Gratitude & Thanksgiving

As I began a new program studying the Book of Romans, I found myself wrestling with the question of faith and works in Catholic and Protestant teaching. I initially approached the subject with the intention of clarifying for myself  the Catholic position. But as I read more deeply into the debate, I came to realise that there is actually far more common ground between Catholics and Protestants than the debate might suggest. The following are notes I have distilled from my reading and reflections. Note: Protestantism encompasses a wide range of denominations and theological traditions, with differences in how faith, justification, sanctification and works are understood. The Protestant view referred to here below are broad generalisations reflecting the classical/mainstream Protestant position. ----------------------------- COMMON GROUND Both Catholics and Protestants believe that salvation begins with God's grace, not human achievement. “For by grace you have been saved through f...

Psalm 83: O God, Arise Against Our Enemies (Communitarian Lament) (No longer used in the Catholic Mass nor in the Liturgy of the Hours) 1 A song, an Asaphic psalm. 2 O God, no silence[/rest] for You!  Do not be mute and do not be quiet, God. 3 For, look, Your enemies rage [growl],  and those who hate You lift their heads. 4 Against Your people they devise cunning counsel  and conspire against Your protected ones. 5 They have said: “Come, let us obliterate them as a nation,  and the name of Israel will no longer be recalled.” 6 For they conspired with a single heart,  against You they sealed a pact [covenant]— 7 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,  Moab and the Hagrites, 8 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,  Philistia with the dwellers of Tyre. 9 Assyria, too, has joined them,  has become an arm for the sons of Lot.Selah 10 Do unto them as to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin at the Wadi Kishon.   11 They were destroyed at En-Dor, they turned into...

This is one of a set of notes I have compiled, i nspired  from a series of lessons given by Rev Fr Ferdinand Purnomo, OCD,  including the notes he very generously made available. Also contained in this set of notes are my compilation from other resources. This page will be updated as an when I come across other resources related to this psalm.  Psalm 72 is a coronation hymn for a king. Verse 1 “king” = David; “king’s son” = Solomon (because of Solomonic attribution) “righteousness” (tzedaqah 159x; tzedeq 160x) (righteous person = tzaddiq 206x) means behaviour that conforms to some standard (e.g. interpersonal agreement, rules/regulations/laws, covenant) Verses 2-4 “he” = the king or the king’s son, i.e. every leader of the people Vv. 2 and 4: the king maintains and restores justice V. 3: the mountains and hills, representing creation, bring peace and righteousness “peace” [Hebrew: shalom = wholeness, completeness, integrity] “lowly” [Hebrew: ani = socially dependent]...

This is one of a set of notes I have compiled, i nspired from a series of lessons given by Rev Fr Ferdinand Purnomo, OCD, including the notes he very generously made available. Also contained in this set of notes are my compilation from other resources. This page will be updated as an when I come across other resources related to this psalm.   General observations v.1-4: God is described as shepherd; the psalmist as sheep v.5-6: God as a bedouin who prepares a banquet for the psalmist as a visitor Intimate communication between God (he v.1-3,6 and you v.4-5) and the psalmist The Lord is depicted in two different images in this psalm, two different images SHEPHERD As shepherd, the Lord is not owner of a big herd of sheep  Rather, the psalm depicts a very intimate setting of the shepherd knowing his sheep. God is infinite, he can deal with us as if we are the unique individual on earth, at the sa me time giving this unique attention to billions and billions. When David says, "T...

This is one of a set of notes I have compiled, i nspired from a series of lessons given by Rev Fr Ferdinand Purnomo, OCD, including the notes he very generously made available. Also contained in this set of notes are my compilation from other resources. This page will be updated as an when I come across other resources related to this psalm. Psalm 8 is a psalm of praise. Starts with praise to God. Praise his creation The heart of the psalm - what is human worth that HE cares for man Then the inclusio - closing with praise This psalm contains vocabulary of majestic glory The triple us of the pronoun is lost in the English translation at v1, 4, 9 Verse 1 Hymns in the psalter usually praise God in the 3rd peron (eg Psalm 19, 24) Hymns in the Psalter usually begin with an imperative call to praise God, e.g. Ps 33; 47. Psalm 8 begins differently — with an exclamation of praise spoken directly to God : “O LORD, our Lord” → Psalm 8 is a poem about God and us and about our relationship with G...