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Clifford M. Yeary
Every story needs good characters, an engaging plot, and an interesting setting in place and time. The Old Testament has them all, but sometimes it helps to have a few of the key elements of the Old Testament identified for us. The following, though an extremely short list, might help those who sometimes jump into an Old Testament reading cold.
People
The Patriarchs and Matriarchs
From Genesis 12 on, the main characters of Genesis are the patriarchs and matriarchs, the men and women, who, having been specifically called by God, become the ancestors of all Israel.
The People
The people of Israel were considered descendants of the patriarch Jacob, who had twelve sons and two grandsons, all of whom gave their names to the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes were numbered as twelve even though there were actually thirteen at one time or another. Joseph, Jacob’s most famous son does not have a tribe named for him, but his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh both did (see Gen 35:21-29; 48:3-5) . Sometimes the tribe of Levi was not counted because they were to be the priests and temple workers and had no land allotted to them (Num 1:49-50).
Judges and Kings
Before there were kings in Israel, there were judges. Judges weren’t courtroom figures; they were, often enough, warriors, but they were called judges because they were tasked with exercising God’s judgment by protecting and defending the people of Israel and settling disputes.
Eventually, the tribes of Israel chose a single King, Saul. The most famous of kings was David. The kings of Israel and Judah are held accountable in Scripture for keeping the people faithful to God by being faithful in their own worship and leadership.
Priests
The priests were responsible for the official worship of God. At first, sacrifices might be offered to God anywhere that was deemed holy enough for an altar, but eventually (and by divine commandment) legitimate sacrifices were limited to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Prophets
The primary duty of the prophets was not to foretell the future, but to tell forth the message God had concerning the great need for justice, faithfulness to God and care for the poor. They often warned of future judgments if their messages were not heeded. The prophets proved troublesome to the kings and priests because of the way they challenged leaders to live up to God’s expectations (Jer 23:2).
Places
Israel and Judah
The people of Israel came to occupy much of the land that was once known as Canaan. The name Israel was first given to Jacob during a divine encounter (Gen 35:9-10) and it became the name for the nation formed by the twelve tribes that were considered Jacob’s descendants. When King Solomon died, a civil war divided the nation along northern and southern boundaries (1 Kgs 12:1-16). While members of any tribe could be considered to be Israelites, after the civil war Israel is used most often to refer to the ten northern tribes and Judah is used to refer to the southern tribes around Jerusalem of Benjamin and Judah.
The northern tribes of Israel were virtually destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. (2 Kgs 17:6-7). The Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple there in 587 B.C. (2 Kgs 25:8-11). The people were deported to Babylon and Egypt. The Babylonian captives were allowed to return in 537 B.C. and eventually rebuilt a Temple in Jerusalem.
The Temple
The temple in Jerusalem was considered a unique dwelling place for God (Lev 26:11-12). Because of God’s presence in the temple, Israel had a special relationship with God which gave them a challenging purpose in the world as a people. This relationship was not one of privilege, but of service. They were to be a light to the rest of the world (Isa 42:6).
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (v.14)
On a rainy morning in a dry parched land I contemplated the truth of the words above. Questions arose within me that deepened my prayer. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God? How do I know that this is occurring in my life? If I allow myself to be led by the Spirit does this presuppose that I truly know the Spirit?
"Life in the Spirit" suggests an intimate relationship. It offers us the image of one who has been gathered into the family of God. "Adopted," Paul proclaims! We are not slaves; we are children of God. We can call God, Abba. The person with a childlike trust and a grownup hope is the kind of person who can joyfully follow the Spirit's lead. In Psalm 71 we are given a dynamic description of one who is being led by the Spirit.
You are my hope, Lord;
my trust, GOD, from my youth.
On you I have depended since birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength;
my hope in you never wavers. (Ps 71:5-6)
As these words from Psalm 71 blend with the affirming text from Paul's letter to the Romans my desire to be led by the Spirit of God intensifies. I don't want to discard this powerful message as just words in the Bible. Suddenly they are words becoming flesh. They are slowly beginning to live in me. I find myself trying to imagine a life in which I do not allow fear to rule me. I am not in bondage to my own will. My sin is no longer attractive. I am a child in the family of God with rights to a divine inheritance.
The glorious freedom of the children of God that I am to inherit is unquestionably desirable. The very thought of it gives wings to my hope. However, in the same breath I am reminded that part of my inheritance is to be united to the suffering of Jesus. Suffering probably doesn't sound like much of an inheritance.
For part of your homework I am suggesting you spend time reflecting on the relationship of suffering and glory. No doubt you will be able to unearth numerous examples in which you have had to endure suffering before tasting glory. In your journal (or maybe just in your heart) you may wish to name some of the labor pains that have preceded the glory.
To give a few examples:
For creation awaits with eager expectation
the revelation of the children of God. (Rom 8:19)
Paul begins speaking like a poet as he offers us the exquisite image of all creation straining forward, stretching toward God, groaning in labor pains, waiting in hope for all humanity to be fully revealed. This is certainly the language of a poet. Briege O'Hare, OSC captures this beautifully in the words of her moving song, "Creation Waits," as she sings, "Creation waits! Creation waits for you and me to be revealed." Her song describes an ache for the life of God to be seen in every face. One can almost see creation standing on tiptoe with eager longing for each of us to come home to the glorious freedom of who we really are in Christ.
Today I took the time to walk into nature's arms. I stood in the gardens. I walked through the meadows and among the trees trying to experience oneness with creation! Even the plants and trees that have withered for lack of rain were sporting the green shoots that were insisting on pushing their way through the damaged foliage.
Sometimes my life is like that. No matter how often I allow myself to remain in bondage to my lower nature, even in those moments when I selfishly cling to my own will there is a face of glory that keeps pushing its way through until my best self recognizes it as the first fruits of the Spirit.
Paul teaches us how important it is to wait in hope, to wait when the fruits of our waiting cannot be seen! There is so much grace in waiting. Let us ask for this much needed grace.
… the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. (Rom 8:26)
O Searcher of Hearts, it is my intent to follow the Spirit's lead. I do not always own the words I need to speak my heart's deep longings. Listen to the inexpressible groanings in my soul that God's will be done.
This column includes short stories that show how studying Scripture has helped readers connect the Word to their daily lives. You are invited to contribute such stories from your small group.
Alex Grozik served as co-chair of the Bible study committee in Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Elmhurst, IL before choosing to become an ordained Deacon. Now Deacon Grozik and his wife Marie minister together.
Since becoming involved in Scripture study, Christine Perovich has become more active in her parish (St. Andrew in Yellville, AR). She serves on the parish council and, as chairperson of the religious education committee, is responsible for the faith formation of youth and adults in the parish.
Cackie Upchurch
“TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book.”For many years, one of my favorite pastimes has been visiting the children's section of a local book store or library. I find a way to sit in those little chairs or I find a spot on the floor and I'm good for an hour without even realizing where the time has gone.
Why the children's section? Because the books there are often beautifully illustrated, and I simply enjoy that. Children's books also open wonderful worlds that I like to share with young nieces and nephews. And the stories themselves are often ageless – people of any age can find in them important life lessons.
In this issue I'd like to recommend a few children's titles, some explicitly religious in nature, but all expressing timeless values.
One of my all time favorite children's titles is The Quilt Maker's Gift, written by Jeff Brumbeau and illustrated by Gail De Marcken (Scholastic Press). The quilt patterns themselves are gorgeous, and the vivid illustrations simply sing, but the real beauty is revealed when a selfish king learns a deep lesson about generosity. It's the widow's mite with a powerful twist.
There are two books that offer wonderful meditations on the creation story. Old Turtle, written by Douglas Wood and watercolor illustrations by Cheng-Khee Chee (Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers) is an exploration of God's identity from the point of view of God's creatures. There are even tinges of the tower of Babel, with the harmony of God's creation triumphing in the end.
Creation by Gerald McDermott (Dutton Children's Books) uses the first story of creation as the basis for his finely textured illustrations. Each two-page spread offers a simple first person narration from the great I AM and striking illustrations of some phase of creation.
Finally, The Gospels (Novalis Publishing) is a fitting standard to have on hand for any young ones in your family. Making use of Today's English Version as the biblical text, each gospel is illustrated by a different artist: Alida Massari for Matthew, Donata Dal Molin Casagrande for Mark, Alessandra Cimatoribus for Luke, and Marisa Moretti for John.
For centuries, biblical stories and lessons were told primarily through the use of art ― stained glass, statuary, oil paintings. While illiteracy is not nearly the problem today as it was in the past, story and art still have the power to help us hear the Good News.
Cackie Upchurch
In the past few months, I've been happily watching and listening to the responses we have been receiving about the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. It's not only gratifying because the fruit of my labor and the labor of others is being well received. The excitement is an indicator of how far we have come as Catholics in making the Bible a more central part of our faith experience.
In 1943 Pope Pius XII released his benchmark encyclical, Divino Afflante Spiritu (On the Most Opportune Way to Promote Biblical Studies). At that time, if a family owned a Bible, it was treated as a sacred object rarely to be touched or read, a storehouse of significant family events and genealogy, or a mini-collection of religious art depicting great scenes of salvation history. Actual study of the Bible was largely reserved for those in seminaries, and even then, using very different methodologies than we use today.
By the time of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, various groups of scholars around the world were doing what St. Jerome had done centuries ago, translating ancient biblical texts into modern spoken languages. In Jerome's time, the vernacular was Latin in large parts of the world. By the 1960s Latin was no longer a common spoken language, and Bibles were being translated and published in dozens of languages in every corner of the world. Family Bibles were still venerated, but I dare say many of us were beginning to venerate the Word by marking favorite passages and taking notes in the margins of the pages.
Today, we have more choices than ever when it comes to selecting a Bible for prayer and study, a Bible that can become our companion as we continue to become disciples of Jesus Christ. But we have little choice in this – that we are called to venerate the sacred Scriptures not just in our study and our prayer, but in the way we witness to the God we meet there.
For those who have a copy of the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, we have a brief correction. On page 2020, in the insert for Peter's Confession, the third sentence should read: This is the only one of the four gospels in which the word 'church' (Greek, ekklesia = "assembly, those called") is used.
The annual LRSS Bible Institute was held July 8-10 at St. John's Catholic Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Fr. Patrick Mullen addressed 123 participants on the topic "And God Said WHAT?: Dealing with Difficult Scripture Passages." Those who attended felt encouraged to use critical thinking skills in their regular reading of Scripture. Next year's Bible Institute will be held June 29-July 1, 2012, with Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB from Conception Abbey. His topic is "The Psalms: The Heartbeat of the Bible." Start making your plans to be with us.
Macrina Wiederker, OSB has authored a new book, Abide, based on her LRSS newsetter column from the past twenty years. The book is an invitation to make the Word of God your home through the practice of lectio divina. Order your copy now.
Our new study, Spirituality of the Gospels, discussed in our last newsletter, is now being shipped to customers.
New editions of Genesis and Exodus, making use of the newly revised Old Testament, will be available in late December, in time for groups to use them in the upcoming year. The study of Genesis makes use of the New Collegeville Bible Commentary written by Joan Cook, with Study Guide written by Cliff Yeary. The eleven lectures are presented by: Judy Hoelzeman, Msgr. David LeSieur, Cackie Upchurch, Linda Webster, Karen Wenzel, and Cliff Yeary.
The new edition of Exodus will make use of the commentary The God of Freedom and Life written and now revised by Stephen J. Binz, with Study Guide written by Cackie Upchurch. The ten lectures are presented by: Dcn. Dan Hennessey, John Hall, Msgr. David LeSieur, Cackie Upchurch, Linda Webster, and Cliff Yeary.
A new 13-part series of articles entitled A Cloud of Witnesses is now appearing monthly online at our website. They may be downloaded for free. Cliff Yeary and Cackie Upchurch focus each month on various biblical characters, their experiences of God, and how they responded. These articles are also available for use by other dioceses and entities through Catholic News Service.
A Year of Sundays 2012 and Un Año de Domingos 2012 are now available for customers. This book of reflections on the Sunday gospels, as well as those of Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday has become a welcome tool for many. It is just the right size and just the right price. It makes a thoughtful gift for catechists, lectors, RCIA and other parish groups.
Cackie Upchurch, LRSS Director, will present two workshops at the Faith Formation Conference in Santa Clara, CA –November 18-19 sponsored by the Dioceses of Northern California. Her topic will be: Principles & Passion for Bible Study.
National Bible Week is celebrated each year from Sunday to Sunday of Thanksgiving week. This year the celebration runs from November 24-28. You might 'google it' and see all the wonderful sites that emerge. Then use this as a moment to advertise Bible study opportunities for adults in your parish or local community.
Informational and Enrichment Workshops offer clear information, hands-on experience, and practical tips for establishing and growing Bible study using LRSS materials and methods. For very little expense, a diocese can arrange to host a workshop that will benefit parishes throughout the diocese. For more information, contact: Susan McCarthy, RDC, P.O. Box 7565, Little Rock, AR 72217; (501) 664-6102 or (501) 366-5691; or by email at smccarthy@dolr.org.
November 7-9, 2011
Uncover Summit
Orlando, FL
November 18-19, 2011
Faith Formation Conference
Santa Clara, CA
January 13-14, 2012
Hofinger Conference
New Orleans, LA
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