9-12-06

Greetings!

 

I recently received an email containing humorous reflections on the Bible.  Of course, in order to "get" the jokes, you need to have some familiarity with the Bible.

 

"Ignorance of Scripture = Ignorance of Christ" –St. Jerome (c. 300's)

 

Catholics on the whole perform pretty poorly when it comes to both reading the Bible regularly and having knowledge of its contents.   That's a shame and certainly not what the Church calls us too.  (See the above quote from St. Jerome). 

 

St. Jerome translated the various copies of the Scriptures into what became known as the "Latin Vulgate".  This became the definitive translation of the Bible, used by others throughout the years. 

 

Here's 3 statements from Vatican II's document Dei Verbum, concerning the Bible:

 

21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body.  

22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful.

 

25. ….The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful…to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ… "  Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose…"

 

26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1)   and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men.

 

Phil's Tidbits:

 

-Here are the jokes…see if you "get" them. J

Smiles from the Bible    

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.
           
Q. What do they call pastors in Germany ?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter.  She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a
little prophet.         

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury.   David's Triumph
was heard throughout the land.  Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles
were all in one Accord.

Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson.  He brought the house down.
    
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in
Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses.  He broke all 10 commandments at once.
 
Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan The banks were always overflowing.
  
Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David.  He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.  

 

 

-Don't worry, this isn't as bas as the title may suggest.  What it is, is essentially an online confessional, minus the absolution, spearheaded by a protestant church.   Once again, these ministers have seen a human need that people have to "pour forth" their sins.  Gosh, it's almost like the Catholic Church might be on to something here.   Of course, I don't think you'd get this favorable of an article if the topic was a Catholic confessional.  Frankly, I'd much rather go to the confessional, then post my sins online.  

 

 

The Council for Reproductive Rights (CRR) has issued a report 'Women's Reproductive Rights in the United States:  A Shadow Report' to the UN Human Rights Committee.  The report takes the US to task for laws which penalize pregnant women who abuse drugs or alcohol, thereby harming their unborn children.   As they say, "Such discriminatory legislation and practices subject women to forms of civil or criminal liability that are never imposed on men…" 

 

Source:   C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute).  August 2006 Newsletter

 

The source of their angst is two-fold. One, by the law which protects the baby in utero from abuse by a mother, the law is saying that the baby is indeed worthy of protection.   That obviously contradicts those who would say that that baby is worthless until he is outside of the womb.  Secondly, it's a law that can't be applied to men.   As hard as I try, I will never become pregnant. 

 

 

A beautiful reflection by Pope Benedict on "being with Christ".  With weekly 24-Hour

Adoration (Tuesday @8PM to Wednesday @8PM beginning this week)—what a tremendous opportunity to put this into practice.  

 

Real Christians Stir Contact With Christ, Says Pope
Presents the Example of the Apostle Philip

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 6, 2006 ( Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that an authentic Christian is one who enables others to enter into contact with Christ and to live with him.

In the face of Nathanael's skeptical response, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip answers: "Come and see."

"With this response, dry but clear, Philip demonstrates the characteristics of the authentic witness," the Pope told the 25,000 people on hand. "He is not content with presenting the announcement as a theory, but questions the interlocutor directly, suggesting that he himself have the personal experience of what was proclaimed."

According to Benedict XVI, St. Philip "questions us with those two verbs which imply a personal participation. He also tells us what he said to Nathanael: 'Come and see.'"

"Be with him"
"The apostle commits us to know Jesus up close," the Pope continued. "In fact, friendship, to truly know the other, requires closeness, what is more, in part lives from it.

"In fact, we must not forget that, according to what Mark writes, Jesus chose the Twelve with the primary objective that they 'be with him,' that is, that they share his life and learn directly from him not only the style of his behavior, but above all who he really was.

"Only thus, participating in his life, could they know and proclaim him."
For the Christian, the Holy Father said, "what is important is not only or above all to listen to his teachings, his words, but to know him personally, that is, his humanity and divinity, the mystery of his beauty."
"He is not only a Teacher, but a Friend, more than that, a Brother. How can we know him if we are far from him? Intimacy, familiarity, custom, make us discover the true identity of Jesus Christ."

An invitation
Benedict XVI continued: "This is precisely what the Apostle Philip reminds us. That is why, he invites us to 'come' and 'see,' that is, to enter into a contact of listening, of response and communion of life with Jesus, day after day. …

"We can say that God assumed a human face, that of Jesus, and consequently, from now on, if we really want to know the face of God, we have only to contemplate Jesus' face! In his face we really see who God is and how he is!"

The Holy Father concluded his reflection "recalling the objective toward which our life should be directed: to find Jesus, as Philip found him, trying to see in him God himself, the heavenly Father."

"If this commitment is lacking, we find ourselves alone with ourselves, as in a mirror, and we are ever more alone!" the Pope said. "Instead, Philip invites us to let ourselves be conquered by Jesus, to be with him and to share this indispensable company.
"In this way, seeing, finding God, we can find true life."
ZE06090607

 

Announcements:

-Weekly 24-Hr Adoration (Tuesday @8PM to Wednesday @ 8PM) starts this week in the Church at St. Peter's.  Open to all.

 

-"Jesus the Teacher" Catechetical In-Service.  Saturday, October 7^th 8am-Noon.   Open to all catechists and anyone who wants to learn more about the Faith.  Topics include:  Mass, the Spirituality of the Catechist, Teaching Methodology, and the History of the Early Church.  Site:  St. Peter's Church

 

God bless you!

Phil Lawson

For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website:  www.saintpetercatholic.com           

 

The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events.  Hope you find it fruitful!

 

 

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