December 1, 2013

First Sunday of Advent 

Advent is the time of the year to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord. It is a time of rejoicing in anticipation of the birth of our Lord. But it is also time of repentance from sin. 

Lectionary: 1
Reading 1 IS 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

The prophet Isaiah had a vision about Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.

 In the future, Mount Zion shall be established as the greatest mountain. Because this is the mountain of the Lord where his house is built.

All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”

 In that time all the peoples of the world will come to the Lord's mountain.

For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!

 At that time, the whole world will be at peace.

Responsorial Psalm PS 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 The word church means "house of the Lord". Today, the Catholic Church is the new Jerusalem wherein dwells the whole host of heaven.    The Catholic Church is the household of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Reading 2 ROM 13:11-14

Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

 The times is at hand  when we must turn to God and set aside all wrongdoing. Because God calls us to perseverance in good works.

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Gospel MT 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

 None of us know our last hour. None of us know the end times. Therefore, it is important to always be prepared to meet our Maker.

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Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn - December 1st 2013

The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

December 1st 2013 - First Sunday in Advent

Listen Here!
In a Dark Hour
Readings:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122:1-9
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44


Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again.

He occasionally makes such overstatements to drive home a point we might otherwise miss (see Matthew 5:34; 23:9; Luke 14:26).

His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him - spiritually and morally - when He comes. For He will surely come, He tells us - like a thief in the night, like the flood in the time of Noah.

In today’s Epistle, Paul too compares the present age to a time of advancing darkness and night.

Though we sit in the darkness, overshadowed by death, we have seen arise the great light of our Lord who has come into our midst (see Matthew 4:16; John 1:9; 8:12). He is the true light, the life of the world. And His light continues to shine in His Church, the new Jerusalem promised by Isaiah in today’s First Reading.

In the Church, all nations stream to the God of Jacob, to worship and seek wisdom in the House of David. From the Church goes forth His word of instruction, the light of the Lord - that all might walk in His paths toward that eternal day when night will be no more (see Revelation 22:5).

By our Baptism we have been made children of the light and day (see Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-7). It is time we start living like it - throwing off the fruitless works of darkness, the desires of the flesh, and walking by the light of His grace.

The hour is late as we begin a new Advent. Let us begin again in this Eucharist.

As we sing in today’s Psalm, let us go rejoicing to the House of the Lord. Let us give thanks to His name, keeping watch for His coming, knowing that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Yours in Christ,



Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

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November 30, 2013

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle 
Lectionary: 684
Reading 1 ROM 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.

It is in Baptism that we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.  And we exercise our faith and belief in Him by approaching the font of His grace and believing that His promises will be fulfilled in us.

For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

He who believes in the heart shows his faith by approaching the Church and asking for the salvation of Jesus Christ in Baptism.

The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Everyone who approaches the font of Baptism will be saved, washing their sins away in the font of God's grace while calling upon His name.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?

This indicates the importance of our witness, our Teaching and of our example.  It also indicates the importance of the Church which marshals the priests and ministers who go out to proclaim and administer the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

And the Church has gone throughout the world, proclaiming the faith of Jesus Christ.  But many refuse to listen and continue to reject the salvation which He died on the Cross to give to mankind.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.

R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Don't be fooled.  Judgment will come to the Church first.  Everytime we approach the Sacraments, we are judged of God.  Therefore, we must believe sincerely in the promises which God has given us.  Those who believe and receive the Sacraments will be saved.  Those who do not believe, have condemned themselves.

Gospel MT 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Sts. Peter and Andrew were brothers, sons of Jonas.  They joyfully cast their nets on the ground and left everything behind, in order to follow Jesus Christ.

November 29, 2013

Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 507
Reading 1 DN 7:2-14

In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,
the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,
from which emerged four immense beasts,
each different from the others.
The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings.
While I watched, the wings were plucked;
it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet
like a man, and given a human mind.
The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,
and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.
It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.”
After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard;
on its back were four wings like those of a bird,
and it had four heads.
To this beast dominion was given.
After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast,
different from all the others,
terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength;
it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed,
and what was left it trampled with its feet.
I was considering the ten horns it had,
when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst,
and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it.
This horn had eyes like a man,
and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.
As I watched,

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was snow bright,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words
which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain
and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up.
The other beasts, which also lost their dominion,
were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

I imagine, only God knows what that all truly means.  But the ending of that dream is definitely about the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and son of man.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You springs, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!
“All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him!

All creatures of God give Him glory and praise forever!

Gospel LK 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”

The Word of God, the Teaching of Jesus Christ, will never pass away.  The Word of God contains the Spirit of God which gives life to the world.

November 28, 2013 - Thursday Of The Thirty-Fourth Week In Ordinary Time

November 28, 2013 
Lectionary: 506
Reading 1 DN 6:12-28

King Darius had been tricked by the wise men, so called, to forbid any man to worship anyone but the King.  They had done this because they knew that Daniel, the wisest of the wise men, would never cease to pray to God.

Some men rushed into the upper chamber of Daniel’s home
and found him praying and pleading before his God.

And so, when they knew that he would be praying, they went to his house to apprehend him.

Then they went to remind the king about the prohibition:
“Did you not decree, O king,
that no one is to address a petition to god or man
for thirty days, except to you, O king;
otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions?”
The king answered them, “The decree is absolute,
irrevocable under the Mede and Persian law.”
To this they replied, “Daniel, the Jewish exile,
has paid no attention to you, O king,
or to the decree you issued;
three times a day he offers his prayer.”

Then, they tried to induce the King to keep his word and condemn Daniel to death.

The king was deeply grieved at this news
and he made up his mind to save Daniel;
he worked till sunset to rescue him.

But the King loved Daniel and wanted to do something to save him and yet, save his own honor.

But these men insisted.
They said, “Keep in mind, O king,
that under the Mede and Persian law
every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable.”
So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions’ den.

But the wise men pressed him and the King was forced to act.  He therefore, had Daniel thrown into the Lions' den to be killed by the wild beasts.

To Daniel he said,
“May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you.”

Then the King offered a prayer to God that God would save him from that fate.

To forestall any tampering,
the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords
the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den.

Then the King sealed the den in a manner that any tampering would be identified.

Then the king returned to his palace for the night;
he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers.

But the King was so sad that he couldn't eat.

Since sleep was impossible for him,

or sleep.

the king rose very early the next morning
and hastened to the lions’ den.
As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully,
“O Daniel, servant of the living God,
has the God whom you serve so constantly
been able to save you from the lions?”

And he woke up early and ran to see what had happened to Daniel.  Hoping that God had saved him from the lions.  He asked, "Has your God saved you, Daniel?"

Daniel answered the king: “O king, live forever!
My God has sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths
so that they have not hurt me.
For I have been found innocent before him;
neither to you have I done any harm, O king!”

"Yes, my King!" Replied Daniel from the den.

This gave the king great joy.
At his order Daniel was removed from the den,
unhurt because he trusted in his God.
The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel,
along with their children and their wives,
to be cast into the lions’ den.
Before they reached the bottom of the den,
the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

That was enough for King Darius.  He ordered that Daniel be taken from the den and those who orchestrated his death be put there in his place along with their families.

Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language,
wherever they dwell on the earth: “All peace to you!
I decree that throughout my royal domain
the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared:

“For he is the living God, enduring forever;
his Kingdom shall not be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be without end.
He is a deliverer and savior,
working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,
and he delivered Daniel from the lions’ power.”

And then King Darius converted to the faith of the God of Daniel.  For he had seen with his own eyes that God is a living God who has mercy upon all who love Him.  And he commanded that all in the Kingdom follow his example.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Let the earth bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Give glory to God for He is good!  His mercy endures forever!  Praise and glory to God forever!

Gospel LK 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.

This is a prediction of the siege of Jersusalem in 70ad when the Romans destroyed and razed Jerusalem to the ground.

Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And Jerusalem has remained in the control of Gentiles to this day.  Although some of the Jews have returned, the Muslims remain in control of most of the Holy Sites.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”

But when the fullness of the Gentiles has come, we will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds!  Be ready for that day!

November 28, 2013 - Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day 
Lectionary: 943
The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day.

Reading 1 SIR 50:22-24

And now, bless the God of all,
who has done wondrous things on earth;
Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,
and fashions them according to his will!
May he grant you joy of heart
and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
to deliver us in our days.

Every day is a day of Thanksgiving, remembering all which God has done for you.  What better way to give thanks than to attend the Mass and partake of the Table of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Remember all the Lord has done for you and praise Him daily.

Reading 2 1 COR 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord for the gift of salvation granted to those who are washed in the blood of the Lord poured out in Baptism.

Gospel LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”

God is no respecter of persons.  Any person who acts righteously, whether Jew or Samaritan or Gentile, will be found acceptable in His eyes.

November 27, 2013

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 505
Reading 1 DN 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords,
with whom he drank.
Under the influence of the wine,
he ordered the gold and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords,
his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.
When the gold and silver vessels
taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,
and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers
were drinking wine from them,
they praised their gods of gold and silver,
bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,
the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,
and his knees knocked.

King Baltazar, the son of Nebuchadnezar, was drunk and decided he would drink out of the vessels dedicated to God almighty.  Suddenly a hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall.  The young King was mortified and called for Daniel, the wise man.

Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,
whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?
I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,
that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.
I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;
if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,
you shall be clothed in purple,
wear a gold collar about your neck,
and be third in the government of the kingdom.”

He offered Daniel gifts in order to induce him to read and explain the message on the wall.

Daniel answered the king:
“You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;
but the writing I will read for you, O king,
and tell you what it means.

Daniel refused the gifts, but proceeded to read the message.

You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.
You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,
so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,
might drink wine from them;
and you praised the gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.
But the God in whose hand is your life breath
and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.
By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.

“This is the writing that was inscribed:
MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.
These words mean:
MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

The message was horrifying.  God told Baltazar that he had been numbered and counted.  In other words, that he had been judged and condemned.  And his kingdom had been given to others.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

All God's creatures sing out in praise to God!

Gospel LK 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

In the end, and throughout all of history, believers will be persecuted and judged by the world.  But God will speak through their mouths and by their blood, the seed of the Church will be planted.

You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Father will be against son, brother against brother, but by our perseverance in good faith, we will secure our eternal life with God.

November 26, 2013

Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 504
Reading 1 DN 2:31-45

Daniel interprets the King's dream.

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:
“In your vision, O king, you saw a statue,
very large and exceedingly bright,
terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.
The head of the statue was pure gold,
its chest and arms were silver,
its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron,
its feet partly iron and partly tile.
While you looked at the statue,
a stone which was hewn from a mountain
without a hand being put to it,
struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces.
The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once,
fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer,
and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace.
But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth.

First he described the dream.  Then he interpreted its meaning.

“This was the dream;
the interpretation we shall also give in the king’s presence.
You, O king, are the king of kings;
to you the God of heaven
has given dominion and strength, power and glory;
men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell,
he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all;
you are the head of gold.

The head of gold signifies that Nebuchadnezzar: is the greatest of all earthly Kings.

Another kingdom shall take your place, inferior to yours,
then a third kingdom, of bronze,
which shall rule over the whole earth.
There shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron;
it shall break in pieces and subdue all these others,
just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes everything else.

Other, inferior kingdoms will come after his.

The feet and toes you saw, partly of potter’s tile and partly of iron,
mean that it shall be a divided kingdom,
but yet have some of the hardness of iron.
As you saw the iron mixed with clay tile,
and the toes partly iron and partly tile,
the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
The iron mixed with clay tile
means that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage,
but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
In the lifetime of those kings
the God of heaven will set up a kingdom
that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people;

During that time, God will establish His Kingdom on earth.  That is the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church.

rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms
and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.
That is the meaning of the stone you saw hewn from the mountain
without a hand being put to it,
which broke in pieces the tile, iron, bronze, silver, and gold.
The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future;
this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure.”

The stone on the mountain which broke all the other kingdoms, is Jesus Christ, the stumbling stone upon which Jew and Gentile stumbled.  The stone the builders rejected but which became the cornerstone.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61

R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“You heavens, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

All creatures of God should praise the Lord, forever.  All creatures of God should thank the Lord, forever.  For He is kind and merciful.

Gospel LK 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

This is the a prediction of the great siege of 70ad.

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

And this has been going on to this very day.  Many false prophets have come and let many people to their destruction.

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn - November 25th 2013 - Solemnity of Christ the King

November 25th 2013 - Solemnity of Christ the King

Listen Here!
Kingdom of the Son
Readings:
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43


Week by week the Liturgy has been preparing us for the revelation to be made on this, the last Sunday of the Church year.

Jesus, we have been shown, is truly the Chosen One, the Messiah of God, the King of Jews. Ironically, in today’s Gospel we hear these names on the lips of those who don’t believe in Him - Israel’s rulers, the soldiers, a criminal dying alongside Him.

They can only see the scandal of a bloodied figure nailed to a cross. They scorn Him in words and gestures foretold in Israel’s Scriptures (see Psalm 22:7-9; 69:21-22; Wisdom 2:18-20). If He is truly King, God will rescue Him, they taunt. But He did not come to save Himself, but to save them - and us.

The good thief shows us how we are to accept the salvation He offers us. He confesses his sins, acknowledges he deserves to die for them. And He calls on the name of Jesus, seeks His mercy and forgiveness.

By his faith he is saved. Jesus “remembers” him - as God has always remembered His people, visiting them with His saving deeds, numbering them among His chosen heirs (see Psalm 106:4-5).

By the blood of His cross, Jesus reveals His Kingship - not in saving His life, but in offering it as a ransom for ours. He transfers us to “the Kingdom of His beloved Son,” as today’s Epistle tells us.

His Kingdom is the Church, the new Jerusalem and House of David that we sing of in today’s Psalm.

By their covenant with David in today’s First Reading, Israel’s tribes are made one “bone and flesh” with their king. By the new covenant made in His blood, Christ becomes one flesh with the people of His Kingdom - the head of His body, the Church (see Ephesians 5:23-32).

We celebrate and renew this covenant in every Eucharist, giving thanks for our redemption, hoping for the day when we too will be with Him in Paradise.




Yours in Christ,



Scott Hahn, Ph.D.

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November 25, 2013

Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 503
Reading 1 DN 1:1-6, 8-20

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.

 Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was given leave to conquer Judah and to carry off the vessels of the temple of God and place them before his own god.

The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.

 The King of Babylon also took with him many of Israel's brightest children. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
“I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king.”
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see.”
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.
To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.

 The street young men were determined to continue observing the laws of the God of Israel. They avoided eating foods which are not permitted and in so doing gained honor before King Nebuchadnezzar.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”

R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”

R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”

R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”

R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!

 Glory and praise is due to our God. He alone knows all things and does all things. He alone is God.

Gospel LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

 Indulgences, here we see the basis of indulgences. This little widow put more into the treasury of heaven with her two little coins then did all the wealth of Israel. Because she didn't pour in her coins but her faith.

November 24, 2013

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 
Lectionary: 162
Reading 1 2 SM 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
"Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
'You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.'"
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.

All of Israel submitted to David as king. Jesus Christ is the son of David and the King of heaven.

Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 The church is the kingdom of heaven on this earth. And Jesus Christ is  our King.

Reading 2 COL 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 Again reiterated here, the church is the kingdom of his beloved son, Jesus Christ. And it is in Jesus Christ that we have been redeemed and forgiven of our sins if we bought turn to him and obey his will.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

 Jesus Christ, God the second person of the holy Trinity, became man and died on the cross to bring us to salvation.

Gospel LK 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
"He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read,
"This is the King of the Jews."

 The Jews in the Roman soldiers mock Jesus Christ as he is dying on the cross.

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."

 But one of the criminals crucified with Christ defended him and  this holy thief stole his way into  heaven.

It's time - Read the Catechism in a Year (starting from the beginning)

Read the Catechism in a Year     It is time...   I have new stuff for you. Advent starts soon. What better way to kick off the new liturgical year than by dedicating yourself, your group or your parish to learning a little more about our Faith in a super simple way! But we need your help to spread the word...announce these at Mass, post to your social media, print in your bulletin, email to friends, just get it out. Let's transform the world by helping as many people take a step forward in their faith as possible. This project has been so successful (and world-record breaking) because it is so simple. We have two amazing options for you this year... Read the Catechism in a Year (starting from the beginning) Send people to flocknote.com/catechism to sign up! NEW: Study the Gospels in a Year (w/ Ignatius Study Bible commentary) Send people to flocknote.com/gospel to sign up! Both are free and life-changing. And also great to do with a group of friends. Although, if you're doing it as a community, you may want to just pick ONE of them to do together so it's more manageable and focused for you. Both will be kicking off anew during the first week of Advent (so very soon!), so let's make sure we invite as many people to start from the beginning with us as possible! Thank you and God bless you, Matthew Warner Founder of Flocknote.com & TheRadicalLife.org

You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of

"Penal substitution" says that Jesus Christ drank of the cup of God's wrath SO THAT believers would not have to.

Is this right or wrong? But here's the quote from Mark chapter 10 verse 35-40.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

There are several things to highlight here:
1. If they are drinking of the same cup from which he drinks, in Catholic doctrine, that means they will share his fate.
2. If they are drinking of the same cup from which he drinks and are receiving the same baptism which he receives, that means that they are suffering and dying for the expiation and reparation of the sins of the world.

These are things which penal substitution cannot handle AND which penal substitution completely rejects.

Sincerely,


De Maria

Memorize the Bible - review

It's been a  while now since I thought of the verses which I was memorizing. I don't know what that bodes for this project. Let me test myself again and see what I remember.

The first verse that are put into memory was Philippians ridem. write him stands for chapter 4 and verse 3. And I envisioned a filly was a piano on its back. And I went to lift the filly but couldn't until Christ came and touched me.

So the entire verse is Philippians 4:3 I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.

So let's see I did.

Philippians 4:3
King James Version (KJV)
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

 That's  embarrassing! The correct chapter and verse follows.

Philippians 4:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 Okay so I wasn't perfect but I see my mistake.

  Okay, another one.

He brews battle. "Battle" status for the numbers 9:15. And "he brews" stands for the book of Hebrews. And for this one I picture Jesus Christ holding a cross in one hand and a Bible in the other while battling Death.

And so the text is, "for this reason he became the mediator of a New Testament, the by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions in the first testament, those called should receive the promise of  an eternal inheritance."

Hebrews 9:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

I like it!

2 Corinthians 5:15

And the text by memory is, "he died for all that those who live might no longer live unto themselves but live   unto him who died for them and rose again."

2 Corinthians 5:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 For some reason, on that one the reference came to me immediately without need for a word picture.

1 cor ram, which stands for 1 Corinthians 4:3

 On this one, I see Jesus Christ wearing a ram headdress and sitting on the judgment seat. The text from memory is, "I care nothing of being judged by you or human court. I won't even judge myself. For although my conscience is clean, I have one judge, Christ."

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

 In this case I think I used the NIV instead of the KJV.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
New International Version (NIV)
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

 And those are the only ones that come to mind right now. I'll have to review my posts to see if there are any other memory verses that are started.

Sincerely,

De Maria

November 23, 2013

Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 502
Reading 1 1 MC 6:1-13

As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces,
he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,
famous for its wealth in silver and gold,
and that its temple was very rich,
containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons
left there by Alexander, son of Philip,
king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.
He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.
But he could not do so,
because his plan became known to the people of the city
who rose up in battle against him.
So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there
to return to Babylon.

 King Antiochas,  the one were tried to force the Jews to give up their religion, attack Persia and was beaten back.

While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news
that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;
that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army
and been driven back by the children of Israel;
that they had grown strong
by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions
taken from the armies they had destroyed;
that they had pulled down the Abomination
which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;
and that they had surrounded with high walls
both the sanctuary, as it had been before,
and his city of Beth-zur.

 And then he heard that the Jews led by the Maccabees had defeated his armies and driven them out of Israel.

 When the king heard this news,
he was struck with fear and very much shaken.
Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,
for he knew he was going to die.

 When the king heard this he became ill and knew he was going to die.

So he called in all his Friends and said to them:
“Sleep has departed from my eyes,
for my heart is sinking with anxiety.
I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come,
and in what floods of sorrow am I now!
Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’
But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,
when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver
that were in it, and for no cause
gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.
I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;
and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.”

 In his grief, he repented of all the evils he had committed in Israel.

Responsorial Psalm PS 9:2-3, 4 AND 6, 16 AND 19

R. (see 16a) I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.

R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
Because my enemies are turned back,
overthrown and destroyed before you.
You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.

R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;
in the snare they set, their foot is caught.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

 Christ is our salvation, O rejoice in him and be glad.

Gospel LK 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

In Old Testament religion it was the custom that a woman whose husband died before they had children should marry his brother in order that they might raise up children to her husband's name. The Sadducees wanted to test Jesus and asked him what would happen to a woman who had married seven brothers and yet remain childless. Whose wife would she be at the resurrection?

 Jesus answered that they didn't know because they didn't understand Scripture nor the power of God. For in the resurrection we are to be like angels neither marrying are being given in marriage And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

 One of the main points in this text is when Jesus said, "those were deemed worthy to attain to the coming age into the resurrection of the dead". That speaks powerfully of something which the Protestants detest, namely, MERIT. To be deemed worthy of the resurrection is to merit the resurrection.

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NEW! CATECHISM TEST

How well do you know the teachings of the Church? This seven-part test covers then entire Catechism of the Catholic Church. Developed by Jim Seghers of Totus Tuus Ministries, this test has been used to instruct catechists and is used by seminarians to help in their studies.

 Test 1 of 7
 Test 2 of 7
 Test 3 of 7
 Test 4 of 7
 Test 5 of 7
 Test 6 of 7
 Test 7 of 7

Here's a partial of the first test:

CATECHISM TEST #1(CCC #26-#421)
In answering the questions below place a ? in front of the question if you are not certain of the answer. Place a G in front of the question if your answer is a guess. Note: some questions may have multiple answers.
To have your test graded, forward your answers to Jim Seghers’ Totus Tuus Ministries at
http://www.totustuus.com

1. The desire for God (27):
   
   1. is written in the human heart.
      
   2. Must be carefully developed because it is not innate to man.
      
   3. is innately lacking in many individuals.
      
2. Men may reject God through sin (29):
   
   1. but he cannot never forget his longing for God
      
   2. and lose the sense of his vital bond to God
      
   3. neither
      
3. We can know God (31):
   
   1. only through the gift of faith
      
   2. through proofs of reason like the proofs in natural sciences
      
   3. by reason alone through converging and convincing arguments
      
4. It is possible to arrive at knowledge of the existence of God through the physical order, starting from movement, becoming, contingency, order and beauty (31- 32).
   
   1. entirely true
      
   2. entirely true for every rational person
      
   3. entirely false
      
5. The reality of mankind’s freedom and the voice of conscience can lead to discovering the existence of God (33):
   
   1. partially true
      
   2. entirely false
      
   3. entirely true
      
6. Which of the following statements is/are true (34):
   
   1. Man contains within himself his first principle.
      
   2. Man does not contain within himself either his first principle or last end.
      
   3. Man contains within himself is first principle, but not his last end.
      

7. To achieve real intimacy with God depends on (35):
   
   1. God revealing himself and giving grace
      
   2. God revealing himself
      
   3. God giving his grace
      
8. Revelation allows men to know God (38):
   
   
   1. with no admixture of error
      
   2. with certainty
      
   3. with ease, certainty and with no admixture of error
      
9. Which of the following statements is/are correct (43):
   
   1. Faith allows us to grasp God as he is.
      
   2. Similarities between God and his creatures actually expresses a greater
      dissimilitude.
      
   3. Both are correct.
      
10. Which of the following is/are true (51):
    
    1. The Father calls all men to himself directly.
       
    2. It pleases God to have men share in the divine nature.
       
    3. Both.
       
11. The fullness of God’s revelation is found in (53, 65, 75, 100):
    
    1. Sacred Scripture
       
    2. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition
       
    3. Jesus Christ
       
12. The first parents were created (54):
    
    1. in a state of grace and justice
       
    2. with natural goodness and preternatural gifts only.
       
    3. outside of God’s covenant
       
13. The division of nations (57):
    
    1. was a punishment of sin
       
    2. was not a result of sin
       
    3. limited the pride of men
       
14. Which of the following statements is/are true (60):
    
1. Abraham’s descendants became the chosen people.
   
2. The covenant with Abraham did not benefit the gentiles.
   
3. Abraham is not a saint in the same sense of the New Testament saints. 

Goto the Saint Charles Borromeo site and take the test.