Dei Verbum, The Bishop's Synod, and Our Response as The Catholic Faithful

Ricky!
I am, by no means of imagination, a stranger to the point of the sword! Most usually recognized as my own. An observant co-worker and friend once counseled, "James Edward, you shoot yourself in the foot so much that you are in danger of blowing you brains out, 'cause one of these days your foot will be in your mouth when you pull the trigger!"
You ask "honest and intelligent discussion"! Honest I got! Intelligent is a severe stretch.
Here's honest!
I spent most of my formative years in the cradle of being "given" a Catholic education. Scriptural study was not an option offered. As a matter of fact, in my education, save some mention, by one of the "scowling howlies", (somehow always dressed in black and white), of a passage confirming my descent into the eternal fires, references to passages pertinent, in his estimation, to a Sunday sermon, and intimidating, argumentative, quotes from some of my, more pious ('Cause I read the Bible!) protestant relatives. Scriptural reading or "study" was nonexistant. What I needed to know about "The Scriptures", which are "The Word Of God", would be devined by those honest and intelligent enough and "ordained by God" to understand and relate to me their content and meaning, for the salvation of my soul! That was ok as a little kid! I just believed what I was told, no matter how preverted, and tried not to make it any worse than it was! No catholic mentor in memory has suggested to me that, to attain the levels to which I aspire, I should seek a greater understanding of the WORD, on my own!
You must be given to understand that I was dutifully baptized as a babe, sent to Catholic schools and institutions, a seemingly constant personage in my early life, was a cousin who ascended to the post of Bishop. Mine was a Catholic upbringing! Normal? I sincerely doubt it! However still Catholic! Maybe I should ammend that to "Scripture Free Catholic!"
What I know of the scriptures is very simple and childish! To live a life according to "scripture"
I observed, on my own, is to live a Christlike life! And Christ never read scripture! Ok! The Old Testament! He lived The New!
I offer here, lines from, "The Works of Enaud Semaj" "I could write you of vows that we've made in our hearts and promises made in our minds! All cast aside lightly in search of new starts! In favor of much better lines!"
For the Bishops ( there's nothing funny about these hypocritical old men, not even their hats) The synod is merely the further casting of those vows and reflections of broken promises, in favor of a new and more profitable direction! And a discussion of how to "contain" the flock!
In my heart, no! In the depths of what is left of my soul, I prayed that the resulting issue from this meeting would be, "Yes the flock is scattered, and some are injured and suffering and confused! Now each of us will personally, search the fields and wilds, find those lost and injured and carry them gently and compassionately to the fold. Where their wounds will be healed and their spirits returned to them! For God recognizes no statute of limitations"
How's that for honest? I warned you, intelligent would be a stretch!
I pray that I am still welcome here! I'm not in a lot of "Catholic" places!
God loves us all! And so do I!
James Edward

OK gang:

I suggest we center our discussion around a few possibilities. If you have other suggestions, please add. Personally, I like the major prophets (viz. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and/or Isaiah). Isaiah has a special place in my heart because I took an entire course on the Isaianic school while in seminary.

I feel the prophets are especially apposite given the financial "tsunami", the upcoming election and all the mixed messages we are receiving, and the possibility that our "Empire" might be seeing the sunset, hmmmmmmm? Have our idols started to show signs of slipping precariously toward that humbling abyss of false, empty, consumerist promises?

Well, anyway, no one has touched my lips with a burning coal, and I have not been transported to the seventh heaven, but I would like a good candid discussion about how you guys feel about all of this - given that the Synod has just adjourned with the Papal commission to re-awaken both Scriptura & Traditio.

Soooooo, as they say, let the games begin ;)

Rick rock chalk Jayhawk in KC

The Bible can and will provide support for any position we choose to hold. For example:

There are several mainstream christian faiths that have proven, and yes, they can prove biblically, that the Pope is in fact the Anti-Christ of Revelation. I have studied the proofs they offer. They are valid interpretations of scriptures, just as valid as the interpretations the Magisterial Authorities use to validate "no women priests" and other pontifications that they want us to believe.

Now we are faced with a problem. The Bible proves the pope is the antichrist. What do we do? None of us wants to accept even the possibility that the Pope could be the AntiChrist, yet the scriptures prove it. What do we do?

Do we declare the Bible to be wrong? It is after all, as we are taught, the inspired word of God. If it is indeed the inspired word of God as we are taught, then we must accept the scriptural evidence as valid, even if we dont like what it says. We must accept that the Pope is the AntiChrist. But we cant accept that possibility, so what do we do?

Do we vilify those who use the Bible to prove this point? Do we declare them to be heretics so we do not have to deal with a difficult issue? What do we do?

History will eventually validate or disprove this theory. In the meantime,there really is one and only one scripture that is of any consequence, one scripture that any of us need to know and understand.

Matt 22:37-40 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

"on these two commandments ..." Jesus is telling us very clearly here, if we follow and live this scripture, everything else will fall into place.

The main obstacle to understanding the bible is traditional Christianity.

Depending on which version of Christianity one choses, the Bible can be a reference work that is used to justify the most heinous of hate crimes against other human beings (aka Fred Phelps) or, it can be a source of inspiration that can serve us a GUIDE to launch us into a new awareness of our true nature as God's beloved creations.(Kennedy and Merton)

After years of Bible Study, listening to contradictory commentary, scriptural justification for all form of hate rhetoric, and a cacophany of "experts" who in reality dont have a clue what they are talking about, I have chosen to IGNORE ALL of the "expert" opinions about what the Bible really says.

There are passages that I consider to be significant and worthy of merit. I embrace those and practice them to the best of my ability. There are also passages from the Buddhist texts that I have found to be worthy of merit. There are also passages out of the Koran, the Bhaggavad Gita and other works that I have found to be equally worthy of merit.

We all know the story of the tower of babel, but few realize the significance of the message we were given. The tower of babel story indicates that humans were seperated by language to prevent them from knowing the TRUTH. The unwritten message of the story is that spiritual TRUTH was seperated as well. Each group received part of the truth, and each group also received a belief that they had it all, and the other groups were the heretics with false doctrines.

That effectively kept full knowledge of Spiritual Truth hidden for millinea. With a global economy, instant communication, English as a universal language, new archeological evidence, and more, we now have the means to bring it all together and to understand the real TRUTH of God. The Bible is part of the TRUTH. The other works are part of it. When we put it all together, we now have everything we need to understand the TRUTH. The truth of God, the truth of who we really are.

The hate rhetoric that punctuates so much of Traditional Christianity is the single biggest impediment to understanding. It is also the reason that the real messages contained in the Bible will never be understood by the masses. In my opinion, that is the single greatest sin as well.

Rick in K.C.
Here we go again! It is said somewhere, that, those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it! I guess I didn't study history! Or anything else for that matter, I'm not even an authoratative voice on Me! I can only comment on your suggested topics from a personal point of view!
1. The main obstacle I encounter in approaching the bible is my ignorance and mistrust of it's accuracy and originality. Much too much "touching by human hands" and massaging by too many "oracles" and "potentates!"
2. For me? Yes, resoundingly!
3. It would depend on how deep you are into competition and dissention. I'm prob'ly misquoting, but, I think H.L. Mehnken, (not noted as a deep thinking Christian), said, "Id rather be a Christian in a den of lions, than a lion in a den of Christians!" I'm thinkig individually!
4. Commentaries and resources faithful to the churches teachings? In this mind, on which I have such a tentative hold, it seems that the reverse should be true! That the teachings of the church should be faithful to "The Word"! Commentaries and resources faithful to the churches teachings, may well be the cause of the second fall of Rome!
5. How one proceeds in his readings of the bible, depends solely on what he needs to "prove" on any particular day! and just how "right" he wants to prove himself to be!
Affirmation of the laity as "The Priesthood of All Believers" is just like WalMart having associates and not employees! And for the same reasons!
I hate to burst your bubble, my friend, but, check the resources at bishops accountability.com.
Another meeting of the corporate heirarchy!
God bless and keep us all well through these trying times!
J. Edard

I am 44-years-old. I am Catholic, but I'm a convert to Catholicism from a family of mostly non-practicing Protestants. I was confirmed in the Catholic Church in 1984 and all I remember about my Catechism classes was the priest said it was morally licit for Catholics to go to Las Vegas as long as they only gambled in moderation. And we used the Dutch Catechism for our class, which has since been repudiated. So I probably wasn't catechized too well. But I have read and studied the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church and the 16 Documents of Vatican II. I've read the entire New Testament and most of the Old Testament. I read the Bible daily. Like Rick in KC, I studied theology in a university setting (in my case, a secular university, Vanderbilt, with ecumenical faculty). I have the feeling that many Catholics didn't grow up reading the Bible in their homes and that they don't read it as adults. It isn't part of their devotional life as it should be. But they are exposed to large chunks of Scripture with the three-year lectionary at Mass which is good. In response to question 1, I think many Catholics find the Bible incomprehensible and just don't know where to begin with reading and study. Priests, with our shortage of priests, are busy just trying to say enough Masses and provide essential sacramental pastoral care. Christian education (preparation for sacraments) is given rightful priority and priests don't have time to have Bible study groups (and we don't have many educated laity who can teach Bible study). Yes, Biblical language is difficult and people have trouble understanding the milieu and context of the Biblical world. Question 2, I don't think the Old Testament is totally more difficult than the New Testament. For example, people may find the Psalms more user friendly than the Apocalypse or the genealogies in the Gospels. Question 3, I think it is definitely better for the Bible to be studied in groups (but group study should be supplanted by personal study, prayer, and reflection). Question 4, there are several good Bible study materials available from reputable Catholic publishers that are faithful to Church teaching. Question 5, It is probably best for a layperson to begin studying the Bible using the New Testament and the Gospels (as opposed to a rote reading beginning with Genesis). In addition to English, I read the New Testament in Greek (and sometimes look at the Nova Vulgate). The Bible I have with the most notes and scribblings is my Greek New Testament (and as a chocolate addict I have a bad habit of getting chocolate stains in my Bible pages, too). I usually study the upcoming Sunday Gospel, using the process of Lectio Divina and a model of theological reflection I learned at Vanderbilt. I also find it helpful to write a sermon in my head or to actually write out or journal my reflections. In practical terms, I think laity could be encouraged to immerse themselves in Scripture via use of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Liturgy of the Hours should be used in each parish regularly (with, perhaps, Evening Prayer being used with some solemnity on a set weeknight in Advent and Lent with some expository preaching on the Scripture texts used in that liturgy, with times of liturgical silence for reflection). Each and every parish should have a regular ongoing Bible Study with the goal of all Catholics being Scripturally literate. In the four Catholic churches in this large Florida county, no parish has a Bible study. This should be a priority. The GIRM gives permission for silence after each Mass reading. People should be instructed on how to meditate fruitfully on the Scriptures for about 15-20 seconds after each reading (as opposed to silence after the homily) and should be informed about the purpose and length of liturgical silence. Scripture study should receive more emphasis (seems like some of the sacramentals receive more emphasis than the Bible). The connection of several of the saints in the Church calendar could be emphasized and celebrated (St. Jerome, St. Therese of Lisieux and others emphasized Scripture in their ministry and in their writings). The Liturgy of Penance calls for the priest to use Scripture in confession. My experience is that if someone discusses the Bible in Penance, it is me, not the priest. Based on this and the iffy quality of the preaching I hear, I sometimes wonder if our seminarians are really educated all that well on the Bible. Perhaps we need continuing education for clergy on the Bible. I think the Synod on Scripture will call for change. Sadly, I think Catholics will be resistant to that change.

Mark F. in Florida

"Do not be afraid!" Hi, Rick---welcome to the Cafe. Your topic is excellent (and vast). I am going to give very quick---actually surface answers to some of your questions. And I am sure others who post on the Cafe will also respond to you as well.

One of the problems that Catholics often have with the Bible is exactly what you stated above---they didn't read it at home as kids---parents didn't have a Bible and nobody read the Bible. So now, when we find that it is OK to read the Bible---we don't know where to start. From what you have said above, you have certainly looked at the King James Version---and found it written (originally in Shakespearean English---as King James and the Bard were contemporaries). Best bet for easier-to-read English, is the American Bible. Studying the Bible in a group is good---if you have someone who knows the topic and can keep people on target if there is a discussion. Sometimes, Rick, there are Scripture Institutes in your area (usually on Catholic Universities---but often they get into rarified topics---like the discussions that are going on in Rome---and ordinary Catholics often feel overwhelmed with the discourse.) But if the topics are for the general public, Biblical Institutes are a wonderful way to explore Sacred Scripture.

With this year being devoted to St. Paul, I would make a suggestion that focusing on him this year would be a great place to start. Maybe learning about his background (as much as possible), taking a look at his journey in discovering what God wants of him---then take some of his letters and compare them with the Acts of the Apostles (the Acts make situations look a lot smoother than they were for Paul). Sometimes there are films that are about Paul that give a broader understanding of him and his call to be an Apostle to the Nations. One good movie---a bit long--can be done in parts---is "Peter and Paul" with Anthony Hopkins and Robert Foxworth as the two saints. This gives background into their personalities and difficulties---as well as understanding their great caling. I believe that this movie is 194 minutes.

If you are going to read the Bible on your own---realize that the Bible is one book comprised of many books, many styles of writing and one cannot approach all books the same way. The Prophetic Books often have symbolism into them. The legal books--Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy--can be dry---but they give you an understanding into the total "Law" that was so important to the Jewish understanding of who they were as a people shephered by the Lord. The Book of Daniel and Revelation are perhaps the most difficult to understand---because their of symbolism and the multitudes of meanings.

Commentaries---I use the Jerome Biblical Commentary---which is about as thick as Webster's Dictionary. But if you went into a Catholic Book store or even got on-line you should be able to get a commentary that would be more 'user-friendly'. This can often help in understanding difficult passages.

I am so happy that in many parishes, and in regional settings, the Bible is being sought after as the great gift that it is----The Word of God. Good luck and God's blessings to you as you continue to study and meditate upon the Word of God.