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THEOLOGY for

CATECHESIS

The Word of God

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HEAR the WORD of GOD

Take a few minutes to reflect on the following question:

Q. How is the word of God at work in you and in your community?

From St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message, and not some human thinking, and it is still at work in you who believe The word of the Lord THANKS BE TO GOD

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EXPERIENCING THE WORD

As we begin in this module to explore the centrality of God’s word for our

lives it is important to keep in mind that ‘in the Scriptures we found not

only dead letters, but Christ, the eternal Word of the living God’ (CCC

108). In the Scriptures ‘it is Jesus, the incarnate Word, who comes to meet

us, for all Sacred Scripture speaks to us of Christ’ (CCC 134)

Q. When have you experienced God’s word as if Christ is speaking to you

in any of the following ways?

Challenging you

Guiding you Comforting you

Changing you Reminding you

Strengthening you

Refreshing you Calling you

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UNDERSTANDING the WORD of GOD

The Scriptures are the word of God in human language. The inspiration of

the Holy Spirit was at work at every stage of the development of the

written material. The same inspiration of the Spirit was at work in both the

Jewish and Christian communities from whom the Scriptures emerged. What

follows from this is the importance of discovering the intention of the

human author. We can do some of this by being aware of the kind of

writing the human writers employ in order to communicate God’s word.

These different kinds of writings are known a literary genres, here are some

examples:

poetry parables

letters

wise sayings historical narrative

law

psalms & prayers apocalyptic writing

Q. Circle the kinds of writing that you are familiar with today……

Why do you think the biblical writers used different kinds of writing to

communicate God’s word?

Q. Examine the following passages and name the literary genre:

1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10, Jeremiah 1:4 – 10, Mark 6:34, Acts 8: 29 – 39, Nehemiah 8:1 - 12

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READING the OLD TESTAMENT

This is an immense collection of 46 books gathered together over many

centuries. In these books we see how gradually the People of God become

more aware of who God is and what he is calling them to be. Within these

books some key patterns emerge in relation to how God relates to his

people, these are:

1) ORIGINS & BEGINNINGS: Genesis 1 - 11

The first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis focus on the origins of

humankind, created in the image and likeness of God. There is a constant

tension between the goodness of the creator God and humankind’s need for

salvation. The narrative of Genesis centres on key questions such as; where

did we come from, what is the purpose of our lives and choices that are

made for good or evil?

2) CHOSEN by GOD: Genesis 15 & 22

From chapter twelve of Genesis we see how Abraham becomes the recipient

of God’s promises and care. This leads to a communal understanding of

being chosen by God. The people of Israel are called and chosen by God,

the recipients of God’s free gifts.

3) EXODUS & COVENANT: Exodus 3: 1 – 15

The exodus of God’s chosen people from slavery in Egypt is central to the

Old Testament where God is revealed by both his words and his redeeming

deeds. God reveals himself to Moses as ‘I am who I am’. God enters into an

everlasting covenant relationship with His people summed up in the phrase

‘I will be your God, and you shall be my people.’

4) LAWS for LIFE: Exodus 20: 1 -17

An intrinsic part of this covenant relationship is guidance for living. This is

embodied in the law that the Lord God gives to His people to direct their

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lives. These laws are described as a path to life. In the New Testament

these are completed in the teaching of Jesus who calls people to live in love,

truth and justice.

5) KINGSHIP: 2 Samuel 7: 15 – 16 & I Kings 8: 1 - 61

When the People of Israel became settled the question of leadership arose.

This gives rise to the question of kingship. Gradually the kingship of David

and his dynasty is understood to be given by God and a guarantee of God’s

rule over them and protecting presence.

6) PROPHECY: Isaiah 6, Jeremiah: 1, Ezekiel 1 – 3, Isaiah 9, 11, 42, 49,

50, 52 & 53

The prophets arise in response to the infidelity of God’s people. The

prophets do not foretell the future but rather speak with vision and clarity

about the realties they see around them and their devastating consequences.

Disaster is threatened for those who oppress and for rulers who fail to put

their trust in God. The prophets also speak words of encouragement

bringing God’s message of hope and salvation. The prophets point towards

an anointed one, a Messiah who will save His people, but this Messiah will

be a suffering servant.

7) WISDOM: Proverbs 9: 1 - 6

These writings focus on the gift of wisdom who is sometimes personified as

a woman. These books are full of wise sayings and teachings for living, some

of these may date back to the time of Solomon the wisest king.

8) PSALMS Psalm 22(21), 23(22), 146 - 150

These hymns express the range of human emotion in prayer, ranging from

lament and sorrow to praise and thanksgiving. Deep emotions are admitted

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before. These psalms were sung in regular temple worship seven times a day

and would have formed the staple diet of prayer for the people of Israel.

9) VISIONS of the FUTURE: Daniel 2: 44 & 12: 1 - 3

A new kind of writing emerges towards the threshold of the New

Testament, written for a persecuted people to assure them of God’s constant

love and care. The message that evil cannot triumph is loud as is the

promise that there will be a reward of eternal life for those who are faithful.

The importance of understanding this gradual journey of revelation is

emphasised in the following passage:

Q. Take time to reflect on the ways your understanding of God has

developed over the years…………..Which parts of the Old Testament

would you like to explore further?

The books of the Old Testament show how God’s revelation gradually brings people to a deeper and richer understanding. The journey is slow and difficult because that is the nature of human learning and growth. Each of us is called to tread this ancient path, encouraged by the examples of so many individuals and communities. THE GIFT of SCRIPTURE paragraph 41

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THE JOURNEY

As we read and reflect on the Old Testament we need to be conscious of

the journey of faith not only of the people and communities of Israel, but

also that we ourselves are part of that journey. If we are not conscious of

this journey then many of the writings of the New Testament will not

connect for us. In fact, the journey of God’s people in the Old Testament

paves the way for the coming of Christ. Listen to the following passage:

Take time to reflect on parts of

the Old Testament that you find easy to

connect with the person of

Christ……………….

The journey leads us through the Old Testament, the Scriptures of the Jewish faith which became part of the Christian Bible, and brings us to the New Testament and to Christ. The Church has always strongly rejected the suggestion that the Old Testament should be discarded or neglected: Without the Old Testament, the New Testament would be an incomprehensible book, a plant deprived of its roots and destined to dry up and wither.

THE JEWISH PEOPLE 84

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THE PERSON of JESUS

Here are some of the ways Jesus is described in the New Testament, these

images and ways of recognizing Jesus are directly linked to the Old

Testament:

The first Christian communities recognized that in Jesus all the promises of

the Old Testament were fulfilled.

Q. In what way/s have you noticed this as you read and reflect on God’s

word?

Jesus is the Chosen One

of God

Jesus is the Alpha and

Omega

Jesus is the New Law giver

Jesus is King

Jesus is the Prophet of

God

Jesus is the Wisdom of God Jesus is the

Suffering Servant

Jesus is the Way, the Truth

and the Life

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JESUS: THE CLIMAX of REVELATION

In the New Testament the early Christian community shares how it has

realized that God speaks to us through His Son Jesus. In fact the New

Testament writings reveal that in Jesus God’s revelation is complete.

Q. What actions and/or words of Jesus inspire you?

When have you ever experienced the words of Jesus in the Gospel as

Good News for you?

In these writings we learn how God,

who spoke to our ancestors through the prophets,

finally speaks to us through the Son.

He comes to proclaim the kingdom of God,

to make God known by his actions and words,

and to bring the work of salvation to its climax.

This he accomplishes by his death and resurrection,

by his return to the Father

and by the sending of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel is preached and the Church is gathered from all the nations.

Dei Verbum 17

Catechism of the Catholic Church 124

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THE FORMATION of the GOSPELS – A Process

It is important to realize that the Gospels were written as part of a process

which began in the life and teaching of Jesus.

Q. How does this idea of process challenge your understanding of the

formation of the Gospels?

The Life and Teaching of Jesus

Jesus returns to the Father

The Apostles preach about Jesus in light of thier encounters with the Risen Lord and receiving the Holy Spirit

The Evangelists wrote their Gospels from oral & written tradition

The Gospels proclaim the Good News to make the truth about Jesus known to generations

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THE FOUR GOSPELS – The Heart of all the Scriptures

In Dei Verbum the Gospels are described as the ‘heart of all the Scriptures’

because they are our principal source for accessing the life and teaching of

the Jesus, the Incarnate Word (DV 18, CCC 125). This Gospel is sometimes

described as fourfold because we have four complimentary portraits of Jesus

from the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Q. Which of the above portraits of Jesus appeal to you most?

What Gospel is your favourite and why?

• Brings Good News to the poor

• Seeks and Saves the Lost

• Healing and Forgivng

• Reveals the Glory of God

• The Light of the world

• The Way, the Truth and the Life

• A suffering Messiah

• The Christ of God

• The Good News of the Kingdom

• Saviour of All Nations

• New Moses

• Gives a New Law

Matthew Mark

LukeJohn

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The APOSTOLIC PREACHING

In the Acts of the Apostles, which originates in the school of the Gospel

writer Luke, the Good News about Jesus is preached. Here are some of the

key features of the preaching and teaching found in Acts:

The preaching takes place in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and

to the ends of the earth Acts 1:8

This preaching focuses on the death and resurrection of Jesus and

calling people to put their faith and trust in him

There is a dramatic account of the feast of Pentecost where the group

are empowered by the Holy Spirit

The early Christian community is devoted to the Apostles teaching

about Jesus, to teaching and fellowship, to gathering for the breaking

of the bread and the prayers Acts 2:42

Saul who persecutes the early Christian hears the call of Christ on the

road to Damascus

He has a conversion experience, symbolized in a change of name to

Paul and becomes God’s chosen instrument to bring the name of

Christ to the nations of the known earth Acts 9:15

Peter’s way of thinking is also converted as he has a vision of the risen

Christ telling him that all people are to be welcomed into the Christian

way of life Acts 10: 34 – 35

By the end of the Acts of the Apostles, the message of the Gospel and

resurrection of Jesus has reached to the centre of the world – Rome.

As you reflect on your work of preaching and teaching the Gospel,

when have you experienced a conversion to the person of Christ?

How does your reflection on God’s word today make as difference

to your sense of mission to the world?

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PAUL – LIFE in CHRIST

The letters of St. Paul were written before the Gospels and are the earliest

writings of the New Testament. In these letters, addressed to various

Christian communities, Paul constantly points towards the importance of the

resurrection and its effects in the lives of Christians. Here are some of the

central features of life in Christ according to Paul:

Q. Pick one of these images and take time to reflect on how this impacts on

your life as a Christian today……..

We are God's beloved, called

to be Saints

We are baptised into a new life, life

in the Spirit

We are all one body in Christ

Christ open's up the way to God's

presence

All believer's share in the

priesthood of Christ through

baptism

Christ is the head of the Church

Christ offered his own life as a

sacrifice for sin

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PETER – LIVING STONES

It is interesting to see that in the First letter of Peter the image of living

stones is used to describe the relationship between Christ and those who are

baptized. As living stones we are built on the foundation stone that is

Christ…….this metaphor is further extended by the following images:

Listen to these words from 1 Peter:

He is the living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to

him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that

offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God,

may be living stones making a spiritual house.

Q. Take time to reflect on one of the above images…how does it speak to

you today?

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SCRIPTURE & LITURGY

From the earliest days the proclamation of the Scriptures has been an integral part of the

liturgy. Christ is present both in the word which is proclaimed and in the sacrament we

share. The lectionary instigated by the Second Vatican Council offers a richer provision of

biblical texts. The word ‘lectionary’ comes from the Latin verb lectio, which means ‘I

read’. The lectionary is the book we use to follow the cycle of readings in our liturgies

and follows a three year cycle. In Year A we follow the Gospel of Matthew, in Year B

Mark and in Year C Luke. Portions of John’s Gospel are interwoven into each of the

three years.

The lectionary also provides texts from all parts of the Old and New Testaments.

Readings from the Old Testament have become a regular feature of the Liturgy of the

Word at Mass after many centuries of comparative neglect. Such an abundant provision

of biblical readings offers food for prayer and reflection and guidance for our Christian

lives. We should be deeply aware of the importance of the Liturgy of the Word, taking

part attentively from the beginning of the celebration and well disposed to hear the

word. It is in the liturgy that we encounter ‘the continuing, complete and effective

presentation of the word of God’ (Introduction to the Lectionary 4).

Honouring the word

We honour the word of God in a variety of ways when we gather:

Reverence is shown to the book of the Gospels

It may be carried in procession and incensed,

Candles may be carried to symbolise that Christ, who is heard as His Gospel is

proclaimed, is indeed the light of the world

The ancient custom of hearing the Gospel standing signifies the prayer of praise of the

People of God who recognize the presence of Christ in His word proclaimed

Q. What helps you to listen attentively when God’s word is proclaimed?

Q. In what way/s do you honour and reverence God’s word in your life?

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PRAYING GOD’S WORD

God speaks to our hearts as a person speaks to a friend

The ancient practice of lectio divina, is a 4 stage method of prayer now used in groups or

alone. ‘All Christ’s faithful people’ (Dei Verbum 25) are encouraged to pray with the

word of God as a source of spiritual nourishment. Wherever people engage prayerfully

with the Scriptures, their faith is deepened. Where families nurture a love of the Bible,

children and young people discover the liberating challenge of God’s Word and come to

know Christ as the way, the truth and the life (Novo Millennio Ineunte 39). Young

people discover in the Scriptures the call of Christ, once directed to the disciples, the

challenge of vocation. Each of us can learn to listen to God’s word, and discover that

God speaks to our hearts as a ‘living the word of God person’ speaks to a friend. In times

of suffering and sadness, when we feel lost and bewildered, the word of God offers

consolation and encouragement.

A FOUR STAGE METHOD

Here is a basic method for praying God’s word which can be adapted for groups or used

by individuals:

1. READING

2. REFLECTING

3. RESPONDING

4. RESTING

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PRAYING with a PASSAGE

1. READING:

The passage is read out loud, everyone listens.

After some silence the reader asks the group to share their thoughts on the following

questions:

What do you hear Jesus saying?

What do you notice Jesus doing?

What do other people in the Gospel story say and do?

2. REFLECTING:

The passage is read once more out loud. This time after another period of silence the

leader helps the group to connect to how God’s word relates to their life experience

using some of the following questions:

What is Jesus asking you to do today in the Gospel?

Can you name any actions that you feel Jesus is asking you to do?

Who are you most like in today’s Gospel story?

3. RESPONDING:

The leader now encourages the group to pray out loud, staying with the images they

have noticed. These can be:

Thank you prayers

Help me/us prayers

Sorry prayers

Asking prayers

4. RESTING:

This should move the group into a more contemplative way of praying, so invite

them to close their eyes. Then repeat some of the phrases from the Gospel which

they noticed today.

Gather all the prayer together by saying the Glory Be to the Father together.

1. Take time to reflect on where you could use this method of prayer in your own

setting.

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GOD’s WORD in our LIVES

The word of God is in no way less than the Body of Christ;

nor should it be received less worthily.

I ask you, brothers or sisters, tell me:

which to you seems the greater, the word of God, or the Body of Christ?

If you wish to say what is true you will have to answer

that the word of God is not less than the Body of Christ.

Therefore just as when the Body of Christ is administered to us,

what care do we not use

so that nothing of it falls from our hands to the ground,

so should we with equal care see that the word of God

which is being imparted to us shall not be lost to our soul,

while we speak or think of something else.

For he who listens carelessly to the word of God

is not less guilty than he who through his own inattention

suffers the Body of Christ to fall to the ground.

St Caesarius of Arles (469-541)

Sermon 300

1) How will you enable others in your teaching and catechesis to treasure

the word of God as a source of life and nourishment?

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RESOURCES

Books:

‘THE GIFT of SCRIPTURE’ A teaching document of the Bishop’s

Conference of England, Wales and Scotland

‘Scripture: Nourished by God’s Word’ – Catholic Basics: A Pastoral

Ministry Series by Margaret Nutting Ralph, published by Loyola

Press

www.wednesdayword.org – ways of praying with the Sunday

Gospels for Home, School and Parish

www.goodnews.ie/lectio.shtml - A website on Lectio Divina

www.catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/ - The Cycle of Lectionary

readings online

www.sacredspace.ie/livingspace- Reflections for the Sunday and

Weekday Cycle

www.ntgateway.com - Online articles from Biblical Scholars

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Notes