Returning from
Vacation is never easy. These past two weeks, I have been away for a much-needed rest. As we see each other this weekend, don’t be
too surprised if I still have a far-off look in my eyes. I will get back to normal eventually. It may take a bit longer as the years go by,
but we always manage to get back into the swing of things, because “There’s no
place like home.”
Summer breaks are
shorter than they used to be. Do you
remember when Memorial Day and Labor Day were the bookends of Summer? Now we hardly wind down before it is time to
gear up again. This makes our Sunday
Sabbath rest all the more important. As
you make plans for the Fall, why not try to schedule in such rest so that the
frenzied pace of life does not get the best of you? Make time for God and family on Sundays. Choose another day of the week – Wednesday is
a good suggestion – when you give God a little more time to work in your
soul. Adoration begins after morning
Mass and continues until 6:30 p.m.
These days, I am
finding that I need more quiet time, time just to be alone with the Lord. The world is becoming ever more unfriendly to
our way of life. It is important to stay
close to the One Who can strengthen us to live what we believe. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your
hearts.” Giving God the gift of your
time, you can be sure that He will give you the Gift of His Eternity. August invites us to look toward Heaven and
to see our destiny in relationship with the Living God. Take some time to renew your awareness of
where you are headed. Be sure to keep in
mind the Holy Day on August 15th.
This is a truly Catholic Feast!
Year of Faith October
11, 2012 – November
24, 2013
We continue our journey through the Year
of Faith. As one way of observing
this year, each week a small section of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.
ARTICLE 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE IV. The Canon of Scripture
The New Testament
127 The fourfold Gospel holds a unique place in the Church, as is evident both in the veneration which the liturgy accords it and in the surpassing attraction it has exercised on the saints at all times:
There is no doctrine which could be better, more precious and more splendid than the text of the Gospel. Behold and retain what our Lord and Master, Christ, has taught by his words and accomplished by his deeds. (St. Caesaria the Younger to St. Richildis and St. Radegunde)
But above all it’s the Gospels that occupy my mind when I’m at prayer; my poor soul has so many needs, and yet this is the one thing needful. I’m always finding fresh lights there, hidden and enthralling meanings. (St. Thérèse of Lisieux.)
The unity of the Old and New Testaments
128 The Church, as early as apostolic times, (Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11; Heb 10:1; 1 Pet 3:21.) and then constantly in her Tradition, has illuminated the unity of the divine plan in the two Testaments through typology, which discerns in God’s works of the Old Covenant prefigurations of what he accomplished in the fullness of time in the person of his incarnate Son.
129 Christians therefore read the Old Testament in the light of Christ crucified and risen. Such typological reading discloses the inexhaustible content of the Old Testament; but it must not make us forget that the Old Testament retains its own intrinsic value as Revelation reaffirmed by our Lord himself. (Cf. Mark 12:29-31.) Besides, the New Testament has to be read in the light of the Old. Early Christian catechesis made constant use of the Old Testament. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 10:1-11.) As an old saying put it, the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. (Cf. St. Augustine; cf. Dei Verbum 16.)
130 Typology indicates the dynamic movement toward the fulfillment of the divine plan when “God will
be everything to everyone.” (1 Corinthians 15:28.) Nor do the calling of the patriarchs and the exodus from Egypt, for example, lose their own value in God’s plan, from the mere fact that they were intermediate stages.
Comment: Reading Scripture is not exactly the same as any other kind of reading. Our Faith tells us that God is speaking to us in a way through Scripture that is unique. We read the New Testament in light of the Old and the Old Testaments finds its meaning for us through the Revelation of Christ in the New. As we learn to read Scripture, we also come to a realization that God continues to speak to us just as He spoke to the generations that preceded us.
Focolare Word of Life for August 2013:
Today,
You’re invited to
An Afternoon with the Focolare
An Afternoon with the Focolare
[Focolare
= “Family
Hearth” – the Fire of Love in the Home alive with Faith]
Come experience a taste of the summer Mariapolis!
[Mariapolis = “City of Mary,” a retreat experience for
the whole family, united in the Gospel way of Love.]
WHEN: Sunday, August 4, 2013
WHERE: St. Timothy Church, 1088 Thomas Lane, Columbus
TIME: 1:00 pm—4:30 pm, starts with potluck lunch in the Cafeteria;
come for all or part of the program
Bring friends and the whole family! St. Timothy Revolution Youth and graduates of the Summer Bible Camp are especially invited. Simultaneous programs for children and teens.
Discover this year’s theme on: Love of Neighbor!
Sponsored
by the Focolare Movement. For more
information call: (614) 895-0764, or write: foco.ohio@sbcglobal.net
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