Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

Key Points: Read Luke 24 “Walk to Emmaus”... Jesus was not recognized until the breaking of the bread. Search “Eucharistic Miracles” online. Search “Early Church Fathers-Eucharist” online. Eucharist gives us the graces, the strength, the direction to complete the task He has for us. The ultimate intimacy!

Key Points: v 61-62 Jesus equates believing in His Real Presence in the Eucharist with believing in the Resurrection.  Both require faith.  If you can’t trust Jesus with his statements about the first, you will have a tough time believing the 2nd, since both go against our human logic. v 68 Peter didn’t grasp all of what Jesus was saying about Eucharist, or His Resurrection, but he trusted Jesus.  That’s what He asks of us. v 68 We can’t get the Real Presence outside of His Church! v70-71 Apparently, Judas, first mentioned here in John’s gospel, was among those who didn’t believe that Jesus would be present in Eucharist.  This may have led to his betrayal of Jesus.

The only thing that lasts is our relationship with Christ. Jesus states multiple times that we must eat (“gnaw”) his flesh to have eternal life;  meant it literally.... further developed next 2 sessions.

In Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, He did not water down his message-(v. 22 “Salvation Is from the Jews.” ) He didn’t say that the polytheistic beliefs of the Samaritans were good or equally valid.  He practiced “charity with clarity.” As we find opportunities to have religious discussions with others, we seek common ground, but we never compromise our proclamation of the Fullness of Truth that was entrusted to the  only Church founded by Christ; the  Catholic Church. (We pray for the time, the place, the person, the method, and the words to say to share His Truth.) The Royal Official showed that he “believed” in Jesus through his ACTION.  (He walked 40 miles round-trip to find Jesus.) 5:22 Jesus WILL ultimately judge our eternal destiny. (Don’t take 3:17 out of context....we as Catholics read scripture as a whole, and through the eyes of the Church. We don’t take one verse and build our whole theology on it.) 5:29 Once again, our actions will demonstrate our belief, and we’ll be judged accordingly. (But God is always willing to forgive us if we ask God.) 5:39 We have the possibility of eternal life through a Person, not a Book. (Though the bible certainly points us to that Person!)

Key Points Jesus broke down social and racial barriers by simply speaking with someone different than himself.  (Who should you be speaking to?) The things of this world don’t last; only our relationship with Christ can be eternal. After she realized who Jesus was, she invited others to “come see!”  Though she didn’t know theology, she shared HER EXPERIENCE with Jesus.  People can argue with your theology, but  no one can argue with YOUR EXPERIENCE with Jesus. ( Who will you invite to “Come see” Jesus?) SHE didn’t convert people, but she planted the seeds.  We’re responsible for that; the Spirit is ultimately responsible for the conversion.

 Key Points 3:14 John’s high Christology- Jesus will be “lifted up” vs “crucified”....Jesus is always in control, even when it seems that he is not. John 3:16 “Believes” , once again, means much more than intellectual assent.  (Compare this verse with (3:38.... “Belief “ involves OBEDIENCE.) 3:17 Jesus came the first time not to judge (an individual’s eternal state) ,but to proclaim the kingdom.  But, make no mistake, he will ultimately preside over our judgment, and there WILL be judgment!  (Again, see 3:38 !)

Jesus’ turning water into wine is the first of 7 “signs the gospel writer uses to show Jesus’ divinity.  (Jesus has he power to create.)  He can create a new person in us, too, if we walk with him. Jesus calling his mother “Woman” was not disrespectful: Words and customs change meaning over time, (a term of respect(?) Jesus (sinless)honored his mother and father , lived the Commandment. In Garden of Eden, God said he would put emnity between Satan and the Woman.  (Mary is the new Eve; her “Yes” to God contradicted Eve’s “No.” In Revelation 12 we see the “Woman” (not named, but Mary) with a crown of 2 stars. The temple (“sanctuary”) building will be destroyed, but Jesus is the NEW temple....HE is there as  our Sanctuary. “Born again” means a changed life once we walk with Christ.  The seeds are sown at our Baptism.  If we know we are to be Baptised and don’t do it, we are disobedient.  Baptism imparts grace which gives us strength! ( There is a connection between the intellectual assent and the physical act!!!)

Key Points: 1:21 (Asked of John the Baptist:) “Are you Elijah?”  (Per Malachi 3:23, Elijah was to reappear before the coming of the Lord.) 1:23 John the Baptist is like Isaiah (Quotes from Isaiah 40:3) 1:29 “Lamb of God” (At Passover, an unblemished LAMB is sacrificed in an ATTEMPT to pay the price for the people’s sins. John the Baptist’s is the first of 7 testimonies as to who Jesus is. 2:1-5 We venerate Mary because: She calls us to follow Christ She intercedes for us She shows us (Lk 1:38) by example HOW to follow God. She inaugurates Jesus’ ministry at Cana She has led countless millions to Christ She was at the key moments of Jesus’ministry and the beginning of His Church. She is ALL of our mothers!  (So, if you feel “motherless” sometimes, remember that Mary is YOUR mother, too!)

Key Points: What does it mean to “believe” to the Catholic? Why do the heresies spawned by the phrase “Word became flesh” point to the need for the Catholic Church?” “Belief” is much more than an intellectual assent.  It is giving one’s self over in trust and action.  (“Wheelbarrow” story.) Three heresies were spawned by three consecutive words in John 1:14.  We needed the Church (the only Church Christ started, gave the power to “bind and loose” to,  gave the Holy Spirit to guide it into all truth) to eliminate the confusion as to who Christ is....and the confusion that still exists today.   (See 2Peter1:20 regarding personal interpretation of Scripture.  We must read Scripture through the eyes of the Church.

Key Points: John was youngest disciple, "the one that Jesus Loved" (20:26); Took care of Mary (20:27); Imprisoned on Patmos; Author of John, Revelation, 1,2,3 John John Emphasizes Jesus' Divinity.  7 Signs of His Divinity (Water to wine, 2:1-11; Cure of Official's son 4:46-54 by His word; Paralytic cure at pool (Ch 5); Multiplication of Loaves and walking on water (Ch 6) Mirror Manna & crossing of red sea in OT; Cure of man born blind (ch 9); Raising of Lazarus (Ch 11) 7 Testimonies (John the Baptist, Samaritan woman, scripture, His works, The crowds, Holy Spirit, Disciples (testify 33x) Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Lamb. He is NOT portrayed as the "suffering servant" but as the Hero, Always in Control ("Lifted Up" vs "Crucified") (Glory 15x) Eternal Genealogy (1:1-2) ("Consubstantial" in the creed) "Light" vs Darkness ("Light" 11x) "Believe" 98x, "World" 78x, "Truth" (true) 20x. Virtually no social teaching, only one commandment, "Love one another", Prayer for Unity.  Highly Symbolic (#7, #3, Jesus' Actions + words remind us of OT Events)