Remarks upon the times of Amos

Amos was the first prophet to cause his message to be written down. Previously, the great prophets Elijah and Elisha were written up by other chroniclers, something like a sports reporter for the Orlando Slantinel. Here are some equivalent go-back times for us, along with the famous names and events the men thought of:

1. one hundred years ago, about 1910 A.D.
   1. Teddy Roosevelt
   2. Albert Einstein
2. two hundred years ago, about 1810 A.D.
   1. Archibald Henderson, commandant of the USMC
   2. Seminole wars in Florida
   3. Napoleon Bonaparte
   4. Thomas Jefferson
   5. John Quincy Adams
   6. James Madison
3. five hundred years ago, about 1510 A.D.
   1. The reformation and Martin Luther
   2. Columbus and other explorers
   3. St. Thomas More and King Henry VIII
4. eleven hundred years ago, about 910 A.D.
   1. the first Parliament, in Iceland
   2. Vikings raiding the coasts of Europe
   3. King Alfred the Great in England

We discussed how even today we follow the footsteps of Einstein, Jefferson, Thomas More and Columbus, and we still view the results of actions of Vikings, like the blonde-haired blue-eyed families that live in Sicily to this day!

Similarly, Amos was a prophet following the footsteps of Elijah, living in David's kingdom, calling Israel to live up to the Law of Moses, and springing from the family roots of Father Abraham.

Image: Albert Einstein, 1912

We look into the prophecy of Amos

For the next two months we will dive into the prophetic message of Amos. This Thursday we will look over chapter 1, for which the following questions might come in handy:

1. According to verse 1, the message to Israel came in visions. How is it that Amos saw this message in a vision? What did Amos see?
2. The time of Amos' message was sometime during the years 783 - 743 B.C., approximately one hundred years after Elijah, two hundred years after David, 500 years after the Exodus, and 1100 years after Abraham. Who were our cultural forebears
   1. one hundred years ago, about 1910 A.D.?
   2. two hundred years ago, about 1810 A.D.?
   3. five hundred years ago, about 1510 A.D.?
   4. eleven hundred years ago, about 910 A.D.?
3. What kind of terrain was Mount Carmel, mentioned in v. 2?
4. The words of verses 3 - 15 contra Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom and Ammon mention threshing sleds and fire falling on cities. In what other parts of the Bible have we studied threshing and fire troubles?
5. Where is Edom? Where is Ammon? Are they near Tyre and Sidon?

Let's look into these questions on Thursday morning, with the expectation that they will help us become doers of the Word.

Image: a threshing sledge from Cyprus.

Conclusion of the matter

Here are some of the comments and conclusions from this morning's Bible study session, question by question.

1. The Lord considers Nineveh a bloody city. Is there any city on Earth today that you consider to be a bloody city? Is it like Nineveh?
   1. Len: Amsterdam, New Orleans, San Francisco for debauchery, which the prophet Nahum mentions in the same breath as blood.
   2. Scott: Hating an entire city is like what terrorists do.
   3. Bob: Mexican border cities, overrun by murder by drug lords and criminals.
   4. Scott: Somalia is a lawless place, where life means nothing.
   5. Dave: Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime.
   6. Joe: the bloody description of Nineveh reminds one of Civil War battles, line after line of men charging the merciless guns.
2. How can a nation like Assyria enslave another nation by prostitution? What kind of prostitution would that be?
   1. Ken: prostitution in this case is like the Nazis recruiting collaborators in France by selling access to their military and political power.
3. Same question, regarding witchcraft: What kind of witchcraft can enslave a nation and end with bloody subjugation?
   1. Ken: Like being spellbound by government handouts and giving credence to the government's every pronouncement.
   2. Ken: Being spellbound by moral relativism, as mentioned in Abolition of Man, by C. S. Lewis.
4. How does this prophecy of Nahum relate to our lives today? What does it make you feel?
   1. Bob: It makes me want to pray more.
   2. Scott: Be like Rachel's Vineyard.
   3. Joe: Be like Tobit, practicing the works of mercy.

Joe's conculsion to the matter makes a lot of sense.

More questions -- but can you answer them?

We study Nahum's prophecy, the third chapter. Here are some questions to consider: The Lord considers Nineveh a bloody city. Is there any city on Earth today that you consider to be a bloody city? Is it like Nineveh? How can a nation like Assyria enslave another nation by prostitution? What kind of prostitution would that be? Same question, regarding witchcraft: What kind of witchcraft can enslave a nation and end with bloody subjugation? The prophetic word compares the ruin of Nineveh to what action in verses 5 and 6? Does the Lord expect Nineveh to get a dose of its own medicine, regarding its earlier conquest of No-ammon a.k.a. Thebes on the the Nile? How does the last verse, 3:19, relate to the book of Tobit?

Inscription of Assyrian king Sargon II, describing a conquest after which he flayed the skin of the conquered governor, Assur-Lei.

We will take a walk through these questions, and see whether the perfect law of freedom, God's word, can speak clearly in this our day and help us become doers of the Word.

Here is a set of chapter 2 questions for finding God's wisdom in the prophecy of Nahum: How important is the vision of Israel as the vineyard? Who is the destroyer or hammer mentioned in v. 2? What was the military technology that this advancing army uses? Who could have destroyed Nineveh in Jonah's day? Is the lion a symbol of Assyria?

QUESTION one can ask in each chapter in Nahum: How is it that Nahum saw this message in a vision? What did Nahum see?

Let's start with these questions on Thursday morning.

Justice

One of our questions last week was about God's vindication:

2. We know that Nahum prophesies about Nineveh -- but not in chapter 1. How does the Lord taking vengeance in general -- e.g., Nahum 1:2 -- bear on the situation in Nineveh?

Len had this to say in answer: The Lord works His justice from time to time and will do so again.

This is a good way to view this part of Nahum's message. It jibes with the general jobs of the true prophet, to speak a prophetic word from the Lord and sometimes to predict things to come.

We begin the prophecy of Nahum

The book of Tobit mentions the prophecy of Nahum, so we will now study through this short prophetic book. Here are some questions to start with:

1. What is a the job of a true prophet of the Lord?
2. We know that Nahum prophesies about Nineveh -- but not in chapter 1. How does the Lord taking vengeance in general -- e.g., Nahum 1:2 -- bear on the situation in Nineveh?
3. Similarly, how is the Lord being a stronghold important to the situation in Nineveh?
4. Is this first chapter a prediction type of prophecy?

Let's tackle these and other questions on Thursday morning.

Conclusion of Tobit

As we study through the last two chapters of Tobit, here are some questions to look into:

1. What geographical/political fact does Tobit keep referring to in the long prayer, chapter 13?
2. Tobit concentrates upon Jerusalem in his long prayer, too. Why?
3. How does Psalm 126 jibe with Tobit's blessing, chapter 14, especially v. 5?
4. What prophets had messages concerning Nineveh?
5. Does the book of Tobit tell you anything about the Eucharist or the Cross?

Let's work on these questions, and seek the wisdom of God's perfect law of freedom this first Thursday of December, 2010.

IMAGE: U.S. Army at a reconstructed gate of Nineveh

Who is Raphael?

Each of the primary stories in the book of Tobit involves the angel Raphael. Here are some questions by which we can perhaps advance our reading and take a glimpse into the identity and nature of this angel of God:

1. In ch. 9, Raphael has a specific mission to Rhages. What two actions of Raphael are pivotal to the entire book of Tobit?
2. When Tobit and his wife despair of seeing their son again, in ch. 10, their behavior has a bit of resemblance to one of Jesus' parables. Which parable?
3. In ch. 11, Raphael plans with Tobias on their return to Nineveh, saying, "Let us hurry on ahead of your wife to prepare the house while the rest of the party are still on the way." Where in the new testament does one see similar concepts?
4. What is the problem with Tobit's grateful payment plan for Rapahel, as mentioned in vv. 1-5 of chapter 12?

We will drink coffee and discuss these questions today in Men's Bible Study.

Action in Ecbatana and Rhages

We are reading in Tobit, chapter 7 this week, covering the marriage of Sarah to Tobias. A few questions:

1. Why does Raguel emphasize kinship so carefully?
2. What does the Book of Moses say about marriage?
3. Where in the scriptures, Old Testament or New Testament, is a marriage associated with spiritual warfare? This question concerns us also in the next chapter or so.

Let us prepare for action from the Holy Spirit, who will help us benefit from this part of the scriptures.

The center

From the teaching of Vatican II, a challenging thought concerning Hebrews 13:8...

[The Church] likewise holds that in her most benign Lord and Master can be found the key, the focal point and the goal of man, as well as of all human history.
- Pastoral Constitution on the Curch in the Modern World, 10

Questions for the race

The 12th chapter of Hebrews uses several metaphors for Christian life. Let's use these questions to gaze into the meaning of those words.

1. Endurance is mentioned several times in the context of a race or combat. What is it that we must endure in our race, our combat?
2. Jesus, Author and Perfecter of Faith. A lovely title. In what way can the faith be perfected?
3. Jesus endured opposition from sinners. What did sinners do to generate this opposition?
4. What scourged Jesus?
5. What scourged Israel?
6. What scourges us?
7. Jesus had disciples, Peter, James and all the rest. But what disciplined Jesus?
8. What forms discipline in a military unit?
9. Verse 12 exhorts us to strengthen weary hands and paralyzed knees. What? Why not strengthen spine or some big muscle? In this race of endurance, why strengthen hands?
10. In this epistle, Jesus gets the name, Author and Finisher. What is the famous name of Him in the heavenly Jerusalem that has a similar ring to it?
11. From Revelation, what do you recall as the main activity of all the creatures in heaven, men and angels, strange looking beasts and powerful Cherubim?

Now we have a set of questions to guide us through chapter 12 to its last verse! It is a good morning to gaze into the Perfect Law of Freedom.

Hebrews 12 questions

We will study a bit of chapter 11 and then dip into chapter 12 this morning. Here are a few questions.

1. From chapter 11, what kind of miracle did the writer keep mentioning in the lives of so many of the old testament saints? There was one kind that was mentioned several times.
2. The cloud of witnesses: does anything about it change with the passage of years?
3. Name the top two witnesses in the cloud of witnesses, in your opinion. Why did you focus on those two?
4. How does the cloud of witnesses affect our conduct at prayer?
5. How does the cloud of witnesses affect our actions as we go about our day?
6. At Sunday Mass, how do our prayers and actions reflect the presence of the cloud of witnesses?
7. If someone works one of the ordinary works of mercy, even evangelization by hospitalization, does that action exist in isolation, unconnected with anyone else?

WHAT!? Those questions only cover verse 1! We might not get very far into chapter 12 this morning. :)

One question

There are a lot of lessons in Hebrews 11, but for tomorrow morning, only one question to start things off:

1. Look at all the heroes of faith in this chapter:
   1. Abel
   2. Enoch
   3. Noah
   4. Abraham
   5. Isaac
   6. Jacob
   7. Sarah
   8. Joseph
   9. the parents of Moses
   10. Moses himself
   11. Joshua at the walls of Jericho
   12. Rahab the prostitute
   13. Gideon
   14. Barak
   15. Samson
   16. Jephthah
   17. David
   18. Samuel
   19. the prophets
   There is something special about Abel. There's something about his life that cannot be said of any of the others. Also, the words in this chapter attached to Abel have a subtle difference compared to the words used with all the other heroes. Can you spot the differences?

Origins and faith

Hebrews 11 describes faith and the covenant between God and his People, and the Church teaches clearly on this point even to the moment of Creation:

Creation is revealed as the first step towards this covenant, the first and universal witness to God's all-powerful love. And so, the truth of creation is also expressed with growing vigour in the message of the prophets, the prayer of the psalms and the liturgy, and in the wisdom sayings of the Chosen People. [CCC 288]

Can you savvy these questions in Hebrews 10?

Here are some questions to think over as you prepare for Thursday morning.

1. Re-read Romans 7:7. How does Paul's concept about the Torah compare to Hebrews 10:3?
2. Prior to the actual moment of crucifixion, what was the moment of most extreme suffering for Jesus?
3. Is it possible to offer your life to God but not offer your will?
4. In v. 20, there is a mention of a new, fresh way into the true tent. Is there an everyday way for us to follow Him through this veil?
5. Carefully read verses 19-25. Do you notice any kind of a special list of familiar things?
6. What kind of endurance is required of us? What are we asked to endure?

The perfect law of freedom in this section of Hebrews is loaded with everyday concepts for us to apply. If you sort through these six questions, you will be prepared for Thursday morning, although, as always, you must EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

Some thoughts from the men about the center of the heavenly liturgy

Here are some of the findings from this morning's study session:

Why is there a veil in Moses' copy? Did he see a veil up in the mountain?

German: something still to be completed and Moses was not to see it.

Ken: It is similar to the cherubim and fiery sword guarding the way back to the tree of life, Gen. 3:24.

Joe: Paul describes something like this in 1 Cor. 13, "At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror..." etc., which also describes the moment of judgement for a Christian.

When we celebrate the eucharistic sacrifice at Mass, is that a different sacrifice from the sacrifice of the Messiah on the Cross?

German: no, and Fr. Derk describes it as an echo of the moment of the crucifixion.

How can we unite ourselves with Jesus' sacrifice, even though we are each imperfect?

Len: be in the state of grace. Faith in Jesus is primary importance. Then comes duty to support your family.

Bob: prayer and the works of mercy.

In response to the TRUE/FALSE question about the timing of the sins that Jesus died for on the Cross, Jim repeated a phrase, "I make all things new." It is from the Revelation, but famously inserted into the walk to Calvary in the film Passion of the Christ. And it leads to the prayer we recalled today, the prayer over the paschal candle:

Christ yesterday and today
the beginning and the end
Alpha
and Omega.
All time belongs to Him
and all the ages.
To Him be glory and power
through every age forever. Amen.

Study questions for Hebrews 9

Here is a good set of questions to review for Thursday's session:

1. Why did God require a veil in the tabernacle he set up for Moses and the Hebrews?
2. Brain burner: If God allowed Moses to glimpse the true tent in heaven, and if God commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle according to what he saw up on the mountain, then why is there a veil in Moses' copy? Did he see a veil up in the mountain?
3. TRUE or FALSE: "Jesus died on the Cross for all the sins committed up to that point in time, but not for those that occurred after that day."
   Sub-questions:
   1. If TRUE, try again.
   2. If FALSE, what were the other sins that Jesus died for?
4. Was Jesus hostile to the temple in Jerusalem?
5. When we celebrate the eucharistic sacrifice at Mass, is that a different sacrifice from the sacrifice of the Messiah on the Cross?
6. Can you identify or describe the center of the liturgy in heaven that honors the Father?
7. Do you recall the prayer for the paschal candle that the pastor recites at the beginning of Easter Vigil?
8. Jesus passes through the perfect tabernacle to make the perfect offering of himself. How can we unite ourselves with Jesus' sacrifice, even though we are each imperfect? What about the saints, like Blessed Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna or Blessed Maximilian Kolbe martyr at Auschwitz?

That is a long list of questions, and this is a big chapter, loaded with wisdom. We will gaze into it more thoroughly on Thursday morning.

Questions for Thursday

We continue our consideration of the priesthood of Jesus with his sacrifice on the Cross, and our own common priesthood with Him. Here are some questions that rise from chapter 8 of Hebrews.

1. We read that Jesus is a "minister" in the sanctuary. Does a minister act only for himself?
2. What other book in the Bible mentions the true tabernacle?
3. In Greek, v. 5 describes the sanctuary of earthly priests as a pattern and a shadow. Here are some sub-questions:
   1. If an object casts a shadow, is its pattern a true representation of the object in itself?
   2. When can shadow tell you everything about the object itself?
   3. If the earthly sanctuary is a shadowy pattern, what is the source of the light that surrounds the shadow?

OK, that is a good start. See you on Thursday morning!

Our common priesthood of the faithful and its altar

We studied the meaning of the high priesthood of Jesus in Hebrews 7, and in this, we thought of our own priesthood, not the ordained priesthood, but the common priesthood of the faithful:

the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace - a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit... [CCC 1547]

One way to think about the offering of the common priesthood of the faithful is that the life of faith leads to actions, e.g., the works of mercy.

And every kindness in the works of mercy comes at a price, when we do not focus on our personal empire of money and prestige but we focus on helping another person. This is a good offering, and it has its own kind of altar.

In the fullness of time

"All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the Father accepts them and, beyond all hope, answers them by raising His Son."[CCC 2606]

Hebrews 7 questions for Thursday, Aaron and Melchizedek.

Here are a few questions for getting your mind to focus on the section of Hebrews we will study on Thursday, Hebrews 7.

1. Why do the priests of the order of Aaron receive tithes?
2. Was Melchizedek a Jew or a Gentile?
3. In v. 20, the author says that the priests in the order of Aaron did not become priests with an oath. How is that these men became priests in the order of Aaron?
4. What was the central event in history by which the priesthood of the order of Aaron was begun?
5. What was the founding document of the Aaron priesthood?
6. Jesus, priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, is quite busy in Heaven... doing what?
7. How does the common priesthood of the faithful fit into all this?

I hope we will get to question 7 Thursday morning, because it is the reason God sent us this part of the perfect law of freedom.

Reports concerning maturity and the Word

One of the questions today concerned Abraham and whether we felt mature and skilled with the word of righteousness (Heb. 5:13, 14). When I asked for a show of hands, "Raise your hand if you feel you are mature and skilled in the word of righteousness," I was surprised to see several hands go up. I expected most everybody to keep their hand humbly lowered to the table.

But German and Scott gave an interesting answer for raising their hands, feeling mature and skilled in the word of righteousness. "I know enough of God's Word to act," said German, to be a doer of the Word. Scott backed up this by comparing his current state to an earlier state in which he was not awake to the Word.

We also discussed whether it was a gift or a skill. After all, Deacon Al said, everyone knows that faith comes to us as a gift, not as something we can sharpen up and get a college degree in. Sal was able to clarify this, in that it is a gift of the Holy Spirit to have control of your free will, and we have the faculties to to exercise the free will, especially discerning in our conscience between good and evil.

This is a good report.

Hebrews, chapters 5 and 6

Last week we worked on chapters 4 and 5, and this Thursday we will work on chapters 5 and 6. Here are some questions to work with when reviewing this part of Hebrews:

1. How did Jesus become the source of salvation?
2. What was his specific path in life before he accomplished it, becoming the source of salvation?
3. The author describes Jesus very carefully and thoroughly as high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Can we be imitators of Jesus in this? Ought we to do so?
4. Are you mature and skilled in the word of righteousness?
5. Can you see the small creed, a mini-recitation of faith, at the start of chapter 6?
6. Was Father Abraham skilled and mature in the word of righteousness?
7. What exactly WAS the word of righteousness that Father Abraham encountered? Have you encountered anything like that?

That will be a good start in the process of diving into the Word, in Hebrews 6 today.

A set of questions, oriented toward one concept in Hebrews 4

The fourth chapter of Hebrews has a single concept at its center. Our questions, including two from last week, will grapple with that concept.

1. The author mentions the phrase "God's rest" in this chapter. What is the origin and meaning of that phrase?
2. Why does the author connect God's rest to the Exodus?
3. Our faith connects which sacrament(s) to the day God rested?
4. How does the Holy Spirit use the concept of time in this emphasized word, "today" in v. 7?
5. The author of Hebrews uses the Greek word σκληροs, skleros, in various places for the concept of hardness. What are the signs of a hardened heart?
6. What did Ezekiel prophesy about the treatment of hardened hearts?
7. Why does the text jump wildly from the concept of "entering his rest" in verse 11, to the completely different image of the double edged sword in verse 12?
8. Is there a connection between "entering into that rest" in v. 11 and "holding fast to our confession" in v. 14?

Let's think about these questions and be ready for the Holy Spirit to help us understand the perfect law of freedom tomorrow morning.

Comments concerning the house and falling away

We discussed the analogy of Jesus and Moses to builder and house, and how faith is the essence of being built up as part of God's household, living stones, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

In connection with the miracle of the Red Sea and the grumbling in the desert immediately after the Red Sea miracles, we discussed how it would be possible for us today to harden our hearts.

Here are some of the comments:

1. Ken: Life happens, although we discussed whether this is the same thing as hardening one's heart.
2. Len: When you avoid going to worship on Sunday, it is a way of pushing God away.
3. Joe:
   1. Exodus 31:12-18 makes clear how serious God considers the sabbath rest, which shows that it is God who makes us holy, a royal priesthood.
   2. Deceit of sin, like pornography, is how a man can harden his heart.

And this is where Ken pointed out that a man has got to know his limitations.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make our hearts true and not hardened, and help everyone in our parish, and in this world, as YOU break the hearts of stone.

Exam question 7, answers

Answers from the James final exam:

7. Make a judgement call: Which sacrament is tops for following James' admonition, to be a doer of the Word?

It was an interesting set of answers:

1. Baptism: one student made this his answer.
2. Eucharist: one student made this his answer.
3. Holy Orders: one student made this his answer.
4. Confession: →FIVE students made this their answer.

Each answer is kosher, but this last big answer, confession, is an intriguing answer, and a good answer, especially when considering the Lord's own prayer. Good.

Hebrews 3 questions

Here are some questions we will review today:

1. How accurate and proper is the comparison of Jesus and Moses to a builder of a house and the house itself?
2. Where else in scripture are we compared to a house?
3. The author mentions the phrase "God's rest" in this chapter. What is the origin and meaning of that phrase?
4. Why does the author connect God's rest to the Exodus?
5. Our faith connects which sacrament(s) to the day God rested?

OK, that will be a good start to challenge our brains this morning, and we can hope that, once our brains are challenged, some of that brainpower will get into our hearts!

Exam scores

I had to use x-ray vision to read the handwriting of some of those exams, but the scores are IN.

Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study earned an A+ on the James final exam. Nice work.

Hebrews, chapter 2 question

There is only one question to think over for tomorrow morning, and it relates to the very end of Hebrews, chapter 1, also:

1. How is it that Jesus makes death a footstool for himself?

That is plenty, all in one simple question.

We want to think and discuss that truth and see if it leads us by the perfect law of freedom to deeper faithfulness to the Lord.

Notes from Matthew 6, the Lord's Prayer

Whilst cleaning out some old boxes, I came across a few note cards with findings concerning the Lord's Prayer, way back when we studied Matthew's gospel together.

1. Sal: Forgive, and this also connects to perfect contrition.
2. German: Jesus' obedience in "thy kingdom come," plus German compared it to the Magnificat.
3. Bill: Forgiving sums up all the other parts of the Lord's Prayer.

Good work.

Questions concerning the perfect Law of freedom in the letter to the Hebrews

Our next section of the Bible is the letter to the Hebrews, starting on page 569. It is loaded with wisdom.

1. Read the opening two verses of chapter 1, "In times past, God spoke..." What parable in the Gospels compare to these two verses?
2. Now look at the first part of v. 3. Which Gospel begins with concepts like v. 3 of Hebrews?
3. In v. 4, there is mention of the name. Which letter of Paul has a beautiful passage about the name above all other names, to the glory of God the Father?

We are just getting started! It is going to be a big exciting job to look into this part of the perfect Law of freedom.

But to start the day, we will have a 15 minute final examination on James' letter to us. Bring a pen or pencil and be ready to think.

James 5 questions, true or false

Here are a medium difficulty questions to help you wade through the advanced concepts of James 5.

1. TRUE or FALSE: "James gives rich folks an easy ride, no problems."
2. TRUE or FALSE: "Sharp business practices are encouraged by James, especially saving money on wages."
3. TRUE or FALSE: "Jesus will overlook unfairness and will say, Tut, tut! to rapacious dealing when Judgement Day appears."
4. TRUE or FALSE: "Sins that cry out to God are no great matter, and the following passages of sacred scripture
   1. Genesis 4:10
      
   2. Genesis 18:20
      
   3. Genesis 19:13
      
   4. Exodus 3:7
      
   5. Exodus 20:22
      
   6. Deuteronomy 24:15
   7. Revelation 6:10
   can be safely ignored."
   
5. TRUE or FALSE: "Praying for a person in trouble is useless and James does not recommend this."

After we get the TRUE/FALSE answers sorted out on Thursday morning, we will discuss why the answers sort out the way they have.

Questions concerning James 4

We gaze into the perfect Law of freedom, and it is like looking in a mirror. Therefore, to become a doer of the Word, we must attend to our own actions. In this chapter of James' letter, there is one concept repeated: humble yourselves. Here are some questions to help sharpen our view in the mirror:

1. There are many action words in this chapter: make war, covet, possess and so on. Which of the actions James describes are typical of the enemy that prowls the world seeking the ruin of souls?
2. In contrast, which of the actions are the actions we see in the great saints like Blessed Charles Lwanga and his companions?
3. Jesus also lived out many of the actions James describes. Which actions?
4. Combo question: which of the actions of Jesus and the saints (questions 2 and 3) are absolutely impossible for the enemy to attempt?
5. How many different works of mercy are there, anyway?
6. Now that you have looked in the mirror... which of the actions of Jesus and the saints can you improve on in your own life?

See you early on Thursday morning!

Late questions for early morning

Image: Blue Spring, Florida

We will consider again this week the interesting analogy James constructs comparing body and spirit, faith and good works. And then onward into chapter 3 we will spend time thinking and discussing these questions:

1. In v. 11, James mentions water that is pure and water that is brackish. In the gospels, Jesus uses the image of water in his teachings, too. What does Jesus teach about using the image of water?
2. James does not recommend that one must keep his mouth shut. Instead, what does James recommend for handling the power of the tongue?
3. SNEAK PEEK: Does the first verse of chapter 4 have anything to do with the James' admonitions about the power of the tongue?

Get ready to get down to the nitty gritty with these questions in chapter 3 of James' letter today.

Image above right: Gestapo roundup, WW II [Courtesy of the Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team www.HolocaustResearchProject.org]

How does love comprehend faith and works?

We discussed the relationship between faith and works yesterday morning. Here is a short discussion that wraps it up well.

Some questions in chapter 2

Berlin airlift, 1948

We are gazing into the perfect law of freedom, God's Word. Here are some questions to get you thinking more about this part of James' letter.

1. Can one truly be a doer of the Word if one plays favorites?
2. James talks about words and actions. Other people can be deceived by words, but can God be deceived?
3. James writes in v. 26 about body, spirit, faith and works, viz.

   For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

   Do you notice anything unusual in this double comparison?

We will dig into God's Word early this Thursday morning, starting with these questions, but let's also be open to God's direction elsewhere if necessary.

Berlin wall is down, 1989

Findings

One of our questions last time was, "Which sentence in this chapter would be a good place to start a prayer, a needed prayer, in our parish?" Each of the men had an answer. Here is a rundown:

1. Carry on the Word -- hard to do with so many temptations to do the opposite.
   
2. Be doers of the word and live it out. Be honest. Because the mind can stray even in the middle of prayer.
   
3. Being religious is a 24-hour job, especially taking care of widows and the poor.
   
4. Free will must be harnessed, because it's pride vs. humility.
   
5. Persevere.
   
6. This letter is catholic, basis for moral law everyone ought to follow.
   
7. It's an exhortation, direct orders, to the leaders in the church of James' day.
   
8. The Word is implanted. Live these words!
   
9. You hear the Word by choice, so be what you say you are.

It would be an interesting exercise to map these nine prayer concepts into the eucharistic prayer and the other parts of Mass.

Questions for Thursday

The letter of James is loaded with practical information if you want to build on the solid rock. Here are a few specs concerning James:

1. The author is James, not the brother of blessed John, but the James who was a shirt tail relation to Jesus and became the first bishop of Jerusalem, whom Dr. Luke describes in Acts 15.
2. The letter is informally classified as a catholic epistle -- i.e., addressed to all churches. Yet it does contain an exhortation a bit like the exhortation to the Smyrna church in Revelation. It is a big maybe, though, because there were probably loads of churches who needed this letter's exhortation.

Here are a few questions to work with when reading ahead into the first chapter of James' letter:

1. Joy. Wisdom. Trials. Faith. Crown of Life. So many concepts, and it is just the first chapter! Which sentence in this chapter would be a good place to start a prayer, a needed prayer, in our parish?
2. Have you ever experienced joy DURING a trial or trouble? (Note: we have asked this question before. )
3. What geographic locations would be considered to be part of the dirspersion? Which locations would not be considered to be part of the dispersion?
4. Is there another place in the New Testament that combines the concepts of our birth, first fruits and creation, as James does in v. 18?

Let's work with these questions on Thursday morning, as we gaze into this part of the perfect law of freedom, God's Word

Jude and James

We read the letter of Jude this past Thursday, with its exhortation concerning faith. Jude asked the church to ignore the scandalous actions of a small group of interfering men, and build on solid rock with actions that show faith, such as the works of mercy.

This is entirely consistent with the Messiah's own message concerning the fig tree, which we studied in Mark's gospel recently. German, Ken, Len, Scott and Joe have a good explanations. Here are Ken, Scott and Len:



On Thursday, May 13, we will start studying the letter of James.

Questions for this morning

We will finish up 1 John 5 this morning, then dive into 2 John, which has only one chapter. Here are some questions to consider:

1. Again, John enjoins his "little ones" to be wary of deceivers, the antichrists. What are the little ones supposed to hold onto?
2. Another reprise: John challenges the little ones to love, with obedience to the commandment, which is not new. Why does he keep writing about this?

Let's start with these questions today, and gaze once again into the Word, God's perfect law of freedom.

Unfinished business

We concluded last Thursday with a homework assignment: Where during Mass do we mention the saints of God, and why?

This is related to our unfinished question:

1. John mentions confidence again, in v. 11. How is this confidence different or related to the confidence John mentions in 1 John 2: 28 and 1 John 4:17?

Confessor

From the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, a short blurb about the word "confessor" --

The word confessor is derived from the Latin confiteri, to confess, to profess, but it is not found in writers of the classical period, having been first used by the Christians. With them it was a title of honour to designate those brave champions of the Faith who had confessed Christ publicly in time of persecution and had been punished with imprisonment, torture, exile, or labour in the mines, remaining faithful in their confession until the end of their lives. The title thus distinguished them from the martyrs, who were so called because they underwent death for the Faith...

In the beginning it was given to those who confessed Christ when examined in the presence of enemies of the Faith.

Questions

When we study 1 John 5 on Thursday morning, we can start with some of these questions:

1. John mentions confidence again, in v. 11. How is this confidence different or related to the confidence John mentions in 1 John 2: 28 and 1 John 4:17?
2. Do you see anything notable in John's use of water, blood and the Spirit as witnesses? Are these three special in everyday life?
3. How does the Gospel describe water, blood and the Spirit in the crucifixion of the Messiah Jesus?

Let's take these three and look again into God's deep wisdom.

11th commandment and other notes

John frequently talks about keeping the commandments. One verse we focused on last week was 1 John 4:11:

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.

Len figured out that this is God's 11th commandment. Good.

In this regard, Deacon Al mentioned the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5-11, as a good summary of the 11th commandment in action.

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,

he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Ken mentioned that Jesus Christ come in the flesh is a stumbling block to some. If you believe that Jesus is God but not that Jesus is also man, then you will not have the confidence or ability to love another person as God loves us. To John in this letter, it is a tragedy to live that way.

A few questions

Here are some questions for today.

1. What does it mean to confess Jesus?
2. Does God act based on our love or lack thereof?
3. How does on recognize the Holy Spirit has been given to someone?
4. How is fear cast out?

Today's questions

Questions

1. What is the meaning of "hell" that one can discern in 1 John 3?
2. What are signs of the power of the Holy Spirit?

Progression, confidence

During our discussion last Thursday, we talked about one question at length: Why should we be confident before the judgement of God?

And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2:28

Here is the progression of answers we came up with, each answer getting closer and closer to the center of the question.

1. Confident if we keep the commandments.
2. Confident if we acknowledge the Lamb.
3. Confident because it is nor a surprise -- it is something foretold.
4. Confident because of faith.
5. Confident because of the Messiah's sacrifice on the Cross.
6. Confident because it is based on God's love for us.

At that point, we could go no deeper into the matter: God's love for us is a sure and solid bedrock.

Or, as St. Paul said in the city of Athens, "in Him we live and move and have our being."

1 John 2 questions

To read through 1 John chapter 2, here are a few questions to get you thinking:

1. If Jesus is our advocate, our defense attorney before God the Father, then how is it that He is also the expiation of our sins? How many lawyers volunteer for that duty?
2. When you confess sins to God, does the power of the forgiveness depend on your personal power or skill?
3. Re-read Romans 8:26-32. Does this inspire confidence in God's power to forgive?
4. There is an unusual pair of sets of three questions in vv. 12-14. What do you make of them?
5. In v. 18, John mentions several antichrists. What are these antichrists attempting to do to John's flock?

These questions are only the beginning of our quest for God's wisdom and grace this Thursday morning.

Beginning

This week we start a study of John's first letter, A good set of starting questions is:

1. Re-read John's gospel, chapter 1. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?
2. Re-read John's gospel, chapter 15. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?
3. Re-read Revelation, chapter 22. Does this chapter bear any resemblance to the concepts in Johns first letter, chapter 1?

Every Thursday morning, we meditate on God's Word, and we pray for the Lord's wisdom to penetrate our minds. These questions will be a good start.

The question

In preparing for Thursday morning's study of 1 Peter 3, I will only suggest one question which Peter himself asks:

1. What sort of persons ought you to be?

This is Peter's final examination question for us. Good.

Moses and Peter

St. Peter, from 2nd century catacombs, and a sketch of Moses by Raphael

Our readings this Sunday included Exodus, Moses and the burning bush, when he was on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God and God spoke to him. It made me think about Peter's experience on Mount Tabor when he heard God's voice from the shining cloud. Peter mentions it several times in his two letters.

It is interesting to think about Peter's responsibility, as chief apostle, leading the elect, the early Church, toward the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

1. As Peter walked 30 miles up to Caesarea to see Cornelius, did he think about Moses traveling back to Egypt to help the Israelites?
2. When he reminded his flock to remember and never forget the manifold grace of God, did he think of Moses doing the same thing, telling the Israelites to place his words on their hearts?
3. Did he smile when he thought about Moses in the bulrushes, floating in his tiny papyrus boat, plucked out to safety and eventually to a rescue mission, just as he himself had been plucked out of his fishing boat to become a fisher of men?

As Deacon Al frequently suggests, it helps to meditate upon the lives of the people we meet in the Bible. Moses and Peter and their similar responsibilities are a good meditation.

His ways were revealed to Moses, mighty deeds to the people of Israel.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.

But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age.

He favors the children's children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.

The LORD'S throne is established in heaven; God's royal power rules over all.

Bless the LORD, all creatures, everywhere in God's domain. Bless the LORD, my soul!

Re-reading

I was re-reading the 2 Peter chapter 2, and a word in Greek jumped out at me, concerning the false teacher's unscrupulous greed. Peter writes of the false teachers, "In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications."

Peter's word in Greek for "exploit" is εμπορευσονται -- in English letters, emporeusontai. That is the root word for our English word, emporium. So, in Greek, it is actually stronger and more vicious than just "exploit."

In Greek it means, make merchandise of: "In their greed they will make merchandise of you with fabrications."

Questions to consider

Tomorrow morning, we will dive into 2 Peter, chapter 2. Here are a few questions by which to direct your thoughts.

1. Peter writes that false teachers have greed and exploit believers. What is the object of greed for someone who exploits the faith by deception? What are they greedy for?
2. A false teacher sets up victims so that they eventually show contempt for lordship. Yet, does a false teacher still lord it over his victims in any way?
3. Who was Balaam?
4. Was Balaam's act similar to things we sometimes observe in this our day?

That is a good start, as we seek to make our faith deep and true early this Thursday morning.

Answers from final exam!

Some of the answers from the 1 Peter final exam:

3. What is an example of everyday spiritual sacrifice that a member of the royal priesthood can offer to God in this our day?
   Answers:
   1. Love one another.
   2. corporal works of mercy
   3. celebrate Mass
5. What is the most valuable lesson you learned from Peter in this letter?
   Answers:
   1. Evil happens that good may come out of it.
   2. Trust God.
   3. God the Father spoke to Peter directly.
   4. We are aliens in this world. We must work to keep away from earthly desires, wage war against the evil one, maintain good conduct, do good works and be Christ's feet, hands, eyes and ears.

Question 4 asked what Peter's examples were for being stewards of God's manifold grace. The options were

1. serving, with the strength that God Himself gives
2. figuring out calculus equations
3. going on a nice cruise to the Bahamas
4. retiring to Florida or Nordonia, Ohio

Curiously, no one selected options B, C or D. :)

Even though option B seems facetious, I include it as a serious point, that our covenant is available to little children, so it is not something that only an egghead scientist can savvy. It is simple enough for little ones to hold, yet lofty enough to rest the eloquent St. Thomas Aquinas. Good.

Promises

Some of the comments from today's session, concerning the promises that Messiah Jesus made to Peter.

1. Sal: You are ROCK, and on this rock, I build my Church.
2. Scott: He who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
3. German: I will send the Paraclete.
4. Joe: the Lord promised the Eucharist. See John's gospel, chapter 6.
5. Someone mentioned the words of our Lord in Mark 8:33, "Get behind me, you satan," spoken to Peter, but Jim pointed out, no, that is not a promise. It is more like a 2×4.
6. Sal: just think of the prayer after communion, or St. Thomas Aquinas' Anima Christi

   Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.
   
   Body of Christ, be my salvation.
   
   Blood of Christ, fill all my veins.
   
   Water of Christ's side, fill all my veins...

7. German: the Paraclete and the Eucharist promises are linked. Just look at John 6:63.

So when Peter the Apostle talks about the promises he passes on, they are some great promises! Thanks, Peter!

A few study questions for 2 Peter

We will also be studying 2 Peter, chapter 1 this Thursday. Here are a few study questions:

1. In verse 4, Peter refers to the powerful promises. What were some of the Messiah's promises to Peter?
2. In verses 5-7, Peter builds a large progression of the effects of grace. What is the first building block he mentions?
3. Peter expects his flock to be fruitful, as he mentions in v. 8. What is the primary fruit that an apostle wants to cultivate and grow?

This letter is LOADED with powerful concepts for us. To start, we will look into these three questions plus maybe a few more, early this Thursday morning.

Final exam

This Thursday we will have our final exam on 1 Peter. It will be one page of multiple choice and regular questions, so bring a pen or pencil. As always, it is "open book" and this includes the Nordonia translation if necessary.

Questions for Thursday

We still have a few questions to tackle from last Thursday. Here are some additional questions:

3. In verse 1 of chapter 5, Peter refers to himself as a witness of Christ's suffering. When did Peter observe the Messiah suffering?
4. In verse 1 of chapter 5, Peter refers to himself as a partaker in glory, one who has a share in glory. When did Peter observe glory?
5. We know that Peter knew Paul and John well. Can you detect any trace of Paul's or John's teaching in Peter's short letter? (This is an open-ended question.)

Tomorrow morning we will discuss these and other questions as we gaze into the perfect law of freedom, God's Word.

A river rises in Eden.

From Genesis, at the creation.

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed.

A river rises in Eden to water the garden.

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.

Cf. Genesis 2:7-15

It is interesting that, in this account, God creates man before the garden. This rhymes with our comments Thursday morning, that to be a faithful steward over God's manifold grace, we must include our own heart: faith, humility and so forth.

It also parallels some of our thoughts about the fig tree, the faith of Israel, and our own faith, when we were studying Mark's lecture notes from Peter's school of evangelism -- i.e., the gospel of Mark.

Good detective work, everybody.

Stewards of God's manifold grace

Here are some of the comments of the men this morning, concerning the requirement to be a good steward of God's manifold grace.

1. Sal: humility is needed. You acknowledge God and what He has given us.
2. Dave: Faith is a gift over which to be a good steward.
3. Jim: mentioned a sign he had seen in England, "Love your enemies. YOU made them!" It is a gift from God if you can do this.
4. Dave: Everything God has given you, even life, is something over which to be a faithful steward.

We also discussed the recent television advertisement with a college football player advocating to be a steward over life: "Choose family. Choose life."

We also discussed the deacons, priests and bishops, with their huge responsibility to be a faithful steward over God's word. Unfortunately, no deacons were present this morning!

Some questions to work with today

We will read into chapter 4 of Peter's first letter today. Here are some questions to work with:

1. In verse 1, Peter writes that we should arm ourselves with the same attitude, the same mind as the Messiah. Where is another place in the New Testament that enjoins us to do the same thing?
   
2. How does a believer act if he wants to be rated a good steward of God's manifold grace?
   
3. What kind of "trials by fire" did Peter and the Church experience? How do they compare to our trials today?
   
4. Where does Peter refer to the apocalypse? How does he ask us to prepare for it?
   
5. Have you ever
   1. suffered simply because you are a Christian
   AND
   2. simultaneously had a heart of praise glorifying God?
   
   
6. Peter's statement in verse 17, that judgement begins in the household of God -- how does this affect your evangelistic attitude?

Let's look into these and other questions today at Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study.

One question for this morning

There is one good question for studying 1 Peter 3:

1. Does Peter write about any of the works of mercy in this chapter?

The corporal works of mercy are as follows:

1. To feed the hungry;
   
2. To give drink to the thirsty;
   
3. To clothe the naked;
   
4. To harbour the harbourless;
   
5. To visit the sick;
   
6. To ransom the captive;
   
7. To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

1. To instruct the ignorant;
   
2. To counsel the doubtful;
   
3. To admonish sinners;
   
4. To bear wrongs patiently;
   
5. To forgive offences willingly;
   
6. To comfort the afflicted;
   
7. To pray for the living and the dead.

Some questions for this morning

As we continue to dig into 1 Peter, chapter 2, the epistle brings up several questions:

1. Verses 6-8 of chapter 2 mention the cornerstone. Who else talks about the cornerstone Jesus in the New Testament?
2. In v. 12, St. Peter writes about the reaction of unbelievers to our good deeds. When does he see this reaction happening?
3. Is it possible to be a slave, a servant, and yet be a free man?
4. The royal priesthood is right in the middle of this chapter, a powerful teaching. Does this notion appear in the Old Testament?

When we meet to seek the Lord's wisdom, we will consider these and other questions. Expect the unexpected.

One question for today

We begin the study of Peter's first letter this morning. Here is one question to get us going:

1. How many different concepts or ideas does Peter include in the first 12 verses of this letter? Count them up.

We will discuss this and a few other questions in our session today.

Questions for next time

We will finish the reading of Mark's gospel tomorrow, considering the 16th chapter. There is only one question to discuss:

1. This conclusion to Mark's "lecture notes" for the school of evangelism, how does it affect the mission of the apostles? Especially, what does it say about our mission?

Let's make that our starting point for Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study this week.

Comments concerning the mission of the Messiah

Some of the comments of the men last week:

1. Al: It is interesting that the Messiah is wrapped in a shroud at death, just as his parents wrapped their son in swaddling clothes at birth.
2. Bob: They mocked Jesus at the cross just like politicians do today -- when there is no evidence, you mock.
3. Dave: a person "sees the light," and this is why including all three types -- soldiers, bystanders and chief priests and scribes -- complete with mockery, is helpful for the mission of Peter.

In legal terms, the inclusion of mockery and all the other bad things spoken against the Messiah and done against Him, if it were a court of law, would be called "admission against interest." The witness makes a statement that might lead to his harm, but continues to testify: that is a statement against his own interests. These kinds of statements have a presumption of truth in a legal proceeding. In this case, the evangelist Mark includes statements against interest because he has a bigger mission than his own self-interest. Cf. federal rules of evidence, Rule 804 (b)(3).

Some vocabulary

In the Greek manuscript, there are several interesting words:

1. The inscription on the cross contains the word ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΕ -- in our alphabet, BASILIYE. It means "king," and is related to our word basilica and to the proper name Basil.
2. εγκατελιπεs, which is translated "forsaken," and which ancient Greek writers also used at times in the sense of being left behind in a race.
3. εξεπνευσεν which is translated "expire" for the moment of death. In our alphabet you could write it exepneusen, and you can see the prefix "ex-" meaning out, and the root word "pneuma" which we use to indicate air, as in our word pneumatic but which the Greek speaking world also used to denote the spirit. E.g., the Greek words for Holy Spirit include πνευμα.

Questions for next time

Before Christmas, we considered the trials of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and before Pontius Pilate. We looked into the actions of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross for a while. Now we will look into the death of the Messiah. Here are some questions to think over as you prepare and read this week:

1. DOUBLE QUESTION: When Jesus was crucified, two groups mocked him on the cross.
   1. How do the passers by mock Jesus?
   2. How do the chief priests and scribes mock him?
   I.e., do they mock his works of healing? Do they mock his sayings in the beatitudes or a parable?
2. Why did the bystanders say, "Wait!" as they stood by the crucifixion place?
3. Between verse 29 and verse 39, how do the statements of passers by and bystanders change?
4. Why were Mary et al. standing far off?
5. What is peculiar about the two sentences about Mary et al. in the verses 40-47?

Let's dig deep into this central event and ask our Lord to direct our mental acuity to see his wisdom in Mark's mission. Thursday morning will be dedicated to this quest.