Read the Catechism: Day 16

Bruce Way: October 26 at 4:11 am.

110 seems like a big deal to me, and something I think a few of our fellow Christians maybe lose sight of when they try to interpret Scripture with no regard for the historical context in which it was written. As in everything else, it seems, the scripture is a partnership between man and God with guidance by the Holy Spirit. It's a question of inspiration by the Holy Spirit vs authorship by the Holy Spirit--big difference!

Joseph, TC Tan: October 26 at 5:33 am.

Bruce, agree that 110 is very important. Context - not just historical/cultural but also the passage needs to be read in the context of the chapter etc. The language too. The English language sometimes cannot convey the exact intention. For example, when Jesus asked Peter whether he loved Him three times, the English translation used "love" for all three questions. But in the earlier Greek version, Jesus asked Peter whether he agape Him twice. Peter answered he phileo Him. Finally, Jesus asked Peter whether he phileo Him which Peter affirmed.

112 is also key. Reading the entire Bible is thus important in having a proper understanding.

Most importantly, the HS is God's present to us in our everyday life including reading the Bible. Hallelujah!

Patricia Howai: October 26 at 6:09 am.

All of Sacred Scripture is about the 'heart of Christ'.

michael somoo: October 26 at 6:49 am.

There exists a unifying thread that runs across the Old and the new testament that God's intention to offer salvation to all culminates in the paschal mystery. May the Spirit guide us in understanding this mystery in our own lives as the prophets and apostles did.

John W: October 26 at 6:49 am.

May everyone have an Inspired day,pass on the joy you feel. Smile

Brad Henry: October 26 at 7:13 am.

Would it be fair to say that the different authors of Scripture are like different actors in a play? And, in order to understand each actor (each book), you have to understand the play (the "content and unity of the Scripture"). The play can't be reduced to the actors, but the play likewise can't exist except by and through the actors. In this way, each actor/author can be analyzed according to his context, and yet not reduced to it.

Kathleen Techler: October 26 at 7:19 am.

I'm puzzled by the use of quotation marks, with no explanation of what is being quoted. e.g. In 110, "For the fact is that truth is...."

Unreg Subscriber: October 26 at 7:46 am.

Scripture indeed is cohesive. We are doing the Great American Bible Adventure "Catholic Bible Study" by Jeff Cavins. There are so many ties and great links between all of scripture it is amazing. I love how the Holy Spirit works. Peace

Sr. Teresa Margaret of the Sacred heart of Je...: October 26 at 7:57 am.

Many thanks.

Sr. teresa margaret ocd

Carol Smith: October 26 at 8:12 am.

Thanks to all!

Barb Bernard: October 26 at 8:30 am.

Kathleen - If you go to the bottom of the daily email you will see "Catechism APl." Click on that and it will take you to a page with all the references, footnotes, and source documents. The one you asked about, 110, is from Dei Verbum, the Vatican II document on divine revelation.

Stephanie Wilson: October 26 at 8:34 am.

Can anyone elaborate on the "analogy of faith"?

Ruth Johnson: October 26 at 8:44 am.

Very helpful thoughts about the unity of the whole written Bible, in the context of the living Church which is guided by the Holy Spirit, also in context of the full Revelation of our Living God. Seeing it this way also affirms to me the union of the Trinity: the Son (Word), the Father (Author of the Plan), and the Holy Spirit (Interpreter dwelling in God's People).

Also, thinking about private vs. traditional Church interpretation in light of many of the comments I've read, putting everything in the context of the full Bible and the Traditional of the Church keeps us safe from potential misunderstandings. Having been in a place where I put a lot of emphasis on private understanding and privately seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am grateful for this journey to the Church grounding me in the Truth that's been taught since Jesus lived on the earth and correcting some very untraditional and false teachings that had been presented to me.

I'm so glad to be here!!! Thanks for reading.

Bruce Way: October 26 at 8:52 am.

Yes, 112 really is critical as well, because that's what tells us we can't just "cherry pick" the parts of the Scripture we agree with while ignoring the rest, another trap some Christians seem to fall into--it's all or nothing!

John Henry: October 26 at 8:53 am.

to Brad Henry: hey bro.

I like the idea of distinction within a unifying theme. But a twist to the analogy - plays are centered around conflict, and characters in a play can be opposed to the central themes. It's almost like a collaborative orchestra, with everyone aligned to the theme of the song. You can hear the winds pick up the same theme as the strings, but it will sound distinctive.

Steven Duran: October 26 at 8:55 am.

Boom. Catechism dropping Truth Bombs like Whoa!

Mark Squires: October 26 at 8:56 am.

The Holy Spirit inspired and wrote the scriptures. How many of us have read a passage and then re-read it again at a later date to find out it meant something more ? I have, the more we know the more we can learn. God enlightens us on our spiritual journey. "Dei Verbum" is a masterpiece. The bible is like a tree with many branches
and then smaller branches with all the leaves attached.
My bible is marked up with so many notes inscribed as to the feelings and meanings of scripture passages. I re-read it a couple of years later and wow, I find something new.

Brad Henry: October 26 at 8:59 am.

Yo bro:

But the theme of the play only emerges through the conflict. The reason I like this is that I don’t believe every author of scripture, if in the same room, would agree with each other (even over matters of which they both wrote: like Jeremiah and Isaiah for example). The ‘theme’ doesn’t emerge from the character but from their interaction, and it is the author of the play that is, in fact, putting them in tension with each other and sees that tension as necessary to the play (or, as the play…). It means each book must be studied on its own terms but also, in a sense, qualified within the scope of the cannon.
Job, for example, is like a character who is really mad at the author of proverbs…

Andrew Perez: October 26 at 9:03 am.

Someone once said "text without context is pretext."

Holy Spirit give us the courage to do Your will.

Bruce Way: October 26 at 9:07 am.

Mark--maybe, just the other day the catechism was talking about how the gradual revelation of the Word through the prophets gave mankind and God time to get to know each other, for lack of better words. Maybe it's the same way with Scripture and Tradition--there's something useful and true for anybody to perceive, but God never leaves us feeling like we've "mastered" the full depth of meaning, but rather, adds richness to that meaning as we grow able to understand it. The underlying, fundamental meaning never really changes--it just accumulates new subtleties, dimensions, and complexity, like a wine that reaches it's full flavor gradually over time.

Kathleen Techler: October 26 at 9:11 am.

Barb, thank you!

John Henry: October 26 at 9:15 am.

Steve Duran - Catechism must be a B-52 the way its dropping these bombs

Sandra Jarvis: October 26 at 9:16 am.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us ears to really hear and understand as well as an open mind and heart.

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 9:30 am.

Just a reflection here. :) Again the distinction between personal and private must be made, as on the reflections posted on Day 15's reading. Personal, yes, but not private. I think this idea of (and glorification of) the private is a relatively recent invention. When we pray the Divine Office or the rosary and we are "alone" (are we ever truly alone?), are we praying privately or personally? We are engaging in personal prayer but not private. It is the prayer of the whole Church and we are praying in and within and along with the Church when we pray those prayers. Personal but not private.

I think it helps to remember what Paul said about the gifts of the Holy Spirit being given for the building up of the whole Church rather than just for oneself. It doesn't mean that those gifts will not act on or in an individual too, but that the gifts are meant for the whole Church through the individuals who receive them. So the Scriptures are given to the whole Church but the authentic interpretation of them is as the Catechism said in Day 14's reading:

100 The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.

We each of us find meaning when we read the Scriptures and God speaks to our hearts. Yes, all the time. Daily. Over and over. Thanks be to God! But we still leave it to the Magisterium to interpret the Scriptures authentically.

As with most things Catholic, there is a great deal of "both/and" in this and not just "either/or". And pondering over time helps understanding immensely. I'm trying to find a way to put into words the understanding that I currently have. :)

Caroline Tobin: October 26 at 9:35 am.

These past couple of days of reading have got me really inspired to get more serious about reading the Bible daily. Anyone know of any good online/email/smartphone resources that let you read the Bible in a way similar to the way this list lets us read the Catechism?

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 9:45 am.

Does anybody else feel somehow that when one reads the Catechism (even if one has read it before) that the world opens up a little? That things around one take on a brightness they hadn't had moments before? That the Church seems wider and deeper? That the truths of the faith, no matter how well one thought he understood them and may in fact have understood them, are at once larger and more stunning than one had realized or remembered?

Every day when I go over the readings I am reminded of receiving that first box of copies of the newly released English translation. We bought box upon box of them and couldn't keep them in stock. People were coming in and buying them for themselves and all their friends and family and I gave away many copies. (We sold so many cases that we were receiving free ones from the publisher.)

Opening up my own copy for the first time and reading from it I felt I-don't-know-what and I feel the same way now. Thrilled somehow. God has so much He wants to give us. And I feel that I can take in so little of it. Truly discovering and learning about the faith, and learning how to live it, is the work of a lifetime. Thank you, Lord, for the marvelous gift of Your Church and Your shepherds to guide us and this Catechism to teach us. Amen!

Craig Cowley: October 26 at 9:53 am.

Lee,
Reading the Catechism each day has brought a little more light to my day in regards to my understanding of the Church. I used to be a Presbyterian minister, and the Catechism makes so much sense to me; it brings so much peace.
113: Reading the Scripture within the living Tradition of the whole Church... Wow... Not reading it from my own personal context, but within the Tradition of the whole Church; reading it with the saints, the Doctors, the Fathers and my brothers and sister today guards me from the subjective errors that I am so prone to make... God Bless Everyone!!

Henry Smith: October 26 at 10:07 am.

Thank you Lee,
reflection: I like to listen to Joyce Meyer ministries. It is interesting how everyday her message coincides with this journey. More interesting I actually hear Gods voice come out of her. I then get my rosary and pray it. It is truly amazing the glory that follows. Most importantly she stated this day. Give praise and glory to GOD then ask your request. OMG. There is more to this reflection but this is just how my day goes. I hunger for GOD and his word more than anyone can imagine now. May it be so for everyone else. Don't forget to ask, for in asking you shall receive. Also talk to GOD just as if he is sitting right beside you. Really HE is.
Blessings to all this day.

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 10:25 am.

Henry, I enjoy Joyce Meyer too. Just have to watch out for things she says about the church from her non-Catholic perspective. I have to hear her with my Catholic ears.

Wow, Craig! Welcome home!!!

Everybody: your reflections on the readings, especially today, are imspiring and give much food for thought. Thank you!

Steven Duran: October 26 at 10:26 am.

John Henry: Amen to that Brother. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Bruce Way: October 26 at 10:40 am.

Lee--I guess what I was trying to say is that the personal meaning of the Scripture in our lives grows in depth and complexity as we grow spiritually, even though the basic interpretation has been determined by the church--I differentiate between the interpretion (what the Scripture is actually trying to SAY) and the meaning in our own spiritual lives, which may be slightly different for each person, and grows in fullness over time.

Stella Mavudzi: October 26 at 10:41 am.

I love to listen to Joyce Meyer too. Just like our life journey we agree and disagree on somethings.

Patricia Brodie: October 26 at 11:07 am.

Stella, Each day's reading with footnotes and cross references can be found if you click on the "Catechism API" button at the bottom of your email. The footnote for that quote is 76. DV 12 § 2. Can someone tell me how to decode the footnote abbreviations?

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 11:11 am.

Exactly, Bruce. :)

And as for Joyce Meyer, who I really do like, it's not just that I disagree with her sometimes but that the Church's own teachings sometimes disagree with her teachings. So I bow to the wisdom of Holy Mother Church. I want to do what St Teresa did and say, I want to be a daughter of the Church! :)

Roberto Tordesillas: October 26 at 11:17 am.

Hi, Craig. I actually find it better in my case to read Scriptures with the Saints and Doctors of the Church like St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Louis Marie de Montefort, St. Escriva, St. Theresa de Avila and so on. This way I am sure I am reading it within the living tradition of the Church.

Helen Cloutier: October 26 at 11:25 am.

Bless all of you. Everyone in their own way, is enlightening all on the matter of this Catechism. God has given us this chance to share and I am grateful to all of you for seeing that God does exist and is with us in all that we say/do/hear. God gave us our free choice, let's choose God.

Merrilee Morse: October 26 at 11:29 am.

I am typing this from my sons I pad. My computer has a virus so it may be a couple of days til I can respond but just to let you all know I am reading and learning.

Xavier Thomas: October 26 at 11:38 am.

I simply let go and let God do the pedaling as I journey through His Word and the CCC. He takes me down many interesting paths and I get to enjoy the view. What a wonderful Triune God to care so much.

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 26 at 12:36 pm.

@Patricia Brodie: "decode the footnote abbreviations"

The first time a document is quoted, the full name is given; afterwards an abbrevation is used. The USCCB has a list of abbreviations used in the Catechism here. DV = Dei Verbum ("The Word of God"), from Vatican II.

Cecilia Moran: October 26 at 12:55 pm.

I feel 'refreshed' every time I read the daily readings and comments. Learning together about what our Father expects from us gets easier to understand. It is reassuring to know that we are not alone and what it means to be a Catholic! Thank you Father for sending your Son and guide us with Your Light, the Holy Spirit. Thank you Mother Mary for your Yes! Blessing to you all!

Regina Barzyk: October 26 at 12:58 pm.

I agree with many of you. The Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the authorship of the Holy Spirit, in fact the Holy Spirit at work is very often taken for granted.

Yet the Third Person of the Trinity is very well alive. We need to work out a relationship with the Holy Spirit with constant loving prayer, then the Holy Spirit is part of us, just as Jesus is and God is.
reading Sacred Scripture, Reading spiritual readings, and even prayers take on different meaning in different times in our lives. We grow and these grow with us. The very same expends with us.
Once St Therese of Avila said that she could meditate on the Our Father prayer by just meditating on the first two words:"Our Father" for a whole day....
Lovingly to all

David Kraus: October 26 at 1:12 pm.

@ Lee Lancaster: You perfectly expressed the joyous lesson life has been teaching me about my relationship to God, His Church, and my answer to the daily call to be Holy as He is Holy:
"Truly discovering and learning about the faith, and learning how to LIVE it, is the work of a LIFETIME. Thank you, Lord, for the marvelous gift of Your Church and Your shepherds to guide us and this Catechism to teach us. Amen!" (emphasis is mine)

Thanks for your reflections. May God make us all more like His Son today, tomorrow, and forever through faith in and love for Him.

Vicky Leach: October 26 at 1:49 pm.

Caroline,

I'm using a bible app from YouVersion which has different bibles and reading plans for different devices. You can find it here: http://m.youversion.com/mobile
God bless:-)
Vicky

Eleanor McKinney: October 26 at 1:55 pm.

Today I was struck by the words, "God's plan, of which Christ Jesus is the center and heart, open since the Passover." As I re-read it, I see that it is God's plan which is is open since the Passover. However, on my first reading, I saw it as "(Christ Jesus' heart which is) open since the Passover." What a beautiful and inspiring image to carry with me. Thank You, Jesus.

Cathy Ludwick: October 26 at 2:47 pm.

Lee: "As with most things Catholic, there is a great deal of "both/and" in this and not just "either/or". And pondering over time helps understanding immensely. I'm trying to find a way to put into words the understanding that I currently have. :)" Thank you so much as your insight is opening my mind to so much. Come Holy Spirit.

Your observation really speaks to me. The Church in it's beauty does teach TRUTH but it also recognizes that not all learn, think, read, hear, etc. alike. That gives me pause and great comfort since some days I'm not the "sharpest knife in the drawer", haha

110 and the comments regarding context, references, and history in reading the bible and even this catechism resonate so with me. I wish I knew more and had the intellectual ability to delve more deeply into this. I know Scott Hahn to be an expert in this area? Know how to find any of his recordings?

felixmary christopher: October 26 at 2:54 pm.

Come o! HOLY SPIRIT and fill the heart of the faithful..... I received more light on how it is the HOLY SPIRIT who interpret the Word of GOD in my heart, Allelua!!! . shalom!! to everyone.

Paulo Sgarbi: October 26 at 3:05 pm.

I was intrigued by Lee Lancater’s take on “private”and “personal” and how these terms apply to the current portions of the Catechism, specially paragraph 109:
“In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way. To interpret Scripture correctly, the reader must be attentive to what the human authors truly wanted to affirm, and to what God wanted to reveal to us by their words.”
I suggest that “private” takes the form of interpretations that are hidden from the masses and known only to the initiated few, like the “esoteric” knowledge of Gnosticism, which is a heresy, and contrary to the Magisterium of the Church. Any interpretation of Scripture worthy of being called Catholic should always meet the criteria put forth in paragraphs 112-114, but specially 113: “read the Scripture within ‘the living Tradition of the whole Church’". For example, it is commonplace these days to justify tolerance to sinful behaviour by interpreting Jesus love for us as “I love you, so carry on doing what you feel is good for you” as opposed to “I love you, so quit doing things that are obviously harmful to you and offensive to God.” Love the sinner, not the sin.

Suzi Leggett: October 26 at 3:22 pm.

112 ... The phrase "heart of Christ" can refer to Sacred Scripture, which makes known his heart ...

I love reading the Bible and I love the Heart of Jesus; now I have a new way of seeing both!

O Holy Spirit, please open our minds to understand the Scriptures! Amen.

Henry Smith: October 26 at 3:43 pm.

Again Thanks Lee Lancaster.
"The Church" is much older and wiser than Joyce and she has admitted such. Still fun to have coffee with right after my early morning chat with GOD.
Thanks to everyone for the comments.
Blessings.

Linda Schoenmann: October 26 at 6:00 pm.

Caroline, I'm currently reading one of my mom's Bibles I inherited after she passed away. If I read 4 pages a day (which takes me about 15 minutes), I'll finish it in about a year. I like to read it out loud for maximum effect...except for Numbers and verses with lots of hard names to pronounce! Since many people have Bibles but haven't read them, I'm reading this Bible all the way through to make sure at least someone in my mom's family read it all. I'm doing this in loving memory of my mom...and dad, too.

Ellen Myers: October 26 at 6:22 pm.

Hi Brothers and sisters, I too have a difficult time in understanding the scriptures . It's wonderful the knowledge I am learning. I'm slow and all the comments help me. The Lord puts us in places that He wants us to be in. So here I am.Thank you dear Lord for this grace.

Joseph, TC Tan: October 26 at 7:17 pm.

Dear Brothers & Sisters, as we read the CCC over the next one year together in this Year of Faith, 50 years after Vatican 2, we need to open out to our fellow christians of other denominations and also to faithfuls of other religions - one of the mainstays of Vatican 2 together with involvement of laity with the clergy in the Church. There are 60,000+ other christian denominations. But there is only one God and one faith according to the Bible and God exprcts us to gather all into one faith. Amen.

Noel Dsouza: October 26 at 8:10 pm.

What a way to celebrate the year of FAITH, reading the CCC in one year. Rise ye all above earthly things and RECEIVE his WORD.

Bernice Dumitru: October 26 at 8:23 pm.

Wow! The Scriputre is the Heart of Christ. It was closed until His Heart was opened on the cross. Now we have the Spirit and can read His Heart. We read it within the Heart of the Church, the Living Body, Heart, Mind of Christ!
Scipture is the Word of God! The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. It is not a book - it is a Person!

Roberto Artadi: October 26 at 8:30 pm.

I fwould like to get some clarification about the following advice from today's Catechism "Be especially attentive 'to the content and unity of the whole Scripture'". I know the Scripture covrrs the entire word of God from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Dogmas, the interpretations made by the Popes, Doctors of the Church, the Saints and all those graced by the Holy Spirit to explain the Scripture. I feel incapable of attaining this capacity to know the content and unity of the whole scripture. How can I read and correctly understand the Scripture.

Elena Murillo: October 26 at 9:13 pm.

I, being a convert from evangelism, agree with Joseph... sharing is caring as I tell my kids... But I also think it's important to share this wonderful experience with fellow Catholics, those near and far from the Church... This experience reading the CCC with ALL of you is priceless to me....

Hector Alejandro Santana: October 26 at 10:33 pm.

Sacred Writing (the Holy Bible) gives us a glimpse into the Personhood of the Holy Spirit. ... Awesome!

Thanks be to God.

Joseph, TC Tan: October 26 at 10:57 pm.

For smart phone, a Catholic site which you can download the App is Laudate. You can search for it at WhatsApp. It has Daily Readings - Saints of the Day, Readings, Reflections & readings in podcast from USCCB; Rosary & Chaplet; Missal Changes; Confession; Stations of the Cross; Catechism; New American Bible; Douay-Rheims Bible & Vatican Documents. Pretty comprehensive and it's a Catholic site. God Bless.

Joseph, TC Tan: October 26 at 10:59 pm.

My Laudate App suggestion is for Caroline and anyone using smartphones, tablets regularly.

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 11:27 pm.

@Joseph: I got the Laudate app recently and it looks like it's going to be very useful. :)

@David Kraus: The Lord desires "...that our joy may be complete." And joy is what Holy Mother Church has brought me. I'm so glad to hear that you are being filled with joy too. :)

@Cathy Ludwick: I am both glad my words have meaning for you and happy to be able to direct you to some Scott Hahn materials. Please see the Resouce pages at my blog, especially under Catholic audio.
http://catholicview.wordpress.com/resources-for-catholics-and-other-inqu...
http://catholicview.wordpress.com/resources-for-catholics-and-other-inqu...

@Paulo Sgarbi: Yes! Those are good points! Thank you. I hadn't made that exact connection. Very interesting!

@Henry Smith: Yep, I do love to listen to JM. She makes me laugh and she often says things that hit me where it hurts. In my pride. ;)

Lee Lancaster: October 26 at 11:36 pm.

@Roberto Artadi: May I recommend some Bible study materials? Anything by Scott Hahn, Tim Gray, Steve Ray, Jeff Cavins or Ted Sri. If you listen to these teachers for a while, you'll absorb a lot of good solid Catholic Bible knowledge and it won't just be head knowledge but will be heart knowledge too. These men are on fire with love for Christ and His Church and the Blessed Mother. You can find links on my blog at:
http://catholicview.wordpress.com/resources-for-catholics-and-other-inqu...

Roberto Artadi: October 27 at 1:02 am.

Thank you Lee. I clicked on your blog at catholicview.wordpress.com and uncovered a trove of bible study resources. It shows me, however, how much time and effort I must exert to attain a minimal portion of the understanding of the content and unity of the whole scripture. Even if I were to devote my full time to it, I would not be able to achieve the requirement of the Catechism requirment.The Catechism must have a way of helping the faithful to attain it with the effort one could exert in one's lifetime considering that we must also take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating then current when the scriptures were written. I think a need to have a better understanding of the requirements of today's Cathechism because I would otherwise be unable to attain it in my lifetime.

Lee Lancaster: October 27 at 1:26 am.

Ah. Well, we are not actually required to do all of that, Roberto. :) If we were, we'd all be in trouble! ;) If we attend Mass and listen and pray and prayerfully study the Mass readings and pray our rosaries and read these small sections of the catechism and do our best to live as good and faithful Catholics with charity, we will be fine. We are not called to be Scripture scholars, most of us. We are called to be faithful practicing Catholics. :)

I provide all those resources on my blog because one never knows what might catch someone's eye and lead them closer to our Lord. And I also am an explorer who loves to share what she has found. Hey, it's what I do. :)

Lee Lancaster: October 27 at 1:34 am.

To get an overview of the story of Scripture, may I recommend Our Father's Plan, by Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins? This gives an excellent overview in 13 episodes and you can even listen to them or download them for free.

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-30654...

This takes you through the Bible in chronological order via 14 narrative books, and shows you where the other books fit in on the timeline.

Or get a copy of A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God's Covenant Love in Scripture, by Scott Hahn. Similar to Our Father's Plan but not the same, in paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/Father-Who-Keeps-His-Promises/dp/0892838299

Roberto Artadi: October 27 at 1:39 am.

Thank you again, Lee. God bless you.

Flora tingang: October 27 at 2:49 am.

Thanks to all and particularly, the Holy Spirit working in us

Bruce Way: October 27 at 2:57 am.

Roberto Artadi--No need to fret! Maybe it would be easier to turn the Catechism verbiage upside down and see what it is telling us NOT to do. Basically, it's just saying that we should NOT get fixated on specific parts of the scripture alone, but consider them each as a piece of a larger puzzle--if you look too hard at one little piece, you may see the wrong picture. Also, we should not make the mistake of looking at the specific language the author used and assigning meaning that was never intended. The same words mean different things to different people at different times, and metaphors formed by an author 2,000 years ago may not communicate the same point today, given our completely different cultural frame of reference. The good news is that the Magesterium is educated in all the areas necessary to extract the intended meaning and does all the hard work for us.

Joseph, TC Tan: October 27 at 3:14 am.

Bruce, well said!

Eileen Small: October 27 at 4:28 am.

As a Catholic who "fell away" and recently returned to my Church, I am very thrilled to have this opportunity to study the Catechism. I studied it as a child in parochial school--over 50 years ago--but never on an adult level. I was struck by the writer above who spoke of the differences that occur when the bible is translated into english. For instance what is the correct--or most correct--translation of agape?

Lee Lancaster: October 27 at 7:39 am.

The spammers are back.

Roberto Artadi: October 27 at 8:28 am.

Thank you Bruce. I believe you are correct. I should read and interpret the scripture the way I believe the Church wants to interpret it, but open to correction by the Matgisterium when I should happen to be mistaken in any partiuclar way.
As our Adult Catechesis teacher told us, we should view a scripture passage from the viewpoint of "sets in leiben" (I'm not sure about the spelling) of the passage, or the situation in life when the passage was written. There are always possibilities of our limited knowledge to be incorrect in our interpretation, but if we are in good faith, and ready to accept the correction by the Magisterium, I believe we would not remain in error.

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 27 at 8:30 am.

@Eileen Small: "what is the correct--or most correct--translation of agape?"

It's easiest to define "agape" in relation to two other Greek terms for love, which are "eros" and "philos":

"Eros" (where we get the word "erotic") denotes affection of a sexual nature.

"Philos" (where we get the word "philanthropy": "love for mankind") denotes affection of a non-sexual (usually brother-ly or friend-ly) nature.

"Agape" (I don't know any English words directly derived from it) denotes love for family, especially a spouse. In Christian use, it can be described as divine love (in contrast to sexual love and merely human love).

God loves mankind with "agape", and you could say that is the sort of love that desires the very best for the other, even when the other does not "agape" in return. Thus, "God so loved (agape) the world that He sent His only Son..."

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 27 at 8:45 am.

@Stephanie Wilson: "analogy of faith"

The "analogy of faith" (which comes from Rom 12:6, "analogian tes pisteos" = "analogy/proportion of the faith") is the rule by which we remember that every individual statement of belief (every part of the faith) belongs to the whole, cohesive faith.

Protestants tend to use "analogy of faith" to refer to Scripture only, that "all Scripture is in agreement with itself". Catholics use it to refer to the whole content of the faith, that Scripture and Tradition are in agreement, and that each tenet of the faith is in agreement with the rest.

In other words, we need to keep ourselves from exalting one part of the faith (i.e. Jesus' humanity, or God's omnipotence, or the reality of sin) over the rest of it. When you exaggerate and exalt one part of the faith above the rest, you usually end up with a heresy. ;) For example, if you exaggerate Jesus' divinity over His humanity, then you might end up arguing that Jesus wasn't really 100% human, and that He didn't really have a human will, or didn't really have a human body, or so on.

Joseph, TC Tan: October 27 at 10:30 am.

Eileen, to add to Jeffrey's explanation, although the English language does not have equivalent words for phileo, ero and agape but a good Bible like the New American Bible do point out these meanings. And it is so much richer once we read the passage with this information. We know it is very difficult to achieve agape (but we must try) and we learn a little bit more of Peter, our first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He was so honest. And Jesus loves him for what he was. Finally, Jesus asked if Peter phileo Him. And it is in an honest person like Peter that divine love or agape may become possible for him.

Mary Lou Seewoester: October 27 at 2:09 pm.

I too am enjoying the daily catechism, but normally don't have time to read or comment in the blog. I've heard the agape/phileo distinction before, but the comment I will carry with me is that Peter's use of phileo was HONEST and that Jesus loved him, regardless of whether he said phileo or agape. Truly a 'relationship' model. Can I be secure enough in God's love to be as honest and transparent as Peter?

Victor Ingalls: October 27 at 3:59 pm.

I love this whole thing. But is there anyway that the footnotes can be included as well in the nuggets that are sent out???? It is really helpful to be able to see the Scriptural and Traditional backing of all that is in the Catechism

Eileen Small: October 27 at 6:59 pm.

Thank you to all who answered my question about translation--and in the "for what it's worth" department, I concur with Victor. The footnotes would be helpful. This discussion is also VERY helpful at least to me. Seeing the input of others who struggle as I do to truly grasp some of these concepts always inspires me.

Linda Schoenmann: October 27 at 7:32 pm.

I hope there's a special place in Purgatory for spammers and their like.

Scott Reddicks: October 27 at 9:01 pm.

I'd like to see all of God's children in Heaven with all of us and you and yours and mine and all of His. Why would you judge a spammer? Don't. They are here to learn as well. There were people spitting on Jesus as He carried His cross as-well-as only one who whiped His Face.
Mercy is for the merciful. Judge not lest ye be judged. The measure to which you judge will be used to judge you.
Let m be. Finally, Be kind to those who persecute you.
Glory to You, O Lord. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and Glory forever and ever. AMEN

Jeffrey Pinyan (@CatechismAPI): October 28 at 4:55 pm.

@Victor Ingalls: @Eileen Small: "footnotes"

The footnotes are omitted from the emails to avoid clutter, but you can get to them just by clicking the "Powered by CatechismAPI" link at the bottom of each email.

María Esther Alvarez Vásquez: October 29 at 9:17 am.

La palabra de Dios es siempre nueva.Porque es inspirada por el Espíritu Santo.Por esto el que lee las sagradas escrituras debe pedir al espíritu santo que ilumine su mente y su corazón para poder interpretarla fielmente y sepa lo que le quiere decir el Señor para su vida en ese momento.Alabado sea mi Señor Jesús.!

Edward D.: October 30 at 4:04 pm.

"Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written."

Jessica Rabbit: October 31 at 11:32 am.

http://oxyparadoxy.blogspot.com/2012/10/do-i-believe.html Do I truly believe? Am I a hypocrite?

Paul Adaja: November 6 at 12:48 pm.

Thanks

Unreg Subscriber: November 9 at 6:44 am.

110 is so important! This context makes the homily so much more applicable to our human understanding. Priests who start their homily giving the context of the writing catch my attention immediately and make their teachings so relative to the scripture!

Alice Mabao: December 8 at 5:02 am.

just finish reading day 16, thanks!

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Read the Catechism: Day 16

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