A Word from Members of the Scripture Study Group in early 2017:

This past winter/spring, instead of our usual study of a specific book of the Bible, we undertook an overview of the Old Testament.

We reviewed the history of God’s chosen people from the beginning of time to the threshold of the coming of the Messiah. We’ve seen God’s plan for salvation in the covenants He made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David and gained insights into God’s promise of eternal life in the
New Covenant through His Son.

We followed the curriculum of the Little Rock Scripture Study Program. The commentary was excellent in the manner it was presented, giving us a global perspective of the O.T. with some interesting pearls along the way that are sure to make us want to read and re-read some parts of the O.T.

One of our members was moved to tears with the sensual beauty of the Song of Songs. Another was in awe of the devotion and loyalty that Ruth had for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her God. Another member read more of Daniel during the summer. We were inspired by the Wisdom writers
and saw the Holy Spirit guiding the words of the prophets’ writings.

There are so many references made in the New Testament gospels and epistles to the men, women and events of the O.T. Through this overview we have gained a better sense of the context for these references. As St. Augustine wrote, “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”

God’s direction to His people has remained consistent throughout his earlier covenants to the present: love and worship Him with all of our hearts, with all of our souls, with all of our minds and with all of our strengths; and love our neighbor as ourselves. Justice to our fellow humans is the
key to doing God’s will!


If you have any questions about the Scripture Study Group in our parish, please contact:

 Mark Chasse — [email protected]
  or
 Carol Ranieri —[email protected]