Last evening, we received a lot of food for thought when Fr. Alan Ventour led the teaching on Sacred Scripture, God's Word Among Us. We are sorry that not all the candidates were present for this but you can still benefit from the discussion as we continue on the blog. Here are some questions for you to reflect on. Remember, AT LEAST ONE response from the candidates is expected. God Bless!
- Why is it important for Christians to read and reflect on the words of the bible?
- How can you make the bible part of your daily prayer and reflection?
Let's get the ball rolling. Year Ones, feel free to share your feelings on these two questions.
Bless!
1. It is important so that one can : a. grow deeper in their faith
ReplyDeleteb. be more knowledgeable of the scriptures ( so that
when one ask a question base on Christianity it
can be fairly answered).
c. Reflecting on daily life experiences can help with
understanding the scriptures as the scripture would
be taken more seriously.
d. Being more spiritually & emotionally connected
with God.
2.One can make the Bible part of their daily prayer and reflection by scheduling a specific time of the day which is preferable to them ( To Me @ night is most Preferable). During this time, the actions that were done during the day can be reflected on. If the actions were undesirable or wrong in nature the bible is the best solution one can turn to for peace and closure. Reading scriptures or psalms can be a relief and a tool for better decision making. Your actions can not only be undesirable but it can be good during that said day. The bible is still the best tool to turn to for daily prayer as it strengthens your faith and also help you continue with good decision making.
@Kurnika,
ReplyDeleteGreat responses. I agree with you on so many levels. I just want to elaborate on a point you made regarding reflecting on the word via life experiences. I believe that is how God wants us to embrace his word. He says that his word is alive and active and cuts more finely than a double-edged sword. In light of this this, God allows our life and experiences (and even experiences from others) to connect with his word. For example, look at the parable of the prodigal son. Many of us can relates to it, or may know of someone who have experiences with this, even though not literally, we can still relate to the fact that we once turned away from our father, allowed life to carry us and then decide that this lifestyle is not for us and return to our father who loves us and embraces us upon return.
Thank you for this!
Welcome, exactly the point I was trying to make with the example given by you.
Delete1. I agree with Kurnika. It is important to read and reflect on the words of the Bible because we can learn about God, his plans for us and how he has worked throughout history for our salvation. Although the Scripture was written by different persons they were all inspired by God and God uses those persons as well as others we meet along the way to teach us. Through reflection we try to unlock the meaning of certain sections of the Scripture, such as the parables, so that we can understand better what God is trying to teach us. Therefore reading and reflecting on the Bible allows us to encounter God, to understand His revelation and to grow in our faith. God speaks to us in the same way he did to those in the Old and New Testaments and throughout history.
ReplyDelete1.
ReplyDeleteI think the Bible can be a great tool to add and introduce an organized time to spend reading about the Lord's work and reflecting upon His teachings. Reflection is important as it ensures that us as Christians are getting to know the Lord on a more personal level and the Bible also allows room for interpretation and application on how different situations or stories may apply to someone's personal life.
Reflecting on the Bible as Christians is also important as it unifies us in that we learn skills and different ways to interpret and understand it.
2. Making the Bible a part of ones routine can be very doable with diligence and organization. For me personally setting aside 15-30 minutes every day whether it be morning or afternoon allows me to be systematic about the readings. Also doing readings with friends and discussing may be helpful in making it a routine as it becomes something you and others look forward to each day
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Hi Sarah, you made such an important point and idea. You mentioned that reading and discussing the word with your friends may be helpful. I am a firm believer of this because you are not only engaging in constructive conversation but in a way, some form of evangelizing is taking place because you are able to share with others some aspects of the Word that they may not see at the time. God reveals himself so much through his word and even though it is centuries old, this same word is very much applicable in our world today. Thanks for sharing this!
Delete1) It is extremely important for Christians to read and reflect on the words of the Bible as it not only strengthens one in their faith but also acts as a map to guide us on our spiritual journey to God. In addition, the Bible also provides to us the various revelations of God. Reflection of the bible, as conducted in the RCIA classes "lexio divina", allows one to step into the particular scripture and relate to real world occurrences. As a result there is a better grasp of the teachings as well as how one can change their perspective on a particular event and improve oneself and others.
ReplyDelete2) Integration of the Bible in one's daily prayer and reflection is essential to a person who wishes to progress in their journey to the Lord. It enables them to more efficiently and effectively understand various revelations of God as well as acts a medium to seek peace and comfort through various prayers. Personally, readings and reflections of the Bible is conducted at night and further thought can be added in the following day without physically having one, such as in traffic or in periods where there may be free time to think.
Thanks Christopher!
Delete2.Like so many other areas of life I think that making the Bible part of my everyday prayer life requires consistency. I have to set aside a specific time of the day and I pray for approximately the same duration. Reading from the Bible and other prayers involves the engagement of the mind, totally. Using the Bible allows us to have a close relationship with God and can make our faith grow. We must therefore surrender to God in our prayers. I have found that using the list of the daily readings found in the Catholic News can be helpful. For me praying early in the morning before I start my day is the best time because I can focus better on the deeper meaning of the passages. I was also introduced to a booklet called Magnificat which contains passages for meditation. Interestingly, this morning I looked at one of my favourite programmes on EWTN and this issue was discussed. It was pointed out that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website has a number of resources for reading the Bible. I have checked the website and there are audios and videos. The Antilles Episcopal Conference website however, does not take the same approach.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
DeleteThanks for mentioning the reference to the readings given by the Catholic News.
Another great way (and systematic way) to reflect on the word of God is through the readings of the day. That way, you can read along with the entire Church, the same reading and see what God may be saying to you and the church as a whole. Great idea!
Well I couldn't put it more eloquently than Jennifer and the previous responses. There's not much to add because I feel the same way. I believe it is important to provide a guide to life, to strengthen our faith, hope and charity. God is the vine and we are the branches. If we do not make time to connect by reflection on His Word, we are slowly withering away. In the beginning the word was God. Therefore it's very crucial to incorporate that aspect of Him into our religion.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I believe that choosing a scheduled time is great start. Personally, I follow the Magnificat, which allows me to follow readings every day. It incorporates morning and evening prayers too. It has been a treasure for me. There's also Living Faith for adults and kids so you can even encourage your children at a young age. It's great to start the habit early and it adds spontaneity and makes it easy to follow.