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In response to Pope Benedict’s commemoration of the upcoming year as “The Year of St. Paul,” we have highlighedt each issue of our newsletter this year with a question from 101 Questions & Answers on Paul, by Ronald D. Witherup, SS.
Not in Paul’s thought. I should point out that the Greek word that Paul uses for slave (doulos) also means servant. Some translations interchange the words. Paul proudly calls himself a “slave of Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:1 NAB; NRSV “servant”; cf. Phil 1:1; 1 Cor 7:22), and the term applies to his colleagues as well (Col 1:7; 4:7,12). Paul considers slavery to Christ to be a most freeing experience because one does not need to worry about fulfilling prescriptions of the law. Slavery to Christ means single-minded devotion to the will of God revealed in Jesus. This devotion also entails becoming “slaves” or servants to others (1 Cor 9:19; 2 Cor 4:5). It involves a choice between reverting to a real servitude to old ways, or a new and freeing “servitude” to the new ways revealed in Jesus.
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (Rom 6:16-18)
Slavery is not a restriction of personal freedom but a free-choice commitment to Jesus Christ and all that he demands. Attaching ourselves to Jesus Christ as his slaves or servants paradoxically frees us to be of broader service to those around us (cf. Jesus’ own teaching in Matt 20:26-28).
Copyright © 2003 by Ronald D. Witherup, SS, Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ. Reprinted by permission of Paulist Press, Inc. www.paulistpress.com.
Cackie Upchurch
For three weeks in October, 245 bishops from around the world convened in Rome at the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI. Their task was to examine how the Word of God is brought to life in the church throughout the world and propose ways these efforts can be amplified, fine-tuned, and improved.
After months of preparation, the bishops came from all the earth’s continents with 230 propositions. These were the subject of hearty discussion, careful attention from working groups, and a good deal of prayer. The list of formal proposals or propositions was presented to the pope on the final day of the Synod. The result is a set of 55 propositions (see www.usccb.org/synod for a complete listing and brief explanation of each). These propositions address the Word of God in the faith of the church, the life of the church, and the mission of the church.
While the meeting of the Synod of Bishops may be complete, the real work is just beginning. How the church will respond to the propositions and incorporate them into various catechetical, liturgical, and evangelization efforts will unfold in the coming months and years. Let’s consider here just a few of the proposals.
The Second Vatican Council taught that access to sacred Scripture ought to be widely available to the Christian faithful (Dei Verbum 22). On a practical level, the bishops who participated in the Synod want to get Bibles into the hands of all the faithful in cooperation with the various biblical societies around the world as well as the Catholic Biblical Federation. Readable and reliable translations are available in print and through other media but not always accessible due to financial or educational difficulties. How can your Scripture study group help this effort in your own local community?
Several of the proposals deal with respecting the historical meaning of Sacred Scripture, while at the same time encouraging a reading of the text as believers in search of the truth God wants to communicate. Bible study must be faithful to both dimensions to guard against a simplistic or fundamentalist reading of Scripture. The marriage of solid scholarship and authentic prayerful listening is encouraged. This process happens within well-planned homilies, Bible study groups that emphasize prayerful as well as careful reading, and other catechetical processes at the parish level.
The proposals that deal with the mission of the church in the larger world make it clear that love for God’s Word will naturally lead to love for all of God’s creation, and in particular a commitment to the world and its people. The mission of the church cannot be served if those who love God’s Word do not also love God’s people in tangible ways.
As we begin to digest the breadth of the proposals, we need to ask ourselves, “How does God’s Word shape us individually and as members of the believing community? And to what end?” How does God’s Word equip us for evangelization, for building God’s kingdom of justice and peace that is especially attentive to those who are needy?
Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB
Are you not aware that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. 1 Cor 3:16
Having recently experienced a prolonged presidential race, we see clearly how human it is to align with a camp or espouse the platform of a party or a group. Some get so carried away with blind, emotional allegiance that even the message of the candidate they intend to promote becomes obscured. Staunch followers can over identify with group thinking, losing their own identities in the process. Those not caught up in the race often sit on the sidelines and criticize.
Paul certainly understood that leadership is a gift, a grace of God exercised by chosen servants. And yet, the Corinthians were creating factions, dividing themselves into camps: those taught by Paul, those taught by Apollos. In 1 Cor 3:5-23 Paul offers a teaching on the insidious nature of divisive factions. His exhortation is simply, Don’t do it. Why? Because the teacher is a messenger, a servant leader, assigned by God to teach and plant seeds of faith. The teacher is all of that, yes, but the true cornerstone, the solid foundation is Jesus Christ himself. Human leaders come and go but the real work of building the church at Corinth belongs to the community, God’s building at Corinth.
Stop worrying about whose camp you are in, Paul tells the community. Focus on caring for your own precious temple. God’s temple is holy; the Spirit of God dwells there and you are that temple! Imagine how different your life might be if you truly reverenced the temple of your own being and showed the same reverence and respect for the temples of others. What would happen? The world would be a different place and all of us would be builders of the kingdom.
This imagery of building was brought home to me while reading Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth. The book is a fascinating study of the lives of medieval townsfolk and how their lives were centered on constructing the massive stone cathedrals for public worship. The many stages of building were discussed from stone gathering and cutting to the physics of flying buttresses. I was so moved by the colossal effort and sacred dedication of the workers. Their work was actually worship, a liturgy for the good of all the people. Because of the length of time each project took, most died without seeing a completed structure. The cathedral was truly the epicenter of the village, the hub, the heart of the daily activity of the town. It was faith, made visible.
Perhaps this cathedral imagery will be useful to you as you reflect on the calling to enhance your own cathedral. When you were born you became a little temple of God’s delight. As you grew you learned to reverence the temple you were gifted with at birth. Indeed, your life’s work is to transform that temple into a cathedral to glorify God. Like any builder you must draw up plans and take those plans to your Master Builder to review. How important it will be to choose your work crews carefully! Naturally you will need the help of teachers along the way, just as the Corinthians did. Spend some time reflecting on the teacher-builders you will choose from your life’s acquaintances. And what about your building materials? Will you economize or use only high quality products? Ultimately the work belongs to you. You are your own general contractor.
As I recall the artistic beauty housed in many of the famous cathedrals in Europe I am inspired and motivated to beautify my own cathedral. Perhaps you, too, have dreams for your temple, your dwelling place for God. Although it is important to be a conscientious worker, only God can prosper the work of your hands. Only God can give the growth to whatever plans you might develop. And so I challenge you this year to think about the renovations needed for your cathedral. Remember to pray about your plans for rebuilding. Your plans are your dreams written down. Bring your plans and your dreams to God for a blessing.
If the Master Builder were to peek through the colorful stained glass windows of the temple of your soul, what would be visible? How strong is your foundation? How noble are your plans? Is your soul work the core and hub of your daily life? Is it the heart of your growth in Christ?
You belong to Christ. Go then and build your cathedral.
Your next word to romance is Psalm 130.
Cackie Upchurch
Here we offer a variety of books as food for our spiritual journey.
This Lent, we recommend three books that can help us to meditate on the Stations of the Cross through the lens of Scripture:
The New Stations of the Cross, The Way of the Cross According to Scripture was written by Megan McKenna five years ago (Doubleday). It provides reflections on the stations chosen by Pope John Paul II directly from Scripture, a focus that brings us to meditate on the painful agony of Jesus’ crucifixion and its effect on the believing community. The book also provides good basic information about this devotional practice that is common to so many Catholic communities.
John Paul II’s Biblical Way of the Cross (Ave Maria Press) also offers reflections on the stations identified by our previous pope. The writers, Amy Welborn and Michael Dubruiel, combine their reflections with the art of Michael O’Brien.
Stations of the Cross According to Saint Paul (Paulist Press) provides a beautiful way during the Year of St. Paul to walk the stations with this apostle who invested his life in the power of the cross. Ronald D. Witherup combines scriptural quotations from Paul’s letters and his own prayer and reflection with visual images that bring the texts to life. This brief book is brand new this year.
As we enter into the final months in the Year of St. Paul, consider a book that will help pull together the events in the life of Jesus and in the life of Paul. In Jesus and Paul, Parrallel Lives (Liturgical Press), Jerome Murphy-O’Connor writes in a clear and engaging style, and considers the parallels in each man’s journey from childhood as refugees to execution as criminals. The author calls on his vast background as a teacher and as a continuing student who has lived in Israel for several decades.
Look ahead to summer and enter more fully into the Liturgical Year (B) which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. Brendan Byrne, SJ, has a new book that offers an in-depth exploration: A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of Mark’s Gospel (Liturgical Press). His scholarship is sound and his approach is pastoral. This is a wonderful supplement for those involved in Scripture study groups, especially those focusing on the gospel.
Cackie Upchurch
This Lent the sagging economy is giving us some outside “help” in simplifying our lives. With less income, many are making hard choices about where to spend money. We’re having to examine the difference between needs and wants. With less job security, some are wondering not just about how to pay bills, but how to view their self-worth.
The message of the gospel is clear: if we’re made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27), if we’re worth more than a flock of sparrows (Matt 7:26), and if God so loved us that he sent his only Son (John 3:16), then our worth cannot be measured by income or achievement or occupation. Our worth is rooted in God’s presence with us in every situation.
This is the time when our church reminds us about prayer and fasting and almsgiving – in essence the church calls us to throw off the false self and find our true identity. In this economic climate, we need more than ever to remember who we are and whose we are.
We are being given a chance to BE the church.
Our LRSS Bible Institute this year will offer a fitting conclusion to the Year of Paul. Our presenter, Fr. Ronald Witherup, SS, is superior general of the Society of St. Sulpice and a former dean and professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He is well known to LRSS users as a previous institute speaker, as well as a frequent lecturer and writer on biblical and theological topics. He will address the topic of “Purpose and Passion: The Pastoral Legacy of St. Paul.” Please make plans to join us in Little Rock, AR June 19-21, 2009.More information is available on our website www.littlerockscripture.org, or call our office at 501-664-6102.
A new edition of Hebrews is now available. There are seven sessions in the study. The video and audio lecturers are Dan Hennessey, Judy Hoelzeman, Catherine Upchurch, Karen Wenzel, and Clifford Yeary.
The latest edition to our free online series What the Bible Says About… will be available soon. Joining The Rapture and Six Days to Create the World will be Being Born Again. If you want to be notified when each title becomes available online, please sign up at our website. If you have not yet taken advantage of the articles written about Paul and his ministry by Cackie Upchurch and Clifford Yeary (Little Rock Scripture Study Office), see our website: www.littlerockscripture.org click on “A Year for St. Paul.”
Informational and Enrichment Workshops offer clear information, hands-on experience, and practical tips for establishing and growing Bible study using LRSS materials and methods. For very little expense, a diocese can arrange to host a workshop that will benefit parishes throughout the diocese. For more information, contact: Susan McCarthy, RDC, P.O. Box 7565, Little Rock, AR 72217; (501) 664-6102 or (501) 366-5691; or by e-mail at smccarthy@dolr.org.
April 25, 2009
Enrichment Workshop
Newark, NJ
May 2, 2009
Informational and Enrichment Workshops
Baltimore, MD
March 21, 2009
Baton Rouge Study Day
Baton Rouge, LA
April 27-30, 2009
National Conference for
Catechetical Leaders
Dearborn, MI
May 27-30, 2009
National Association of Lay Ministers
St. Paul, MN
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