turn, as you are able to release them to God and His will.

I | Ignatian – Using all your senses, imagine you are one of a field full of wildflowers, dancing in the sun and breeze of God’s love. As a flower, what do you worry about? Do you work and labor at growing and blooming? 

A | Augustinian – What has God said to you today about worry, anger, hoarding, and/or stress? What single action can you take this week to relieve these negative feelings?

T | Thomistic – What is “the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”? Research each term in a Bible dictionary. What do you learn?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

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. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

Come with Us

Only seven spots remain! Register now!

Bible Study Evangelista - Holy Balance

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ‘Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble'” (Matt 6:33).

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Gather a small stone for each of the things you can think of for which you seeking, other than “the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Throw each of the stones into a pond or lake, in turn, as you are able to release them to God and His will.

I | Ignatian – Using all your senses, imagine you are one of a field full of wildflowers, dancing in the sun and breeze of God’s love. As a flower, what do you worry about? Do you work and labor at growing and blooming? 

A | Augustinian – What has God said to you today about worry, anger, hoarding, and/or stress? What single action can you take this week to relieve these negative feelings?

T | Thomistic – What is “the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”? Research each term in a Bible dictionary. What do you learn?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

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. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

Come with Us

Only seven spots remain! Register now!

Bible Study Evangelista - A Reflection on the Our Father

 

What if, when the disciples said to Him, “Teach us to pray,” Jesus knew they were looking for something “special,”some new prayer that was particular to Him and His followers? What if He surprised them by telling them to simply continue praying the prayer they had been praying all their lives?

Thank you to my Friends of the Show for loving and lifting me!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – Pray an Our Father, facing East, with feet planted firmly together!

I | Ignatian – Using all your senses, imagine you are in the group when Jesus “teaches” the disciples the Our Father, either at the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5 & 6), while Jesus is alone praying “in a certain place.” What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? What do you all talk about afterward?

A | Augustinian – Take turns emphasizing the words of the Our Father in turn, until you have done them all, like this:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.”

What new insights do you gain by using this approach?

T | Thomistic – Choose one of the words in the Our Father prayer to research in a concordance. What do you learn?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

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. Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

Come with Us

Share the LOVE

Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Bible Study Evangelista - Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L – Listen (Receive the Word.)

O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – What do you learn about suffering by watching these sheep being shorn?

I | Ignatian – When have you had an experience like Job, where suddenly you “saw” God rather than “hearing about” Him? What were the circumstances of that experience?

A | Augustinian – I found it interesting that sheep naturally relax for shearing once they’re on their backs. What does that say about how God “shears” you through suffering? Why is it more important that we know God, rather than know about Him? How can you get to know Him better? Do you want to? Have you told Him?

T | Thomistic – What are the five most important things you will take away from your study of Job?

V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

I have heard of You be the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6). Amen +
.

*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Bible Study Evangelista - Leviathan

In highly poetic symbolism, in Job 41, and elsewhere throughout the Bible, Leviathan is presented as different from an ordinary sea monster, because it cannot be captured; at least not by man, as Job exemplifies. God, however, is aloof and unaffected by the terror with which He ascribes to Leviathan. Through the context of the Book of Job, we understand that He alone possesses the power to conquer it (41:10-11).

Bible Study Evangelista - The Gospel According to Job

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Bible Study Evangelista - The Uselessness of Platitudes

The word “compassion” means to suffer with. More than Jesus’ healings, teachings, and even post resurrection-appearances, the Bible emphasizes Jesus’ passion. Theological reflection suggests that communion in suffering, “compassion,” is really what Jesus offers humankind. It seems the gospel writers, particularly, were most inspired to remember that Jesus came to be with us, inseparably. No illness, no loss, no death, no suffering, no storm, no scandal, no sin, no unruly feelings, no craziness, no darkness of spirit, no self-hate can drive him away. Not just over us or ahead of us – but with us – he saves us.

Job teaches us that when others are going through trials, the last thing they need is for us to tell them what we think we know about God or to try and speak on God’s behalf. Instead, in our service to those who grieve, we imitate Christ, and simply “suffer with” them.

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Bible Study Evangelista - When All Hell Breaks Loose

Episode Resources

Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. How does this week’s show make you see suffering differently? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Bible Study Evangelista - The Wisdom of Job

As we begin our series, we discover the author of Job seems to be attempting to explain to his audience how the Babylonian catastrophe could happen to “good” people too, why faithful Hebrews can suffer with the bad, how the innocent get caught up in the painful judgments of the wicked.

I certainly had no idea that any of our current events would occur when I chose this new study series, but I think the state of our Church is exactly why the Holy Spirit guided us to this biblical contemplation of suffering. Perhaps He is guiding us away from a focus on our Church’s catastrophe, to that of our individual faith and purity, and back again to a collective view. How faithful are we, as the American Catholic Church? How and why am I suffering, myself? How alive is my personal faith, really? When was my faith pur-er and real-er?

Job is a pointed finger into the awfullest parts of our lives. I think we are going to find a great deal of hope in this series for these worrisome times.

Episode Resources

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Bible Study Evangelista - Job Begins Next Week

 

Episode Resources

Holy Land Pilgrimage

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Show series are public for a limited time. Archived shows are premium content, and available to all Friends of the Show as part of their membership package.

Bible Study Evangelista - A Throne for God: The “How” of the OT

Notes and References

Exodus 25:10-22, the exquisite description of the mysterious contents of the Holy of Holies

Exodus 20:4-5, “You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…”

Numbers 3:29-31, The Levite tribe of Kohath was responsible for carrying the ark on the wilderness journey.

2 Samuel 6-8, David mistakenly allowed moving the ark by ox cart, resulting in its instability. Uzzah reached out to steady it and died as a result of touching it.

Exodus 25:10-22, The seat of the ark is called the mercy seat and was both a throne and oracle for God.

Leviticus 16, Description of the Day of Atonement, the highest holy day of the Israelite year. It was the only day anyone was allowed inside the Holy of Holies, and then it could only be the high priest (vs 2). The high priest sprinkled the blood of atonement on the mercy seat 7 times on this day.

Hebrews 9:3-5, The contents of the ark were a pot of manna, the rod of Aaron, and the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 9:10, The two tables of stone were written with the finger of God, and on them were all the Ten Words which the Lord had spoke to Moses on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly at Sinai.

Josh.4:4, ff and Judg. 20:27, The ark accompanied Israelite armies in battle and its presence is attested at the siege of Jericho and in the War of Benjamin.

Full notes of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant are here.

Episode Resources

Article on Mary as the Biblical “Portent” or “Sign” of the Church, here.

“Mary is a special young lady, but she is human and depraved, just as you and I are,” was the non-denominational pastor’s Christmas post this week. As I read the word “depraved,” I shuddered.

Ironic, since—as a non-Catholic researching my way into the Catholic Church—my complete incredulity regarding the Church’s teachings on Mary cannot be overstated. I shared this Protestant pastor’s sentiment up to my full communion, and continued to harbor the suspicion for years afterward.

Honestly? I was scandalized by the Church’s assertions that God predestined…

A list of quotes from Church History regarding Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant, along with the year of the writing.

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Chapter 12, The Throne of God

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

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Bible Study Evangelista - A Woven Veil: The “How” of the OT

Notes and References

Old Testament Veil

• Exodus 26:31-35, directions and description of the tabernacle curtain
• Genesis 3:24, Cherubim guard the way to the Tree of Life.
• Numbers 4:5, The tabernacle veil was used to wrap the ark of the covenant for protection when the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness.

New Testament Veil in Christ’s Flesh

• Psalm 22:6, “I am a [tola] worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people.”
• Matthew 27:46, Jesus quotes Psalm 22 on the cross as prophetic of Himself.
• Exodus 40:21, In Hebrew, the word used to describe the veil is sakak, translated twice in this verse as “screen(ed).” It is sometimes also translated in the Scriptures as “covered,” “woven” or “knit.”
• Psalm 139:6, “You ‘stitched’ me together in my mother’s womb.”
• John 2:19-22, Jesus’ own flesh veils the Presence of God.
• Luke 9:28-36, The transfiguration reveals the presence of God beneath Jesus’ veil of flesh.
• Matthew 27:46-51, In the agony of His Passion, just after Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, the veil in Herod’s Temple was split from top to bottom.
• Hebrews 9, The Holy of Holies was a type of Heaven, and the veil signified that it was closed till Christ burst through it by His death.

Human Flesh as a Veil for the Presence of God

• Matthew 18:10, Jesus says my flesh is guarded by angels, as was the Holy of Holies.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own.
• Psalm 139:14, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, fearfully meaning “respectfully.”

Episode Resources

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Chapter 11, Holy of Holies

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. How does this week’s show make you see others differently? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

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“It is understood that there were two veils; one veiling the Holy of Holies, the other, the outer part of the tabernacle or temple. In the Passion then of our Lord and Savior, it was the outer veil which was rent from the top to the bottom, that by the rending of the veil from the beginning to the end of the world, the mysteries might be published which had been hid with good reason until the Lord’s coming. ‘But when that which is perfect is come’ (1 Cor. 13:10), then the second veil also shall be taken away, that we may see the things that are hidden within, to wit, the true Ark of the Testament, and behold the Cherubim and the rest in their real nature” (Catena Aurea, Gospel of Matthew, Origen, Matt. 27:51).

Bible Study Evangelista - ”How”: Holy Smoke!

Notes and References

Old Testament Incense

Exodus 30:1-10, description of the tabernacle incense altar
Exodus 37:29, second description of the tabernacle incense altar

Incense included salt

Ezekiel 16:4 – salting newborns

2 Kings 2:19-22, salt used to cleanse undrinkable (bitter) waters

Numbers 18:19, “covenant in salt”

2 Chronicles 13:5, David is an eternal king through a salt covenant

Psalm 141:2, incense = prayer
Malachi 1:11, Old Testament prophecy of the time when Gentiles (non-Jews) would offer a “pure offering” accompanied by incense

New Testament Incense

Luke 1:8-11, Zechariah offers incense in the temple at the hour of prayer
Mark 14:32-36, “Not my will but yours.”
John 17, Jesus prays for us
1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing.
James 5:16, The continual prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.

Heavenly Incense

Revelation 5:8, incense = prayer
Revelation 8:3-5, incense = prayer

St. Therese of Lisieux, Autobiographical Manuscript C, 25: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.”

Episode Resources

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Chapter 10, Holy Smoke

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

Come join the chatter on the Facebook community. What’s the most sacrificial thing you’ve ever offered God? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Bible Study Evangelista - ”How”: Presence Bread

Notes and References

Exodus 25:23-30, Table of “presence bread,” also translated “bread of the Face”; “bread of propitiation”; “loaves of setting forth”; or “showbread.” Directly across from the golden lampstand in the tabernacle sanctuary, outside the holy of holies, it was a crowned, gold table, set to the right.

Leviticus 24:5-9, 12 loaves of Presence Bread on the table for 12 tribes, a communal offering rather than a sacrificial one. Because the bread belonged to God, it was to be eaten by the priests every Sabbath “in the sacred place,” the sanctuary, as they replaced the previous week’s bread with fresh each week. Along with the bread, there were also offerings of incense, wine and oil.

Other “types” of Old Testament bread

Genesis 14:18, The first priest in the scriptures, Melchizedek, offers bread and wine
Exodus 12, unleavened Passover bread
Exodus 16:14-31, manna, “bread from heaven”; angels’ food “suited to each man’s taste” (Wis 16:20-21).

The Eucharist – the anti-type of all Old Testament breads

Matthew 4:4, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by the word of God.” As a spiritual being, man cannot live only in the physical realm.

John 6, Jesus teaches on the Eucharist before He institutes it for the first time, “I am the bread of life.”

John 6:63, “the spirit gives life, flesh profits nothing.” Jesus means our flesh, not His flesh, which gives eternal life (John 6:54). The “spirituality” of the teaching does not make it merely symbolic. To be spiritual does not necessitate a “symbolic” meaning. In fact, in this case the exact opposite is true, according to Jesus in this chapter.

Episode Resources

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Part Two, Chapter 9, The Bread of Life

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

Come join the chatter on the Facebook community. In what ways do you attempt to “feed” yourself “unholy bread”? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Bible Study Evangelista - ”How”: Light of the World, Lampstand and Magisterium

Notes and References

Exodus 25:31-40, The golden lampstand, or menorah, in the tabernacle

Exodus 27:20-21, Perpetual light

Leviticus 24:3-4, The priests kept the wicks trimmed, the oil topped, and the lamps burning before the Lord continuously.

Exodus 28:29-30, Urim and Thummim in the HIgh Priest’s breastplate of judgment. Urim = “Lights” and Thummim = “Perfect Truths” both superlative plural

• Sirach 45:10, together the names mean something similar to “Perfect Knowledge.”
• Numbers 27:21, used to consult God about His selection of leaders
• 1 Samuel 14:41, used to determine guilt or innocence
•  Ezra 2:63, used to determine God’s will regarding returning captives

Other occurrences of “light” in the Old Testament

• Genesis 1:1-5 – light of creation
• Exodus 10:21-23 – Egyptian plague of darkness in which only the Israelites had light
• Exodus 13:17-22 – pillar of cloud and fire
•  Psalm 27:1 – the Lord is my Light and my salvation, or “saving light”
•  Isaiah 60:19 – “the Lord will be to you an everlasting light”
•  Job 29:3 – light in the darkness
•  Micah 7:8 – “God will be a light to me.”

John 8:12-59, In the Old Testament, light was synonomous with God’s presence, so when Jesus said “I am the Liight of the world,” they understood He was claiming to be God.

John 7:2, Jesus made this claim at the Feast of Tabernacles. The first evening of the festival was called the “Illumination of the Temple” in which four great lampstands were set ablaze in the temple to symbolize the presence of God among them in the pillar of light through the wilderness.

John 1:1-14, Christ—Word and Light

Magisterium

Exodus 18:13-27, Jethro counsels Moses to form a tribunal to assist him in adjudicating for the people. Later, this judgment seat came to be known as The Chair of Moses, and the tribunal the Sanhedrin Court (Numbers 11:16-17).

Matthew 23:2, The Chair of Moses was a phrase used to signify the place of authority that the Scribes and Pharisees occupied in interpreting The Law and exercising authority over the Jewish people. Although they had become corrupt and spiritually dead, Jesus upheld their office of authority as a matter of obedience to God. Later, it because the Chair of Peter, cathedra.

Isaiah 22:15-25, To Peter, Jesus gave the “keys” of administrative and governing responsibilities for his “house,” established him on a glorious “seat” (throne or chair) from which he would adjudicate (“open and shut”), and made him a “father” to his people (pope, meaning papa): “You are Peter [meaning rock] and upon this rock I will build my church…” ( Matt 16:17-19). The Church of history fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy and upholds the office of Peter’s chair

Revelation 1:12-13, The seven lampstands surrounding Jesus in the heavenly temple depict Jesus at the center of the institutional, Catholic priesthood. In the same way, the same seven lampstands radiating outwardly from the Light of the World depict the whole of the historical Church, led by the episcopacy, as the sacred illumination of the world.

CCC 89: “There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely, if our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith.”

Episode Resources

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Part Two, Chapter 8, The Light of Truth

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

Come join the chatter on the Facebook community. Where do you search for light? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.  

Bible Study Evangelista - ”How”: The Laver

Notes and References

Water in the Old Testament

Genesis 6:5-18, The Great Flood

Exodus 14, The Red Sea Crossing

Exodus 17:1-7, God miraculously provides water from the rock in the desert.

Exodus 30, specifications for the bronze laver in the tabernacle in which the priests washed serving hands and gospel feet

Exodus 38:8, The laver is made from the mirrors of the tabernacle virgins.

Ezekiel 47, The prophets continued the theme, using water extensively as a symbol of the New Covenant that revealed how cleansing waters would somehow, one day, also create new life.

Type – Antitype correspondence

1 Corinthians 10:1-4, St. Paul says Noah’s flood and the Red Sea crossing are antitypes of baptism.

1 Peter 3:21, Baptism saves us.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4, The Rock that provided water followed them through the desert.

St. Ambrose, de Sacramentis, lib. v. c. 1: “It was no motionless rock which followed the people.”

Tertullian, de Baptismo, c. ix: “This is the water which flowed from the rock which accompanied the people.”

Ephesians 5:26, “…that He might cleanse her (the Church) by the washing (laver, bath) of water with the word…”

Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing (laver, bath) of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.”

Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed (lavered, bathed) with pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope…”

The Ephesians passage indicates that it is the Rite of Baptism, the water and the words spoken, that accomplish the cleansing. The Titus passage clarifies that the action of grace performed by the Holy Spirit makes the water and words efficacious. Adding further specificity, the Hebrews passage includes the Baptismal promises, the “confession.” We renew this confession every Easter and memorialize it every time we visit a baptismal font and make the Sign of the Cross.

John 3:5, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 3:13-17, The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus when John baptized Him in the Jordan River. The dove was real, not symbolic; the Holy Spirit was real, not symbolic.

John 1:32-34, John the Baptist was a witness that Jesus’ baptism was literal, physical, and spiritual. I can know with certainty that through baptism in water the Holy Spirit descends upon me.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Those baptized into Christ are “a new creation.”

The Lavabo (“I shall wash”) in the Mass is derived from the words of Psalm 26:6-12. The priest pours water from the cruet over his fingers into a little dish, then uses a towel to dry his fingers. As he washes his hands he prays the lavabo prayer: “Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Novus Ordo). This ceremony before the Eucharistic prayer within the Mass is known as the lavabo proper.

John 2:2-11, Jesus changes water into wine.

John 13:1-17, Just before the eve of His terrifying, supreme sacrifice, Jesus dons the priestly girdle of sacrificial service in the towel he uses and washes the disciples’ dusty, tired feet.

Mark 10:35-45, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized.”

“Where purity increases, so does the capacity to love” St. Josemaría Escrivá.

Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Episode Resources

Fulfilled, Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism, Chapter 7, Immersed in His Grace

Ignite, Chapters 6 & 7, The How of the Bible

Come join the chatter on the Facebook community. What’s the most sacrificial thing you’ve ever offered God? Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week’s show.