Author: D. Sader

Meditation and Personal Covenant

1Corinthians 13

  1. Begin by praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you determine God’s will for your life from this meditation on his word.
  2. Read Romans 12:1-3, 9-21. Read it several times until you are acquainted with its content. St. Paul here gives several things that a growing Christian ought to be and do.
  3. First of all, write your reaction to “getting advice” on how you should be developing as a Christian. How do you feel, and how do you handle “being told what to do”? (googledoc)
  4. Secondly, make a list of the different things Paul says a growing Christian should do. (googledoc)
  5. Now make this personal. Think about what you need to work on. Put Paul’s “advice” in terms of your own relationships with parents, friends. mothers, sisters, pastors, teachers, and any other of God’s people with whom you live and work. Go over your list in #4 with each of several people in mind.
  6. As you come to something that you need to work on, pray that God will give you the help you know you need. Talk to God as honestly and as sincerely as you would to any of your friends.
  7. Finally, write a letter to yourself (googledoc). Write about some of the things you’ve just prayed about and want to work on during the next four months.
  8. If you would like to spend more time by yourself in reflection and meditation, read Matthew 5 and 6.

1Corinthians 13 https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=510744781

Romans 12:1-3, 9-21 https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=510744565

Matthew 5 and 6 https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=510744626

Multiple “Signs” of Intelligence in the Bible

Read about Howard Gardner’s eight “signs” of intelligence (and at wikipedia).

Consider the first seven intelligences for this activity:

  1. Spatial – picture smart
  2. Bodily-Kinesthetic – body smart
  3. Musical – music smart
  4. Linguistic – word smart
  5. Logical-mathematical – number smart
  6. Interpersonal – people smart
  7. Intrapersonal – self smart

Assignment 1: For each set: give a brief summary of each scripture passage and answer the questions. What sign(s) of intelligence is(are) evident?

Set A
Luke 10:38-42
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407244614
What does Mary do?

John 11:5-6
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407244774
What is Jesus’ attitude toward Mary, Martha, and Lazarus?

John 11:20-22
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407244796
What is Martha’s faith based on? Logic? A Convincing argument? Her relationship with Jesus.

Set B
Exodus 4:10-17
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407323973
What is Aaron’s role?

Acts 8:26-38
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324001
Who are the two people in this story?
Why does one of them choose to be baptized?

Set C
2 Chronicles 5:11-14
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324024
What happens right before God’s presence fills the temple?

1 Samuel 16:23
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324060
Who calms Saul and how?

Set D
John 1:3-9
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324088
How is Jesus described in this passage?

Mark 13:24-27
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324116
How does Jesus speak about the second coming?

Ezekiel 1:4-28
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324150
Ezekial uses (music/logic/images/human relationships) to help understand God.

Set E
Exodus 18:13-27
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324224
What is Moses’ problem?
Who helps him solve it in a logical step-by-step way?

John 11:16
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324256
Who has a very matter-of-fact attitude?
What does he say?

John 20:24-29
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324276
Whose need for proof does Jesus understand and accept?

Set F
Luke 5:4-11
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324307
When does Peter first begin to understand Jesus?

Matthew 14:24-33
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324331
What does Peter do when he sees Jesus?

Matthew 17:1-8
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324355
What does Peter suggest in this passage?

John 13:3-10
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324377
What does Jesus do? how does Peter respond?
Based on these passages, which of the intelligences does Peter often use to understand and respond to Jesus?

Set G
Romans 7:14-23
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324401
Who does Paul talk about as he tries to explain law and grace?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324425
What does Paul say helped reveal the power and the Spirit?

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=407324452
Paul understands that in his ________ the _____ that God has given him is visible.

Which of the intelligences is Paul using in these passages to help people understand God.

 

Assignment 2: Complete the following tasks:

  • 2 examples of the importance and/or value of musical intelligence
  • 3 people who are word smart
  • 2 people who use logical intelligence
  • 2 people whose understanding of Jesus is rooted in the intelligence of relationships
  • 1 person who is self smart
  • 3 passages that rely on spatial intelligence
  • 1 person who uses physical intelligence to understand Jesus.

For the Poor

I want a Church that is poor and for the poor. People with nothing have so much to teach us. In their difficulties they experience the suffering Christ.

Scripture
Though he was rich, our Lord Jesus Christ became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty you might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Prayer
This is Pope Francis’ dream, O God – that we let go of our attachment to material things and focus on those who have very little of this world’s goods. I am so attached to what I have that this prospect makes me nervous and afraid. I need to travel so far to get a new mindset, and for this I depend on “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He became poor to make me rich in ways beyond my understanding. Amen.

Mary is Our Guide

Mary, Virgin and Mother; help us to bear radiant witness to generous faith, justice, and love of the poor; that the joy of the gospel may reach the ends of the earth.

Scripture

I am the Handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word. Luke 1:38

Prayer
Just as Pope Francis looks to Mary as an example of gospel living, so may I, gracious God. May she help me to bear “radiant witness” to my faith, to my practice of justice, and to my love and service for the poor. I want to say to you as Mary did: Be it done to me as you want it done. May I reflect the joy of the gospel in every aspect of my life. Amen.

Practice
I will pray often today: “I am at your service, O God; be it done to me as you will.”

What You Should Know About Purgatory

What is meant by the final purification? Understanding the Catholic notion of purgatory requires knowing the difference between a temporal consequence and an eternal consequence; this difference has nothing to do with damnation and salvation. Some people reject the idea of purgatory because they misunderstand its purpose. In this video, Fr. Mike explains why purgatory is needed and straightens out some of those misunderstandings.

To learn more about purgatory, check out these articles on Ascension’s Great Adventure Blog:

Furnace of Divine Love: The Biblical Roots of Purgatory (http://bit.ly/2pQQv80)
A Fiery Faith for All Souls (http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/souls/)

MORE FROM ASCENSION:

Ascension Press main website: http://ascensionpress.com
Ascension Presents website: http://ascensionpresents.com
The Great Adventure Blog: http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/blog

Commandments of the Church

Did you know that in addition to the 10 commandments there are an additional 5 “Commandments of the Church”. But there used to be more, or less.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandments_of_the_Church

Read about the history of the “Commandments of the Church” and write a short post emphasizing your understanding of the current commandments, make mention of any other details in the article you find relevant.

Bonus: see if you can find a source online that specifically lists the holy days of obligation in the Canadian Catholic Church. In Canada, only two holy days of obligation sometimes do not fall on a Sunday. What days are these?

Conscience: Bible Readings

Skim these Scripture passages. Pick one that appeals to you and

  1. summarize its main point,
  2. tell how it relates to the theme “Understanding Conscience”,
  3. list one or two thoughts that entered your mind when you read it.

Faith Reflection: Conscience

Saint Paul wrote that the difference between what we will know in heaven is as great as the difference between what we know now and what we knew when we were children:

When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am a man, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete – as complete as God’s knowledge of me.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

As a child gradually emerges into adulthood during the period of adolescence, more and more opportunities arise to form – and test – a personally validated self. Deep within our human consciousness, God has implanted a hunger for the truth, for goodness, for love – all of which are at holy war with the unevolved beast in us, the Id. Human dignity lies in conquering that beast and discovering God’s law, written right into the way God made things and people.

All creatures deserve proper treatment simply because of the way our Creator made them. According to Vatican Council II:

By conscience, in a wonderful way, the law is made known which is fulfilled in the love of God and one’s neighbour. Through loyalty to conscience, Christians are joined to other [persons] in the search for truth and for the right solution to so many moral problems which arise both in the life of individuals and from social relationships. Hence the more a correct conscience prevails, the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and try to be guided by the objective standards or moral conduct. The Church in the Modern World, 16.

What guides you in making important choices, such as the way you deal with your family, friends, and strangers? With animals, food, the environment? Do you treat each consistently or haphazardly: as the mood strikes you or by what you can gain or lose? Are you, honestly, more of an altruist or a utilitarian?