Bible Study of the Sunday Reading: Tuesdays at 11am & 7pm.
Our collaborative Bible Study is of the Sunday readings. Instead of studying a single book of the Bible we study the 4 readings for the coming week. This liturgical Bible Study helps us to better participate in the Mass because we have already studied the readings. Each study begins with an opening prayer, , a proclamation of the Readings, the Opening Prayer for the Mass, and then a discussion of the readings.
Virtual Bible Study
With the recent reduction of gathering sizes to ten people the Bible Study is now virtual. You can participate on a smart phone, tablet, or computer via google meet. Click here to participate on google meet.
Bible Study Video Blog
There are some who can not participate even in a virtual bible study. At least during the Advent Season Fr Fred is now doing a videocast of the bible study which you can watch or just listen to as you drive. The videos are stored on Youtube. Click here for access.
Bible Study Notes On-Line
Bible Study notes are stored both as a Word file and then as a PDF file in a folder on One Drive. Click here to connect to the folder. From One Drive you can view, download, or print the notes.
Our collaborative Bible Study is of the Sunday readings. Instead of studying a single book of the Bible we study the 4 readings for the coming week. This liturgical Bible Study helps us to better participate in the Mass because we have already studied the readings. Each study begins with an opening prayer, , a proclamation of the Readings, the Opening Prayer for the Mass, and then a discussion of the readings.
Virtual Bible Study
With the recent reduction of gathering sizes to ten people the Bible Study is now virtual. You can participate on a smart phone, tablet, or computer via google meet. Click here to participate on google meet.
Bible Study Video Blog
There are some who can not participate even in a virtual bible study. At least during the Advent Season Fr Fred is now doing a videocast of the bible study which you can watch or just listen to as you drive. The videos are stored on Youtube. Click here for access.
Bible Study Notes On-Line
Bible Study notes are stored both as a Word file and then as a PDF file in a folder on One Drive. Click here to connect to the folder. From One Drive you can view, download, or print the notes.
Review & Reflection Questions for Second Sunday of Advent
First Reading
1) What images of God do we get from this reading? The God of Isaiah 40 is . . .
2) We are presented passage from 2nd & 3rd Isaiah during the advent season because the Jewish people at this time were an advent people. What does it mean to be an advent people? How were they an advent people? How are we an advent people? How does this passage speak to us as an Advent people?
3) How would this passage have been heard by the exiles when it was first spoken & written?
4) How does this passage speak to us during the Advent season?
5) Who is saying to whom “Give comfort to my people”? Why are the people of God going to be comforted? What is the comfort that is going to be given?
6) What is the city of Jerusalem going to shout to the other cities of Judah?
7) What is God as a shepherd going to do?
Second Reading
1) What explanation does the sacred author give for the delay in the second coming in this passage?
2) How does the passage call us to prepare for the coming of the Day of the Lord?
3) How does he Sacred Author describe the Kingdom itself?
4) How does this passage speak to us during the Advent season?
Gospel
1) Why did John conduct his ministry in the desert? Why did he baptize in the Jordan River? Why did he baptize at all? What was the meaning of his baptism? What was his message? Why did he dress the way that He did?
2) What is the meaning of the quote from Isaiah? Why is it quoted before the description of the ministry of John? Who is the “messenger” and the “voice of one crying in the desert?” Who is “the Lord”? How does this passage as quoted in the gospel differ from the actual quote for Isaiah as found in our first reading?
3) How does the message and ministry of John summarize the message and challenge of the Advent season? Explain how John is a spokesperson for the Advent season.
4) Why is the description of the way that John dressed important?
First Reading
1) What images of God do we get from this reading? The God of Isaiah 40 is . . .
2) We are presented passage from 2nd & 3rd Isaiah during the advent season because the Jewish people at this time were an advent people. What does it mean to be an advent people? How were they an advent people? How are we an advent people? How does this passage speak to us as an Advent people?
3) How would this passage have been heard by the exiles when it was first spoken & written?
4) How does this passage speak to us during the Advent season?
5) Who is saying to whom “Give comfort to my people”? Why are the people of God going to be comforted? What is the comfort that is going to be given?
6) What is the city of Jerusalem going to shout to the other cities of Judah?
7) What is God as a shepherd going to do?
Second Reading
1) What explanation does the sacred author give for the delay in the second coming in this passage?
2) How does the passage call us to prepare for the coming of the Day of the Lord?
3) How does he Sacred Author describe the Kingdom itself?
4) How does this passage speak to us during the Advent season?
Gospel
1) Why did John conduct his ministry in the desert? Why did he baptize in the Jordan River? Why did he baptize at all? What was the meaning of his baptism? What was his message? Why did he dress the way that He did?
2) What is the meaning of the quote from Isaiah? Why is it quoted before the description of the ministry of John? Who is the “messenger” and the “voice of one crying in the desert?” Who is “the Lord”? How does this passage as quoted in the gospel differ from the actual quote for Isaiah as found in our first reading?
3) How does the message and ministry of John summarize the message and challenge of the Advent season? Explain how John is a spokesperson for the Advent season.
4) Why is the description of the way that John dressed important?
RESOURCES ON THE WEB TO STUDY THE SUNDAY READINGS
The Sunday Web site. This is a great site to reflect upon the Sunday readings because it contains a variety of material including poems and meditations. You could easily use this site to study and reflect upon the Sunday readings instead of my commentaries.
Catholic Productions: Dr Brant Pitre also has a weekly commentary on the readings. They are more scholarly that the commentary from Cardinal Tagle. The collaborative has a subscription to these video commentaries. The account name is office@cntaunton.org. The password is 126School. The video commentary for a coming week is released on the Monday night before the coming Sunday.
UCCB Site: The Bishops have a calendar with all the readings on the site. You can also easily move from the Sunday selection to passage in the New American Bible so as to read it in context.
Living Space: This is a great site out of Ireland which gives a reflection on the Daily and Sunday Readings. It is a combination homily and commentary. Very well done. Sponsored by the Irish Jesuit. This is part of a site called Sacred Space which gives a daily prayer in many languages.
Hearing the Word is a blog of the Sunday readings by Patrick Reid who is a scripture professor at Providence College. He usually doesn't post till late in the week.
The Word is a weekly commentary on the readings from American Magazine. Currently they are done by John Martens who is a theology professor at is an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn,where he teaches early Christianity and Judaism. He also directs the Master of Arts in Theology program at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity.
Tarsus is a site conducted by Kieran O’Mahony OSA,an Augustinian friar and biblical scholar. This site originates from Dublin, Ireland.
Leituras e Comentário em Português: A Congregação do Sagrado Coração de Jesus em Portugal tem uma página com as leituras e um comentário em Português.
Catholic Productions: Dr Brant Pitre also has a weekly commentary on the readings. They are more scholarly that the commentary from Cardinal Tagle. The collaborative has a subscription to these video commentaries. The account name is office@cntaunton.org. The password is 126School. The video commentary for a coming week is released on the Monday night before the coming Sunday.
UCCB Site: The Bishops have a calendar with all the readings on the site. You can also easily move from the Sunday selection to passage in the New American Bible so as to read it in context.
Living Space: This is a great site out of Ireland which gives a reflection on the Daily and Sunday Readings. It is a combination homily and commentary. Very well done. Sponsored by the Irish Jesuit. This is part of a site called Sacred Space which gives a daily prayer in many languages.
Hearing the Word is a blog of the Sunday readings by Patrick Reid who is a scripture professor at Providence College. He usually doesn't post till late in the week.
The Word is a weekly commentary on the readings from American Magazine. Currently they are done by John Martens who is a theology professor at is an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn,where he teaches early Christianity and Judaism. He also directs the Master of Arts in Theology program at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity.
Tarsus is a site conducted by Kieran O’Mahony OSA,an Augustinian friar and biblical scholar. This site originates from Dublin, Ireland.
Leituras e Comentário em Português: A Congregação do Sagrado Coração de Jesus em Portugal tem uma página com as leituras e um comentário em Português.