Hearing God's Call

Lectio divina or holy reading is a slow reflective method of praying the Bible. Through contemplating on a passage from the Bible and allowing it to enter into our daily life, this way of reading the Bible invites us to discover an underlying spiritual rhythm. Attuned to this rhythm we have the opportunity to discover a little more about ourselves and our relationship with God.

This session is informed by a booklet called “Lectio Divina; Praying the Scriptures in Lent and Holy Week, 2011”, prepared by Bishop David Walker, the Emeritus Bishop of Broken Bay Diocese, north of Sydney.

There are many stories told in the Christian community and we have already heard some stories of bible figures, heroes and saints. The most important story for Christians is the story of Jesus Christ, who lived, died and was raised from the dead about 2000 years ago in the region now known as Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In the Bible there are four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each Gospel tells the story of Jesus Christ in its own way. In this session we explore the reason why there are four gospels and examine the similarities and differences between them. This will help us come to a deeper understanding of the message and meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this session we explore the story of the Prodigal Son. The full story can be found in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15, verses 11‐32.

While there has been almost constant change in the Church, we can be sure that there has been no new revelation to replace the revelation given through Jesus Christ. There has been no new Bible written; and there has been founded no new church to link us with Christ.

This is the first of two sessions in which we explore an early Christian statement of belief.

In this session we explore the meaning of the last nine points that make up this ancient prayer.

In the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, God gives Moses many laws related to a whole range of matters, from taxation and slavery to instructions on building an altar and furnishing a sacred space. Out of all of those laws and instructions ten are set aside as having special significance.

These ten are described in Exodus chapter 31, verse 18 as being written with the “finger of God”, that is they are special amongst the large list of commandments and instructions.

In the last session we explored the Ten Commandments as God’s gift to his people and as a sure guide for action. In session 13 of this program we heard about the reason why there are four Gospels with each of the Gospel writers or evangelists shaping their Gospel to tell the story of Jesus to a particular audience.

In this session we explore the relationship between the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments as portrayed in the collection of sayings that have come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount.

The tragedy of Jesus crucified, the mystery of the Church, the Scriptures, and the Sacraments only make sense when they are viewed in the light of Jesus risen from the dead. Without the Resurrection, the stories of Jesus are reduced to the reported sayings and actions of a holy and wise, wandering preacher.

In this session we explore the notion of life after death as understood by the Catholic Church.