Session #3 - The Bible

 I  - What is the Bible?

* When you think of the Bible, what are some of the first things that come to mind?
* Have you ever used the Bible? If so, do you have a favorite passage?

* The Bible is not just a book. It is the Word of God. It is God's letter to us, His creation.
* The Bible has many uses: it can teach us, it can comfort us, it can guide us. 

II - The Bible: A Map for the Journey!

* Last class, we discussed the invitation that Jesus gives us every day: to follow Him. This can be a very difficult invitation to say "yes" to. But once you say yes - then what?
*As Matthew Kelly says in the Bible is a guidebook for your journey through life, towards Heaven = which should be our main objectives in life.

III - Introduction to the Bible
* One of the ways God loves us is by revealing Himself to us - letting us get to know Him. He does this in TWO ways: Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.
            * Sacred Tradition = the teachings that have been handed down from the apostles to their successors through preaching, example, and life of worship, even before the New Testament was written.
            * Sacred Scripture = the Bible.
*Both Tradition and Scripture are equally important and used in our Catholic faith. If you separate the two, it is very easy to misinterpret them.
* The Bible is made up of seventy-three (73) books:
            * Forty-six (46) books in the Old Testament (where God reveals Himself as the Creator who is deeply interested in a relationship with humanity).
            * Twenty-seven in the New Testament (God reveals His mercy and overwhelming desire that all people experience His love - the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the life of the early Church).

* The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek and has been translated into more languages than any other book. It was written by many different authors between 1500 BC (Before Christ) and 100 AD (Year of the Lord / After Christ).

IV - How Should We Use the Bible?

* The Church has chosen readings EVERYDAY, not only on Sundays for Mass. You can use those readings as a guide for your day.
* You can choose one of the book that the video suggests.
* The best way to be comfortable with using the bible is by using it! Make it a habit and you will notice the difference after some time.

V - Get started!
* Make sure you have a good Bible. There is the Catholic Youth Bible, and other editions that are easy to read/understand.
* You can also search the Bible online: https://bible.usccb.org/bible
* You can view the daily readings online: https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
* Follow the Mass, especially the readings!

HOMEWORK (due on 10/24/21)
Look up the following passages and write a short summary for each:
    * Book of the Prophet Jeremiah = Chapter 31, verses 7-9
    * Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews = Chapter 5, verses 1-6
    * Gospel according to Mark = Chapter 10, verses 46-52