The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . .
104 In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment
and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, “but as what it rewally is, the word of God”. “In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.”
109 In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way. To interpret Scripture correctly, the reader must be attentive to what God wanted to reveal to us by their words.
110 In order to discover the sacred author’s intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling speaking and narrating then current. “For the fact is that truth is differently presented and expressed in the variuous types of historical writing, in prophetical and poetical texts, and in other forms of literary expression.”
129 Christians therefore read the Old Testament in the light of Christ crucified and risen. Such typological reading discloses the inexhaustible content of the Old Testament; but it does not make us forget that the Old Testament retains its own intrinsic value as Revelation reaffirmed by our Lord himself. Besides, the New Testament has to be read in the light of the Old. Early Christian catechesis made constant use of the Old Testament. As an old saying put it, the New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.
141 “The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord” (DV 21): both nourish and govern the whole Christian life. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105; cf Is 50:4).
2653 The Church “forcefully and specially exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ’ (Phil 3:8) by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles’.”
Religious Educator’s Personal Reflection
At family gatherings, we often recall the personalities, struggles and victories of our ancestors and how they came to Australia. How does this help us to learn our family values and have a sense of belonging?
Our story as Christians is found in the Bible. The great biblical scholar, St Jerome said: “To be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Jesus”. What do you think this means? Why is it important to know and understand our story?
How does the Bible, our sacred Scripture, nurture your relationship with God? Reflect regularly on the Sunday readings, paying particular attention to the selection of both Old and New Tesatament readings.
The teaching Church has called all Christians to read with a discerning eye the sacred stories. Nourished by the Eucharist and inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Church has continued to interpret and reinterpret the scriptures so as to give light and direction to her members. How has this critical reading of the sacred stories affected you?
The Word of God Luke 1:1-4
In Scripture
The prologue to the Gospel of Luke is important because it can reveal something about the process of writing scripture and the gospels in particular. The author begins the prologue by stating that there have been many other written accounts of the happenings relating to Jesus and the early Church. These accounts we are told, were handed down from the eyewitnesses. The Gospels themselves are not eyewitness accounts. Luke attempts to write an ordered account for “Theophilus” so that he” may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received”
Related Scripture
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.
Ps 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Deet 30:14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
In Tradition
The Bible is a compilation of 73 books that has been assembled over one thousand years and then recognised and accepted by the Church, in light of living tradition. The first part, the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures, is common to Jews and Christians. The significant event in the Old Testament is the Exodus, which probably took place about 1250 BC. Most of the Old Testament literature is centred around this event.
The New Testament, or Christian Scriptures, consists of twenty-seven books. The significant event in the New Testament is the crucifixion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The “canon” or rule of content defines the books the Church recognises as Scripture.
Learning and Teaching Process
Making links with the Guidelines for Religious Education of Students in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, 1995.
Goals/ Key Learnings
Educational Goal 4
Key Learnings: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
Related Units of Work
To Know, Worship and Love text:
Level 4b Unit 11: One in the Spirit
Unit 8: The Church – People of Pentecost
Unit 12: We Gather to Worship
Melbourne RE Guidelines
Unit 14: God’s Chosen People – The Story Begins
Unit 15: God’s Chosen People – The Story Continues
Learning Outcomes
It is intended that students will be able to:
- Explain, in their own words, how and why sacred stories have been passed on over time with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
- Explain the significance of key books, people and events from the Old and New Testaments.
- Examine how sacred scripture and tradition is important to the Christian community.
Learning and Teaching Activities
Teachers should be alert to all appropriate opportunities within the learning and teaching activities of the unit to achieve the learning outcomes.
Assessment of students skills and understandings should occur throughout all phases of the methodology.
Involvement of both home and school is to be considered throughout the unit.
Orientation Phase
During this phase teachers establish students’ prior knowledge
- Recall stories from our classroom/school that we remember and are important to us. Discuss why it is important to keep telling and re-telling these stories.
- Ask the students to create a mind map about Scripture.
- Children write a personal response to the question, “What does the Bible mean to me?” Think, pair, share a response to the question, “What does the Bible mean to the Catholic community?”
- Students brainstorm how Catholics use the Bible.
- Children write questions and answers about key books, people and events, that they already know about, in the Bible to be used as a class quiz to begin each lesson during this unit. As the unit progresses, students add questions to reflect their new learnings.
Development Phase
During this phase students and teachers come to new and deeper understandings of Scripture and Tradition. They will come to hear and respond to the word of God and explore the relationship that exists between life and the Christian Story.
- Create a bank of useful topic words, such as, revelation, inspiration, synoptic, etc. A biblical or Catholic dictionary (hard copy or online) may be useful.
- Visit the church with the Parish Priest. Discuss the place of the Sacred Scriptures in the Catholic Tradition. Identify the specific gestures, words, practices and environment which show reverence for the Bible. (eg, processions, lectern, responses). In response students could create a chart to identify procedures for handling and caring for the Bible or devise ways to recall the structure, responses and gestures of the Liturgy of the Word.
- Explore the exposition in the Student Text pp 91-93.
- Use Blackline Master 10.1 or 10.2 to explore the formation and structure of the Bible. Allow guided discussion to foster an awareness of different books, distinction of old and new testaments, etc.
- Encourage children to pose their own specific questions about key books, people and events from the Old or New Testament. Negotiate a research task to find answers to these questions using websites, books, commentaries. Encourage students to present their findings creatively, eg. using ‘fantail wrappers’ as a model, newspaper article, postcard.
- Set up expert groups to investigate skills and understandings of using scripture.
- Bible referencing – to locate a particular passage.
- Retreival charts – to unpack a bible story.
- Bible Profiles – to explore the role, significance and message of a person.
- Bible Resources – to understand the purpose and value of these in understanding scripture stories.
- Use any of these skills to explore Luke 1: 1-4 from Student Text. Pose questions such as, ‘Who is the ‘letter’ adressed to? What does Luke set out to do? Why? For whom is Luke writing this ‘ordered account’? Why?
Synthesis Phase
This phase provides opportunities for teachers and students to reflect upon the learning experience and to respond both personally and communally.
- When next planning, preparing and leading a liturgy of the word students should be reminded to incorporate their new skills and understandings related to scripture.
- Revisit student’s mind map about Scripture created in the Orientation Phase. Add new learnings and categorise this information.
- Refer to Did you Know in Student Text. Use this as a stimulus to develop a board game that requires players to progress by locating passages in the Scriptures and answering questions based on knowledge of titles, peoples and events in the Bible.
- Review ways we can reverence and live the Sacred Scriptures in our lives, as a community and as individuals.
- Allow students to choose a scripture passage that has special meaning for them. Choose a means( eg a scroll ) to share the important message it contains. Add illustrations and reference it. Reflect “This Scripture has special meaning to me because….”
Reflecting Together at Home and at School
- Ask your mum or dad to tell you a funny story about their childhood. Was their childhood very different from yours. Try to remember their story, and get together with some other people in your class and share your stories.
- Find out about stories in your family that have been passed down from your grandparents or great-grandparents.
- Look up the Book of Kells on the Internet. Make a time line of its history up to the present.
- Choose one of the psalms from the Book of Psalms. Read it together as a family and discuss what you think the author is saying.
Resources
BLM 10.1
Law Books – Genesis, Leviticus, Deuteronomy
Sacred Books called ‘The Torah’
History Books – Joshua, Samuel, Kings, Esther, Judith
They have a strong theological bias.
Wisdom Books – Job, Wisdom, Psalms
Poetry, song, proverb, etc
Major Prophets – Isaiah, Daniel, Baruch
Minor Prophets – Hosea, Amos, Micah, Maggi, Malachi
Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
History – Acts
Has a strong theological bias
Paul’s Letters – Corinthians, Timothy, Thessalonians
Other Letters – Hebrews, Peter, Jude
Revelation - Apocalypse
OLD TESTAMENT
NEW TESTAMENT
Janine Luttick, CEO Melbourne
Doctrinal Focus