Earlier today I posted a great video from the folks at The Bible Project. The video is part of an on-going series on the nature of God as described in Exodus 34:6-7. Today’s video was on Trusting. Trusting God – or not trusting in God – is a recurring theme in the history of Israel. Like us, it is easy to trust God when things are going well, and when they are not… that’s another story.
Today is the Feast Day of St. Scholastica, the foundress of the Benedictine Order of nuns and the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order of brothers. Together they are credited with establishing monasticism in the western world.
It is the first reading today that grabbed my attention. It is from the Old Testament book, The Song of Songs – also known as the Canticle of Canticles. It is a collection of love lyrics, arranged to present an inspired portrayal of ideal human love and a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and the depth of married union.
One of the descriptions of God that is oft repeated in the Bible is that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations” (Ex 34:6-7). Our good friends at The Bible Project have produced an series of videos that explores and explains this simple verse. Today’s installment is “Faithful.” At the bottom of the page who will be able to see the entire series if you would like a refresher or to catch up. Enjoy!
As I always note, the Bible Project is an amazing not-for-profit group that I think worthy of our support for their great work of evangelization.
Between yesterday and today, our first reading covered the story of Creation from Genesis 1. It is a familiar story, a story told in children’s book, a story we have heard countless times over the years. It is a story that I think we are so familiar with that we no longer bring that same wonder and imagination when we first heard the account as children. And yet it is perhaps the fundamental account of the Power of God’s word – working toward good – working toward very good. Which is not a bad description of what we hope God’s word is creating in us: a movement from good to very good.
Yesterday I invited you to take 8 minutes or so of your day and watch the Bible Project’s video on the literary design of Genesis 1, the creation story. One of the voices on that video belongs to Tim Mackie. On the Bible Project website, he is introduced as follows: “Tim Mackie is a writer and creative director for BibleProject. He has a PhD in Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies. He wrote his dissertation on the manuscript history of the book of Ezekiel, with a focus on the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls. What a total nerd! He is a professor at Western Seminary and served as a teaching pastor for many years.”
Tim is one of the founders of The Bible Project and does amazing work. Today I offer you a chance to take about 45 minutes of the day and listen/watch Tim in his role as a teaching pastor presenting on Genesis 1.
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Next Sunday is the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year B. The gospel continues our following the early ministry of Jesus in Galilee. You can read a full commentary of the gospel here.
40 A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
The first reading from the 5th Monday in Ordinary Time, Year B as well as the 5th Tuesday, cover the opening verses from the Book of Genesis. It is the account of the creation story. There are all manner of commentaries available that richly and in great detail describe and analyze the text and all its nuances. At one point in my life, I would dive into the “deep end of that pool” to soak it all in. And then turn to the folks in my Bible Study and start to share the discovered riches…and watch their eyes glaze over. Not because of the nature of the riches, but because of the narrator … me. Along the way I got better. I hope. At least the eyes were not noticeably glazed. But I think the masters of offering a mixture of the big picture and the detailed riches are the folks at the Bible Project.
So, I invite you to take about 8 minutes of your day and watch their video about the literary design of Genesis 1. It will give you a deeper understanding of Genesis and probably lead you to want to dip your toes in the “deep end!”
As I always note, the Bible Project is an amazing not-for-profit group that I think worthy of our support for their great work of evangelization.
The story of Job is the well-known biblical account in which a person’s life goes from prosperity and security, from joy to despair. He has lost his family, his possessions, his security – and Job is the one who asks aloud what some of us only whisper – where is God in all of this? Job watches while his life unravels losing prosperity, family and feeling that the entirety of his life under assault. He has looked into his life to see if he is being punished for sin. But he finds none. And the assault doesn’t stop. He grows sick and covered with sores. No wonder he laments: “My days … come to an end without hope. …. I shall not see happiness again.”
