Mix the Bible study with this foundation of doctrinal (catechism) teaching and many things come together for the student who seeks God. If you do Bible study without theology which comes from learning doctrine you will miss issues and themes which God has revealed. If you learn doctrine without Bible study, the study of the things of God becomes lifeless.
Yesterday was Trinity Sunday. In Fr. Tom Biersack's homily he gave some great advice. He said that there is a lot of talk and proper instruction about understanding the trinity, but better yet is to experience the trinity. This scripture quoted below which I have read over the last two days expands on Fr. Tom's point by showing how the revelation of God is an experience, for both God and for his people. What I see from these four sections is God on the move. God is living and active. He deals with nations and winds up human history in Isaiah 2, and he reaches out ('the lifter of my head') to one struggling individual in Psalm 3. Who is this amazing God of Isaiah 2 and Psalm 3? Go to the Gospels for a visual answer to this question. A beautiful example of this revelation of God is in Matt. chapter 3 which describes the opening of the ministry of Jesus. There we see God in three persons not as explained in a doctrinal book or a creed, but we see him coming out of the cold waters of the Jordan river, with the Father and and the Holy Spirit.
He rules the world and the course of human events, and in the end many peoples shall come to him:
[1] The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
[2] It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
[3] and many peoples shall come, and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Is 2:1-3 (RSV).
Here God comes to the aid of King David:
[4] But thou, O Lord art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.
Ps. 3:4 (DRA).
And here God reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
[16] And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
[17] and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matt 3:16 (RSV).
Where is a direct promise that the believer may experience the trinity? We find that in yesterday's Trinity Sunday Gospel reading:
[12] "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
[13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
[14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
[15] All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
[16] "A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me."
John 16: 12-16 (RSV).
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