Breaking Open God S Word

Volume three in a three-part series that functions as a pastoral tool for sharing the word of God; focuses on Cycle C and emphasizes using the lectionary in catechesis throughout the year.

Breaking Open Gods Word: A Three-year Cycle of Reflections on the Sunday Readings of the Liturgical Year invites readers to embark upon a journey through the riches of the Catholic Churchs three-year lectionary for readings for Sunday Mass. The lectionary, a sequence of appointed passages from the texts of the Old and New Testaments, pairs readings with the seasons and feasts of the church year. Sister Celine Goessl, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, has taken a lifetime practice of prayerful listening to the messages God shares through scriptural texts and brought it into conversation with her immersion in the details of daily life to create the collection of reflections appearing in Breaking Open Gods Word. The intent of this collection is to help Gods Word enflesh itself in the readers daily life and to empower him or her to take action to live as Christs presence in other peoples lives. You may watch the changing of the seasons in your parishs worship and hear the variety of texts read at Mass. As you do, and you find life presenting you with ever-changing challenges to your faith, Breaking Open Gods Word offers to accompany you on your daily journey. Along the way, Sister Celine Goessls prayerful reflections can offer you inspiration and guidance for living and witnessing faithfully in whatever circumstances you face each day.

In this unique resource, Fr. Michael E. Connors, CSC, gathers and expertly guides the collective wisdom of experienced preachers and homilists to provide a unique resource that examines the preacher’s unique role as shepherd and a spiritual leader. The chapters will investigate these dual roles according to the roots of the Catholic spiritual tradition and provide practical advice for priests, deacons, seminarians in homiletics classes or preaching classes, retreat leaders, RCIA catechists—all who preach. Preaching as Spiritual Leadership provides solutions to the following questions: How is preaching embedded in the Church’s pastoral mission? What does it mean to be a shepherd and spiritual leader for others? How can a preacher flourish in the role of spiritual leader? How can we lead others into committed discipleship through preaching? To be a shepherd and spiritual leader, the preacher must be in some sense a mystic, who is filled with the Lord’s gracious presence, a presence to be shared with others. Homilists are a sacramental people, they must also be a mystagogues: ministers who can both lead the community’s ritual celebrations, and help the People of God to plunge into the liturgy with lively faith, to touch the holy realities behind them.

What do we do with the Old Testament? How do we read words written in a world so different from ours, stories so ruthless and so filled with grace? In Fire by Night, pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler invites readers to marvel at the Old Testament. Page after page, in stories and poems and prophecies, the Hebrew Scripture introduces us to a God who is unwieldy and uncontrollable, common and extraordinary, and who brings both life and death. Using stories from Scripture and from her ministry, Florer-Bixler braids together the text with the sometimes ordinary, sometimes radical grace of God. The same passages that confuse and horrify and baffle us can, if we are paying attention, lure us closer toward God. This God has traveled with people through cloud and fire, by day and by night, since the beginning of time. The Old Testament is a perplexing book of profound grace, hope, and beauty. It’s a book of fire. To read the Old Testament is to draw close to God’s love, which continues to burn away our expectations and set us ablaze. This God has traveled with people through pillars of cloud and fire, by day and by night, since the days of the exodus.

This book was written to inspire you to seek a deeper revelation of God’s Word through his Holy Spirit. The Word of God is off the chain, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:9, but you must immerse yourself in it to receive the revelation of this truth. When you open the Bible and read, miracles happen. It causes transformation in your life, it builds up an invisible armor around you, it breaks down walls of separation between you and God’s presence, and it also brings reconciliation and heals soul wounds. When you know his truth, it sets you free from things of this world and things you didn’t even know you were chained to or in bondage to. This book shares insight into the effectiveness of a servant’s heart and the birth of miracles through faith in God and obedience to his word and will for you. Most importantly, it promotes a divine relationship with our Father, Savior, and the Holy Spirit, in order to lead us and guide us as ambassadors of Christ while being empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue His purpose in this earth through his children. Father God wants his bride prepared for the wedding feast when Jesus returns! Father God waits for you with open arms! What are you waiting for? Dive into the deep water of his word, and the revelation and be fulfilled!

The revised second edition of the award-winning The RCIA: Transforming the Church incorporates new insights in liturgical catechesis and ritual celebration that have emerged since the original edition. The changed format includes an expanded commentary on each of the periods of the rite, expanded sections, all-new sections, practical guidelines, and suggestions for using the rite with children.Again divided into three parts, this resource first looks at foundational issues for implementing the rite, including underlying theological issues and ministries in initiation. The second section looks at each stage in the rite following a four-step process. The third section examines pastoral issues such as annulments, ecumenical sensitivity, discerning valid baptism, etc.

At some point during our religious journey, we have to ask ourselves the questions: How much do we really know God? Are we spiritually dead or alive? And what phase is our faith in? Beginning with the first chapter of Genesis, Gods mystery is hidden throughout the Bible. This book sets forth the importance of the creation story and describes the significance of each day. In addition, it reveals the secret of the Trinity and the meaning of Revelations Armageddon war, including the seven seals, trumpets, bowls, and the 666. Gods intentions are hidden in the Bible. A certain level of openness to the Bible is required to uncover Gods mystery that is hidden within it. This book was written for those who are on a quest to make a connection with God and to support the readers relationship with Christ. It is meant to be read along with The Holy Bible and not in place of it. The objective of this book is to challenge our preconceptions about biblical truths so that we may be able to discern Gods intent with the Spirit of Truth. This book is a great guide for those who thirst for the Spirit of God. It is a must read for all those seeking the Truth. The deep intentions, within Gods Word, are revealed to those who eagerly search for it. Rev. B. So Jin Church of True Life

What is the place of corporate worship in theological education? Certainly it is not unexpected to have ministry students attending seminary chapel, but what are the expectations for the students who attend chapel? Is it to form their liturgical sensibilities into conformity with a particular worship tradition or style? Or is it to provide a safe place to try things that one would be reluctant to experiment with in congregational worship? Although common worship for ministry students is almost a given in all theological schools, there are few common understandings about it goals and purposes. Common Worship in Theological Education is the first book to address the theological, pedagogical, and political issues involved in the planning and execution of seminary chapel. It offers voices from across the theological and ecumenical spectrum about chapel, as well as involving multiple disciplines in the conversation. This volume provides the first comprehensive survey of the worship issues at stake in seminary education today. The essays in this collection provide the foundation for a productive conversation within a seminary faculty or among colleagues within a theological discipline. This volume makes the case that the chapel ought to have a seat at the table when the education mission of a theological school is being discussed. So pull up a chair and prepare for a fascinating conversation.