Below, you will find both an Online Link to the Bible, and to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You will find an ICON for Online Homework.
Now, are you excited as I am in joining the Apostles on this Spiritual High Adventure? I hope so!
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Welcome Participants to I WANT TO BELIEVE - Scripture Study
Building the Church – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 11 & 12
Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11 & 12 - Answer these Questions
1. What did the voice say to Peter about eating unclean animals?
2. Which of the two Saints were at the Church at Antioch?
3. What did the disciples do when the prophet Agabus announced a famine during the period of Emperor Claudius’ Reign?
4. Who freed St. Peter from prison? How did he escape?
5. Who struck down King Herod?
6. Who is the man that joins Barnabas and Saul? What was his second name?
Hearts Turned to Christ – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 9 & 10
Read Acts of the Apostles Chapter 9 & 10 - Answer
these Questions
1. Who spoke to Saul when he was lying on the ground? What did the Voice
say?
2. What was the street called that Ananias had to go to? Why?
3. What did the people say of Saul when he was preaching in the Synagogue in
Damascus?
4. What did Saul’s disciples do for him when he knew that the Jews were
plotting to kill him?
5. What did the churches of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, experience?
6. Who was Aeneas?
7. What did St. Peter do for Tabitha?
8. Who was Cornelius? What did he want?
9. What was St. Peter’s Vision?
10. In Chapter 10:42-43, what did St. Peter say to Cornelius’
Family? Who were astounded by the Holy Spirit’s actions with Cornelius’
Family, who were preparing for Baptism?
Monday, April 10, 2023
The Gospel Must Be Preached – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 7 & 8
Chapter
7 & 8 - Answer these Questions
1. Name the 7 people that St. Stephen mentioned in
his discourse? Include a brief summary of their actions next to their name.
2. Who was the young man that witnessed the
stoning of St. Stephen?
3. What
did St. Philip do in Samaria? What was the reaction of the people?
4. What
was Simon the Magician’s final reply to St. Peter?
5. St.
Philip’s explained the Prophet’s Message to the Eunich – who was the person
that the message was addressing?
We All Need A Sign – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 5 & 6
Read Acts
of the Apostles Chapter 5 & 6
1. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Why did
St. Peter confirm what would happen?
2. In what way did St. Peter heal the sick?
3. Who was the Priest that defended the Apostles
before the Sanhedrin?
4. How many helpers did the Twelve Apostles need to
support them in the Community of believers?
5. Who was St Stephen, and what did he do to provoke
the crowd?
Facing Your Obstacles – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 3 & 4
Many of us struggle with Facing Obstacles in our lives. Here, the Disciples of Jesus, called Apostles, are challenged to bring Salvific Message of the Lord to both the Jewish People and the Gentile Nations.
What does the word of Apostle mean? It comes the Greek word, Apostolos, which has its connection to the word Apostellein. It means, "to send forth." It is used the Greek translation of the Book of 1st Kings 14:6 as commissioned in giving good or bitter news. For the disciples, their News was Good, and life changing.
Take for example the Healing of the Lame Beggar - the message he receives from St. Peter was at the gate called Beautiful. This gate was the place the no Gentile could pass into the courts, but only an Israelite, yet he was faithful to God's blessing and waiting. No different the Jacob (Genesis 32:23-33) who wanted God's Blessing, this beggar wanted it too. Was God teaching the Israelite's their experience of the father Jacob by way of pleading beggar? How many of us see our life as beautiful in the way God sees it? His obstacle of was his legs, but his desire to be cared for by God was greater than him walking. Something that Israelite's are losing during their occupation with Rome.
It's the Gaze that St. Peter gives that makes the message that real... Silver or Gold he did not have, but Christ in his heart - that will change his life. Silver and Gold are the very gifts given to Jesus after His birth (Matt 2:11).
a. Gold is a sign, given to Jesus for His Kingship over Jerusalem and the Nations.
b. Gold is the symbolism of Christ's Authority through St. Peter as the Prime Minister of His Kingdom (Matt 16:18-20). It is Christ who works through St. Peter to give the Beggar, the New Israel, the chance to Face his Obstacle. It would set off another major conversion in the Church.
St. Peter reminds them of their history, and to return to it as means of Salvation. Their proof is in what Jesus has done for them after they had put Him to death.
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
The Face off between the Rocks... As the Spirit worked through Sts. Peter & John, they brought five thousand people to Christ. The next day, the Sts. Peter & John, along with the Beggar were brought into the Sanhedrin to be questioned about the event. St. Peter goes to defense for the Good News of Christ - calling Him "the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the cornerstone." St Peter declares that Jesus is the one who saved and healed the Beggar. It is later that the Council forces Sts Peter & John to never mention or speak about Jesus again. A New Rock has risen, and reverse the challenge to the old rock of experience of Jesus.
The Lame Beggar was forty years old... keep in mind the this number as it is a reminder of Christ who stayed in the desert for forty days, and when the Israelite's stayed in the desert for forty years. Truly, the Lame Beggar represented the People of Israel who needed God's Blessing through Jesus.
God continued to bless them to overcome their obstacles. If He can do that for them, why not for you!
Read Acts of the Apostles - Chapters 3 & 4 and Answer these Questions
1. What did St. Peter do to the Crippled Beggar? What name did he use?
2. In Chapter 3: 24-26, summarize in your own words what St. Peter said to the people?
3. What was the reaction of Caiaphas to Peter, when the Apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin?
4. What happened during the Prayer time with the Community (Chapter 4:23-31)?
5. What did the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus do for the community (Chap 4:32-37)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Love Conquers Fear – Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 1 & 2
1. When
mentioning “[T]he first book”, St Luke is reminding his readers to remember his
Story (The Gospel of Luke). He speaks to his friend “Theophilus”, which means
in Greek, “Lover of God.” The name “Theophilus” also points to us, who are called to be “Lovers of God”. The one who loves
God, knows and trusts that He will conquer our fears, and most of all, uses us
to conquer fear that continues to imprison our world. It is the Spirit that
moves the disciples of Christ to bring the Good News, and it is the Spirit that
moves you and I, as the Church, to transform our community.
2. The
number 40 is mentioned as a sign of preparation, similar to the preparation we
made before Easter. Jesus’ appearance to the disciples was His proof for them
that True Love Triumphs over fear and death.
3.
Jesus commands His disciples not to leave Jerusalem – His Father’s
promise to them in receiving the Spirit will take a short time. It is important
to note that Jesus is telling them to stay in the “City of Peace” (Hebrew
translation: Jeru, “City of”, and Salem, “Peace”), which will prepare them for
the mission and the trials to come.
a. Note: Our Lord Ascends into Heaven, which begins in Christian Tradition the First Novena to the Holy Spirit, which the disciples pray and prepare for the Father’s Promise.
4. The
disciples ask about the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel. The name of Israel is mentioned in this question – In Hebrew, “Israel” means One who
wrestles with God. This was the name God gave to Jacob who wanted His
blessing, so Jacob wrestled with an Angel. Jacob would not let go even when the
Angel broke his hip. (Genesis 32:23-33) The disciples ask the question like
they were Jacob - they want that blessing. He reminds
them that the Father has the answer. Jesus assures them to focus on preparing
for the Spirit, because they were about to wrestle with the world to bring God’s
blessings with the Good News.
a. Witnesses – Jesus tells His disciples they would be His witnesses throughout Jerusalem and throughout the world. The Greek word for “Witness” is Martys. We get the word, Martyr. Love that conquers fear is a total surrender to the Christ on the Cross.
b. As witnesses to Christ’s Love, the disciples also surrender to the work of the Spirit who chooses within community leadership to carry with them the Gospel Message. Their plans to place someone in succession to Judas would inspire them to pray together, and to choose out of 120 disciples, only two. One of these men would be called to take up the Office. The word "Office" in Greek is Episkopo - it is translated in English as Bishop, which means One who has oversight. (1 Timothy 3:1)
1. The
Feast of Pentecost, also called “The Feast of Good Fruits”, or “Harvest
Festival” was celebrated 50 days after Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:9-22) The Catholic Church, being the
daughter of the Jewish Faith, continues this celebration as we consider
ourselves connected to their Historical Celebrations. The Feast of Good Fruits
is celebrated in honoring God for allowing life to continue through the First
Born, and the First Harvest. Jewish families would offer these Gifts to God,
thanking Him for many blessings. For Catholic Christians, we continue this
practice, but we also offer our children to God to be strengthened by His
Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The disciples will become a
symbolic reality of the 12 Sons of Israel, the new overseers of the People of
God, who carry the Message of the Good News. This is why the disciples were
told to wait together, as a community, a small parish that would become the
Church - the City of God.
a. A Mighty Wind - The rush of the Mighty Wind did not come from outside the house, but from within - the Spirit of the Lord does not have to conform to our perceptions or understanding of how the natural order works, rather, He comes to us in unexpected moments. Being in His Presence, the Spirit of God urges us to reach for His Love, which in turn will remove the fears that hold them back from proclaiming their experience of Jesus. The Spirit of God also awaken gifts, vocations, and so much more - the Christian becomes more Christ like, yet the Spirit uses the Christian to be daring, and courageous.
b. Speak in other Tongues - The Gift of Tongues is small gift by which the Christian is given the grace to learn a language or more. The Spirit also can give to His Faithful one an instant knowledge of another language to speak to person who He wants within His Community. (St Pio is a perfect of example who was known to speak to people without knowing or studying their language. Click here to see THE HEALING OF JOEY LOMANGINO)
I. When the disciples received the Spirit, they left the room to meet the crowds who have been moved by the Spirit. People from different cultures heard the Good News.
II. Here, Peter speaks on behalf of the Christian Community. He is called the Prince of the Apostles, because Christ made Him the Rock of the Church. (Matthew 16;18-20) Peter has many titles, but the most important are Cephas (Aramaic for Rock), Kephas (Greek for Bolder) - but the word closely connected to the name is translated from the Greek as Petras, which is the femine for "Bolder". It is argued by our Protestant Theologians that this would not be the word used for Peter since it would be masculine as Petros, meaning "stone". This would not be the intention of Jesus to call name Simon a "stone", so the reader must understand that the translation must go connect to the word "Cephas" as Rock, or Massive Rock. It is Peter who by the Spirit of the Lord, guides the Church as the First Pope. The word Pope is the shortened version of the Greek word, Patriarchēs, which we get the word, "Patriarch", or "Father." As our Spiritual Father, Peter's teachings brings 3,000 people to Christ through Baptism.
2. It is written that "fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." (Acts 2:43) This "Fear" is not one that enslaves the Christian with terror, rather it gives strength for a Christian to live for God. It is one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
a. The Gift of the Fear of the Lord - Also known as the experience of Wonder and Awe, helps us to avoid any chances we may have in offending or displeasing God. This extends to those who are close to us: Family, friends, our neighbors (It includes our enemies - are they really?), even life on this world (the pets in your care, the land, our natural surroundings, etc).
I. The Fear of the Lord helps me to recognize the value of our relationship with God and Neighbor. (Matthew 5:27-30)
II. The woman who lived a sinful life, searches for the Lord in order to change her life. (Luke 7:36-50)
III. How do you search for the Lord? How do you value life, or the life of another? Do you see those you encounter as a Gift from God? Do you see yourself as a Gift of God?
3. "And all who believed were together..." (Acts 2:44) Fear that is crippling and not salvific can always be overcome by Love... Love of Christ who brings us together. Daily, we have an opportunity to encounter Christ in our homes, our parish, and in our community. When one is trapped in sin, it is very hard to see past its lures, and to find reason to find community. It is also hard when you live in the community, but your attitude does not reflect Christ. Here is an example of a coach who pushes his team to find their worth. The Coach is acting like God, pushing us to move forward. All see the struggle to keep going, but at the end of it, they win - this is the meaning of the Passion, Death, & Resurrection of Christ - in Baptism we are promised that by moving forward to His Call, we will win. Love will conquer our fears. The Community or Parish needs to see this to believe.
I.
Read Chapter 1 & 2 of Acts of the Apostles. Answer the
following question.
1. Who would be the Person giving instructions to the Apostles?
2. What did the Angel tell the Apostles after Jesus left them?
3. What did the First Community do when they stayed in the Upper Room?
4. Who was the Successor of Judas?
5. Which people were “astounded” by the Apostles proclamation of the Good news?
6. St. Peter quoted the Prophet Joel – What did Joel write in Chapter 2 verse
17?
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