Such a useful link
http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/tmsj10m.pdf
Only through doing this course do I understand why the Jews expected a messiah and the confusion over what type of messiah he would be!
I took for granted that the Jews were searching for a Messiah as I felt disconnected from them, a kind of "them and us", not appreciating my own roots are in them, that they are part of my family too!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Fr Francis Marsdon
Really pleased to have found the archive of all his articles in the Catholic times- have loved his writings for so long.
This is a link about Noah and the Flood which is something I have been trying to understand.. because I want to know was the story at all historic, what was the meaning of the Covenant with Noah- (was he a historic character_
This gives some answers
Fr Marsdens article on Noah and the flood
Also here is a discussion I provoked (provoke might be the correct word!)
Discussion on the flood
This is a link about Noah and the Flood which is something I have been trying to understand.. because I want to know was the story at all historic, what was the meaning of the Covenant with Noah- (was he a historic character_
This gives some answers
Fr Marsdens article on Noah and the flood
Also here is a discussion I provoked (provoke might be the correct word!)
Discussion on the flood
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
A Call to Holiness
It is great to listen to stories of the lives of the saints- but they feel "Out of reach". I know that God's grace can work infinitely more than we ask or imagine, but I dont think that people will be reading my biography (or blog!) looking for inspiration in 100 years time.
That is why reading the OT is such an inspiration. We know that God can work wonders through Holy people open to His call, but there is that sinking feeling that can't happen to me. But looking at the OT opens your eyes to what God can do thro people who are not role models.
Rahab the prostitute play a key role in helping Gods family. David's far from perfect life (although maybe a perfect contrition). The fact the whole people of Israel abandoned God, turned back, went off and got mixed up with the local culture (which is a major problem if it was Canaan), so like our pick and mix Catholic's today.
I am not expressing myself that clearly, but to see how God could work inspite of sins and imperfections was a great reassurance. His power can work. Also to see what marvels he can work thro a small minority faithful group (such as Israel) makes sense of Pope Benedict (when he was Cardinal Ratzinger) alledgedly not being worried about keeping numbers, but wanting that faithful remnant... just like Israel.
It seems that Israels success was that simply they wanted to follow God. They failed, stumbled, sinned but God called them back and contined to work thro them. Even when one (Jeth thingy something) even killed his daughter, rather than retracting his rash vow to kill the first person to come to him should he win.
Well if he can mess up on the discernment process that much, I think it leaves me a little room.
Maybe I will never reach the holiness of a saint, but it seems God can to great things thro people who simply want to work for Him, but get confused, stumble and forget him every now and again. He can work thro sinners too,
That is why reading the OT is such an inspiration. We know that God can work wonders through Holy people open to His call, but there is that sinking feeling that can't happen to me. But looking at the OT opens your eyes to what God can do thro people who are not role models.
Rahab the prostitute play a key role in helping Gods family. David's far from perfect life (although maybe a perfect contrition). The fact the whole people of Israel abandoned God, turned back, went off and got mixed up with the local culture (which is a major problem if it was Canaan), so like our pick and mix Catholic's today.
I am not expressing myself that clearly, but to see how God could work inspite of sins and imperfections was a great reassurance. His power can work. Also to see what marvels he can work thro a small minority faithful group (such as Israel) makes sense of Pope Benedict (when he was Cardinal Ratzinger) alledgedly not being worried about keeping numbers, but wanting that faithful remnant... just like Israel.
It seems that Israels success was that simply they wanted to follow God. They failed, stumbled, sinned but God called them back and contined to work thro them. Even when one (Jeth thingy something) even killed his daughter, rather than retracting his rash vow to kill the first person to come to him should he win.
Well if he can mess up on the discernment process that much, I think it leaves me a little room.
Maybe I will never reach the holiness of a saint, but it seems God can to great things thro people who simply want to work for Him, but get confused, stumble and forget him every now and again. He can work thro sinners too,
Friday, July 29, 2005
Covenant of Love
That's annoying- edited links and now they dont work (sigh) think that will be a task for another day!
My next essay is on the Covenant in the Old Testament. So I want to jot down some thoughts to make a first stab at the essay.
It took me by surprise that the word "Testament" means Covenant. Then at Christian Union at Work yesterday Richard M opened with Nehemiah's prayer (chapter 1)
"Yahweh, God of heaven- the great and awe- inspiring God who keeps a covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments"
What a beautiful phrase- "covenant of love" made me think of another friends comments, that the first covenant is the garden of eden- marriage. Scott Hahn's Book title"A God who keeps His promises" somehow inspires hope- "and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Roman's 5:5)
I love the quote from Roman's 5:5, because like everyone I have experienced empty hopes and empty promises, and felt let down (somehow, I cant remember being the perpertrator hmph!) so it is wonderful to know that there is a hope that will not let us down, that there is a "Covenant of Love" that doesn't fade or pass away.
I think I used to take for granted as a happy norm people keeping their word, if they make a promise to keep it. So, maybe I needed to experience the negative of being "let down", (why do I have to work this way!) to appreciate the beauty of a faithful love that does not change, fade or pass away. A God who keeps His word, who keeps His promise, that we can hope in because He is faithful, so the hope is not deceptive.
From all this, I realise that in teaching about Covenants, yet again needs to maybe even begin by inviting the Children to know for themselves this God of the Covenant. Nehemiah was obviously familiar with God, so confident of his faithfulness, certain that He would keep His promse. So perhaps a starting point is that they need to know God for themselves. To be like Moses who "Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11)
Also they need to think about promises, and trust. What a beautiful compliment to be a person of your word. Trust is based on keeping your word, if that trust is not there how can a relationship continue? However when we are confident of a person's word what strength it adds. There is also here an echo of the baptism, to "reject Satan and all his empty promises"
I am not sure I recognise the two promises that are made to me, faithful and empty ones!
In society it is easy to recognise the empty promises "illusions of an easy and comfortable" (JP2 WYD 2000) , sex, drugs and rock n roll. The promises prove so empty.
Yet is seems laughable to think of a Church and a Priest giving a (sadly sometimes) dry sermon and to point at it as a place that can lead to happiness of the soul!
Anyway this must be long enough for one post. I like this angle to start the essay. The relationship of the people of Israel with God. I mean to go to the desert on His promise! What Abraham nearly did to Isaac, Noah building a boat- I mean they utterly relied on God's word as reliable. They knew God! They knew His nature as good.
If someone was known to be truthful and reliable then the trust in their word is great, can apply to people in class, some you wouldnt trust them as far as you could throw!
My next essay is on the Covenant in the Old Testament. So I want to jot down some thoughts to make a first stab at the essay.
It took me by surprise that the word "Testament" means Covenant. Then at Christian Union at Work yesterday Richard M opened with Nehemiah's prayer (chapter 1)
"Yahweh, God of heaven- the great and awe- inspiring God who keeps a covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments"
What a beautiful phrase- "covenant of love" made me think of another friends comments, that the first covenant is the garden of eden- marriage. Scott Hahn's Book title"A God who keeps His promises" somehow inspires hope- "and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Roman's 5:5)
I love the quote from Roman's 5:5, because like everyone I have experienced empty hopes and empty promises, and felt let down (somehow, I cant remember being the perpertrator hmph!) so it is wonderful to know that there is a hope that will not let us down, that there is a "Covenant of Love" that doesn't fade or pass away.
I think I used to take for granted as a happy norm people keeping their word, if they make a promise to keep it. So, maybe I needed to experience the negative of being "let down", (why do I have to work this way!) to appreciate the beauty of a faithful love that does not change, fade or pass away. A God who keeps His word, who keeps His promise, that we can hope in because He is faithful, so the hope is not deceptive.
From all this, I realise that in teaching about Covenants, yet again needs to maybe even begin by inviting the Children to know for themselves this God of the Covenant. Nehemiah was obviously familiar with God, so confident of his faithfulness, certain that He would keep His promse. So perhaps a starting point is that they need to know God for themselves. To be like Moses who "Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11)
Also they need to think about promises, and trust. What a beautiful compliment to be a person of your word. Trust is based on keeping your word, if that trust is not there how can a relationship continue? However when we are confident of a person's word what strength it adds. There is also here an echo of the baptism, to "reject Satan and all his empty promises"
I am not sure I recognise the two promises that are made to me, faithful and empty ones!
In society it is easy to recognise the empty promises "illusions of an easy and comfortable" (JP2 WYD 2000) , sex, drugs and rock n roll. The promises prove so empty.
Yet is seems laughable to think of a Church and a Priest giving a (sadly sometimes) dry sermon and to point at it as a place that can lead to happiness of the soul!
Anyway this must be long enough for one post. I like this angle to start the essay. The relationship of the people of Israel with God. I mean to go to the desert on His promise! What Abraham nearly did to Isaac, Noah building a boat- I mean they utterly relied on God's word as reliable. They knew God! They knew His nature as good.
If someone was known to be truthful and reliable then the trust in their word is great, can apply to people in class, some you wouldnt trust them as far as you could throw!
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Story Telling in Catechesis- Better than the naked truth
Really useful link
http://www.appleseeds.org/publ_art.htm
Jesus used parables, the Franciscans began as a result of St Francis using a parable he learnt from a dream (in one of the articles)
http://www.appleseeds.org/publ_art.htm
Jesus used parables, the Franciscans began as a result of St Francis using a parable he learnt from a dream (in one of the articles)
Friday, April 29, 2005
Links to the Vatican
This section is a reminder of important links to documents on the Vatican website for quick use
Writings of Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Exhortation:
Catechesi Tradendae
reconciliatio-et-paenitentia
RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE
In particular his writings about the effects of our sins on other people
"John Paul II: " To speak of social sin means in the first place to recognize that, by virtue of human solidarity which is as mysterious and intangible as it is real and concrete, each individual's sin in some way affects others. This is the other aspect of that solidarity which on the religious level is developed in the profound and magnificent mystery of the communion of saints, thanks to which it has been possible to say that "every soul that rises above itself, raises up the world." To this law of ascent there unfortunately corresponds the law of descent. Consequently one can speak of a communion of sin, whereby a soul that lowers itself through sin drags down with itself the Church and, in some way, the whole world. In other words there is no sin, not even the most intimate and secret one, the most strictly individual one, that exclusively concerns the person committing it. With greater or lesser violence, with greater or lesser harm, every sin has repercussions on the entire eclesial body and the whole human family" (article 16)"
Found this on the following web site House of Prayer
Second Vatican Council
Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World)
Gaudium Et Spes
Writings of Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Exhortation:
Catechesi Tradendae
reconciliatio-et-paenitentia
RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE
In particular his writings about the effects of our sins on other people
"John Paul II: " To speak of social sin means in the first place to recognize that, by virtue of human solidarity which is as mysterious and intangible as it is real and concrete, each individual's sin in some way affects others. This is the other aspect of that solidarity which on the religious level is developed in the profound and magnificent mystery of the communion of saints, thanks to which it has been possible to say that "every soul that rises above itself, raises up the world." To this law of ascent there unfortunately corresponds the law of descent. Consequently one can speak of a communion of sin, whereby a soul that lowers itself through sin drags down with itself the Church and, in some way, the whole world. In other words there is no sin, not even the most intimate and secret one, the most strictly individual one, that exclusively concerns the person committing it. With greater or lesser violence, with greater or lesser harm, every sin has repercussions on the entire eclesial body and the whole human family" (article 16)"
Found this on the following web site House of Prayer
Second Vatican Council
Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World)
Gaudium Et Spes
Pope Benedicts Homily
Homily At His Inaugoration:
.Homily
The thing that strikes me about this homily, is there is such heart in it. You feel the sadness that the nets have been torn (disunity among Christians) and the urgency of Jesus leaping from the throne of heaven to search for his lost sheep is tangible. This is no dry sermon. It seems to come from the heart
.Homily
The thing that strikes me about this homily, is there is such heart in it. You feel the sadness that the nets have been torn (disunity among Christians) and the urgency of Jesus leaping from the throne of heaven to search for his lost sheep is tangible. This is no dry sermon. It seems to come from the heart
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