Understanding and Praying with

ScriptureRev. Ed Burns

September 20, 2014

IntroductionFr. Ed Burns

Ordained in 2004 for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Wright State University since 2006

Resources

Little Rock Scripture Study Bible (NAB or NRSV)

“The Bible Made Easy-A Book by Book Introduction” by Fr. Tim Schehr

United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

Prayer

Asking guidance of the Holy Spirit

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.”

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

Contemplation

“The first step [of interpretation], after calling upon the Holy Spirit in prayer, is to give our entire attention to the biblical text”

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

“We only devote periods of quiet time to the things or the people whom we love; and here we are speaking of the God whom we love, a God who wishes to speak to us. Because of this love, we can take as much time as we need, like every true disciple: ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’ (I Samuel 3:9).”

Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel, #146

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

“First of all, we need to be sure we understand the meaning of the words we read…the biblical text we read is two or three thousand years old; its language is very different from that which we speak today…”

“…our most important goal is to discover its principal message, the message which gives structure and unity to the text.”

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

“If a text was written to console, it should not be used to correct errors; if it was written as an exhortation, it should not be used to teach doctrine; if it was written to teach something about God, it should not be used to expound various theological opinions; if it was written as a summons to praise or missionary outreach, let us not use it to talk about the latest news.” (#147)

How do we use Scripture to discern God’s Word to us?

We need to read Scripture with the Church

“Certainly, to understand properly the meaning of the central message of a text we need to relate it to the teachings of the entire Bible as handed on by the Church.” (#148)

Catholic News Svc @CatholicNewsSvc 10hToday's #Pope advice: Don't forget to carry Gospel w/ you all the time! Read a verse every day, "It's good for you!"

Pope Francis, Wednesday, September 17

Praying with Scripture

Lectio Divina (Holy Reading)

Composing the Place (St. Ignatius)

Liturgy of the Hours

Lectionary for Mass

Lectio/Read

Read the Scripture (5-8 verses)

Listen to God’s Word

What word/s/phrases speaks to you?

Allow 1-2 minutes quiet time

Meditatio/Reflect

Read the passage again

Let Jesus speak to you

Reflect on that message

allow 3-4 minutes of quiet

Contemplatio

Read the Scripture again

Have faith that God is listening

Tell God what is in your heart

allow 4-5 minutes quiet time

Oratio/Prayer

Read the Scripture a final time

Be aware of God’s presence beyond ideas, acts, memories

allow 5-10 minutes quiet time

Conclude with the Lord’s prayer or a Glory Be

Let’s practice…

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed.And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up.Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,it withered for lack of moisture.Some seed fell among thorns,and the thorns grew with it and choked it.And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,it produced fruit a hundredfold.”After saying this, he called out,“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” (Luke 8:4-8)

Other means of prayerComposing the Place

St. Ignatius’ favorite way to pray

Place yourself in the scene

what do you see?

what is happening around you?

what do you hear?

what do you smell?

what do you feel?

what do you taste?

Questions?