St. Dominic Catholic Church

Pastor's Corner

November 25, 2018

“Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

John 18:37

I recently heard an interview with Tom Nichols, author of The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters.  He laments that many of us think we’re experts in fields that take years to learn!  So I read an article on WebMD and diagnose my maladies, then demand my physician prescribes the meds I “know” I need! 

One area where Catholics are notlikely to claim to be experts is the Scriptures.  So much do we feel out of our league that we tend to not read them much at all.  Yet if we want to hear Jesus’ voice, then the Scriptures are vital.  They capture the words of Jesus, often challenging and enigmatic.  He lived in a particular culture that is different from ours and that adds to the challenge of understanding Him. 

However, there is help in understanding the Scriptures we hear at Mass each week.  I encourage you to go to www.formed.organd listen to “Opening the Word”, a 5-8 minute explanation of Sunday’s Gospel given by a Catholic scholar. Last week’s explanation placed the prophecy of Jesus in the context of other Old Testament prophecies to demonstrate that Jesus was not talking about the end of the world, but the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its leaders in 70 AD.  It concluded with an application to our lives today.  

Imagine, in the time it takes to brush your teeth or shave, you could listen to an exposition on the Gospel you’ll hear on Sunday, and reflect on it all week long – maybe even learn an interpretative principle that will help you understand other passages, as well!  If you haven’t logged in to FORMED before, you’ll need our parish code, Q77WZR, to set up your account (or find a teenager to do it for you!)