Creation Manifests The Creator The inspired human authors of the Bible often speak to the same truth; for example, the psalmist proclaims: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. (Ps 1:20) Likewise, St. Paul in a sermon to pagans in Rome declared: Ever since the creation of the world, [God’s] eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.

Creation… The Catholic Church passes this same truth on to us today. She teaches: ‘God, who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides [us] with constant evidence of himself in created realities’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], no. 54). How might you open up your mind and heart to God’s presence in his creation and in the people and events in your life? Video1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5

Divine Revelation—God’s Own Word To Us When the Church uses the term ‘revelation’, she is speaking of Revelation in a stricter sense, namely Divine Revelation. ‘God has revealed himself to man by gradually communicating his own mystery in deeds and in words’ (CCC, no. 69). Divine Revelation is God’s communication of himself and his loving plan to save us. God’s revelation is a gift of self-communication, which is realized gradually over time. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, the two sources of Divine Revelation, ‘make up a single deposit of the Word of God, in which, as in a mirror, the pilgrim Church contemplates God, the source of her riches’ (CCC, no. 97).

The Stages Of Divine Revelation God revealed himself and his plan for creation gradually in stages over a long period of time. This Revelation culminated in Jesus Christ. Biblical scholars often mark the stages of Divine Revelation according to the Covenants entered into by God and humanity. In the Bible, a Covenant is a ‘solemn agreement made between people or between God and a person or persons’. In the Old Testament, God established covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses. The prophets prepared people for the new and eternal covenant established by Jesus Christ. Think Pair Share : What do you recall about the stories about the above?

The Covenant With Noah God entered into a Covenant with Noah, and through him with the human race and all creation that will remain in force while the world lasts. God promised: I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. (Genesis 9:11)

The Covenant With Abraham Abraham listened and trusted in God’s promise. Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2)

The Covenant With Moses God did not forget His people in Egypt. Moses set them free and delivered the Law.

Jesus Christ—The New and Eternal Covenant Jesus, the only Incarnate and only-Begotten Son of God the Father, is the new and everlasting Covenant. Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God’. It is God who reveals the true identity of Jesus to us. It is God who gives us the gift of faith to recognize and acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah and Savior.

The Spirit Of Truth Jesus and the Father sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at the great Jewish feast of Pentecost. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and the Apostles first publicly preached the Gospel. The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church in knowing, understanding, teaching and proclaiming the Gospel.

The Magisterium The Magisterium of the Church is made up of all the bishops of the world who are in union with the Pope, the bishop of Rome. The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. (CCC, no. 85)

St. Irenaeus St. Irenaeus was born about 115 AD in modern-day Turkey. He was a bishop and an apologist. Irenaeus is acknowledged to be one of the earliest Church teachers to have a major influence on crafting the canon of Scripture. He argued that God’s saving Word is for all and should be available to all.

St. Irenaeus The second century was a time of controversy and searching for understanding within the Church. Irenaeus worked to maintain unity within the Church and believed one teaching authority was necessary to maintain unity within the Church. He died a martyr for the faith around the year 200. The Church celebrates his life on June 28.