God is the author of Sacred Scripture God is the author of Sacred Scripture. The divinely revealed realities…have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. CCC 105

To interpret Scripture correctly… The reader must take into account the conditions of their [the authors] time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating then current. CCC 109-110

In other words, Catholics do not take everything in the Bible literally!

Catholicism Catholics believe there are 3x sources of how we gain knowledge of God, spiritual inspiration and teaching authority. Without one of these, our knowledge of God (even though always incomplete) and of Christian life is lacking

If everyone just acts on their emotions and how they feel, this results in a huge variety of interpretations of scripture (and also why there are so many Christian denominations). A biblical text can speak into each person’s life differently, but using Tradition and Reason means that we know, for example, which texts not to take literally, and what it may mean in relation to Christian life

If what is in the Bible was our only rule of faith, we first have to know which books are included in the Bible.

Where do we get the Bible from?

κανών … Canon-List, rule (Greek) The set of books in the Bible we use. 397 AD Bishops in the Church decided on the books in the Bible we use today. This meeting was in Northern Africa. The canon is based on what the first Christian communities used right after Jesus had died/risen from the dead.

The Protestant Church did not agree with all the books Catholics had in their canon and formed their own in the 1500s. They exclude in the OT Esther, Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and in the NT some parts of letters such as Hebrews and John’s letters. Catholics have these books included in the 73 books of the canon as they are authoritative.

Where is sola scriptura (Scripture alone) itself taught in the Bible? Most Protestants find it in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

A person cannot prove the inspiration of Scripture, or any text A person cannot prove the inspiration of Scripture, or any text. It is true that we know Scripture to be inspired and canonical (the contents page!) only because the Church has told us so. As well as the Gospels, the Early Church Fathers –early Christian leaders, wrote and orally shared that Jesus lived, died and was reported to be resurrected from the dead- by over 500 eyewitnesses (1 Cor. 15:6)

Jesus Christ established a Church—not a book—to be the foundation of the Christian faith. If we did not have Scripture, we would still have the Church. But without the Church, there would be no New Testament Scripture. It was members of this kingdom, the Church, who wrote Scripture, preserved its many texts, and eventually canonized it. Scripture alone could not do any of this.

Genres in the Bible

First Apology 65-67 in 155 C.E “All who dwell in the same city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read as much as time permits. First, Second and Gospel readings When the reader is finished, he presides over all those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these wonderful things. Homily/sermon

Living in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27) “So God created humankind in his image, In the image of God he created them; Male and female he created them.”

Living in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27) If we truly believe that we’re created in the image of God, we must be in connection with ourselves and with others/the world.

Mass is the ultimate expression of living in the Image of God and scripture is a huge part of this

Creation : the natural environment 5 things we are called to have balance between and be in connection with: Creation : the natural environment Family Community Culture God In the Mass we believe we’re deeply in connection with all these aspects of life.

Creation We bring the bread and wine made from the natural environment. Bread is made from wheat, wine is made from grapes.

Family and Community Being Christian involves being part of the Body of Christ, we don’t just have a personal relationship with God. Participating in Mass with family strengthens the bonds with each other and faith that is shared in the home (the domestic church) is reinforced by going to Mass.

Culture Jesus was a Jew and it’s important we acknowledge his past. Jesus was the fulfilment of Judaic prophecies in the Old Testament, which is why the Christian faith must recognise its importance.

God Through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is Jesus himself that is with us at Mass. There’s nothing more powerful than this!

INSERT TEXT You wouldn’t welcome guests in and eat a meal straight away. You would talk to them first and catch up, then share a meal

We listen and share our stories The Jewish community in the Old Testament The early Christian community in the New Testament letters The life, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels. This is the ‘WHY we do the Liturgy of the Eucharist’

Sign of the Cross: Liturgical Greeting: People's Response: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt 28:19;  cf. John 14:13-14;  Acts 2:21) Liturgical Greeting: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Cor 13:14) "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:2; Eph 1:2) "The Lord be with you." (2 Tim 4:22; cf. Matt 1:23; 28:20) People's Response: "And with your spirit" (cf. Gal 6:18; 2 Tim 4:22) Penitential Act: Intro: "Let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries." (cf. Ps 51:5) "I confess to almighty God..." (cf. Lev 5:5; Neh 1:5-9; Dan 9:3-19; James 5:16) "Have mercy on us, O Lord. / For we have sinned against you. / Show us, O Lord, your mercy. / And grant us your salvation." (Ps 41:4) "Lord, Have Mercy" (Matt 15:22;  17:15;  20:30-31; cf. Ps 123:3) Gloria: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will" (Luke 2:14; cf. Rev 4:11; 5:11-14) "We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you..." (Cf. Ps 148:13) "Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son" (cf. Ps 2:7; John 1:14) "Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world..." (cf. John 1:29) etc. Prayers concluded by "Amen" (Neh 8:6;  Ps 41:13; Rom 16:27;  Heb 13:20-21; Rev 7:16)

What scripture passage is your favourite and why?

Some useful resources for understanding scripture each day…

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