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February 1, 2012

Fifth in Ordinary Time

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Mark 1:29-39

Healings at Simon’s House

Jesus Preaches and Heals throughout Galilee

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When does this Gospel reading occur in the life of Jesus?

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Traditionally there are four senses of Scripture, which are outlined in the

Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 115-119.

1. Literal Sense: The meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture (Catechism,

no. 116), the actual event, person, thing described in the biblical text. The literal

sense gives rise to the following three spiritual senses.

2. Allegorical Sense: How those things, events, or persons in the literal sense

point to Christ and the Paschal Mystery.

3. Moral Sense: How the literal sense points to the Christian life in the Church.

4. Anagogical Sense: How the literal sense points to the Christians heavenly

destiny and the last things.

Understanding the four senses of Scripture will transform your reading of the Bible.

By using this Catholic approach to the Word of God, you can more easily

overcome the distance of time and discover the intimate solidarity that exists

between the people of God in the Bible and your life in the Catholic Church today.

Senses of Scripture

(Making “Sense” out of Scripture: The Four Best Kept Secrets in Biblical Studies Today by Dr. Edward Sri)

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The foundation for the four senses of Scripture is God’s unique way of communicating. Although humans communicate primarily through words and

actions, God communicates not only through His words and deeds but also

through the very things He has created. As St. Thomas Aquinas explained, “That

God is the author of Holy Scripture should be acknowledged, and He has the

power not only of adapting words to signify things (which human writers can

also do), but also of adapting things themselves [to signify other things]” (Summa Theologiae I, 1, 10).

In other words, God not only communicates through the words of Scripture, but,

since He is the Creator and the Lord of history, He gives special meaning to the

things, people, and events mentioned in Scripture and uses them as signs to tell us

something about his plan of salvation. (This may occur even without the human

author’s awareness, since God is coauthor of the Scriptures.)

Senses of Scripture - St. Thomas Aquinas

(Making “Sense” out of Scripture: The Four Best Kept Secrets in Biblical Studies Today by Dr. Edward Sri)

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Senses of Scripture ExampleA study of the Jerusalem temple provides a classic example to demonstrate the four

senses of Scripture. In the literal sense, the temple was the actual building that oncestood in Jerusalem. There, the Israelite priests offered sacrifice, the people worshipped,

and God dwelt in the Holy of Holies.

This temple of the Old Testament has greater importance because God uses it as a signto reveal important realities in the New Testament: Jesus and the Christian life. Allegorically  , the temple points to Jesus, Who said He was the true temple which

would be destroyed and raised up in three days (Jn. 2:19-21). Just as the Jerusalem temple

was the place of sacrifice for the Jews, so does Jesus body house the everlasting sacrificeon Calvary for all humanity.

The moral sense of the temple is found in the Christian, whose body is a temple of theHoly Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Just as the temple contained the awesome presence of God, sodo the bodies of Christians hold the presence of the Holy Spirit by virtue of their

Baptism.

 Anagogically  , the Jerusalem temple finds its eschatological meaning in the heavenlysanctuary, where God will dwell among us in our eternal home, as described in Book of Revelation (e.g., Rev. 21:22).

(Making “Sense” out of Scripture: The Four Best Kept Secrets in Biblical Studies Today by Dr. Edward Sri)

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February 5, 2012Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James

and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about

her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and

she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by

demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with

various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak

because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he

prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said,

"Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I

may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their 

synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

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• Where is your solitary place?

• What new realm of authority is seen here?

• Why does Jesus silence the demons?

•After a day like this, what pressures could Jesus feel as a new daydawns? How might this relate to his decision to move on?

• What do you do when you need to get away and be with God?

(Source: Catholic Serendipity Bible)

February 5, 2012Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Mark 1:29-39