Balaam’s Donkey

[Gregory Thompson]

Looked it up. It’s a dog that talked in that series.

It sure did.

 

[disciple Clint]

This part of the Catechism, I'm sorry to say, is as misunderstood as much in Scripture:

In this cutlure we too quickly go from "Literal? Obviously not." And then go to subjective, and then we have "My truth and your truth, and Bible? Who needs it?"
But no, not to subjective: to spiritual. As in Holy Spiritual. We must hear in The Spirit, in His Spirit, and not our own spirits. And the only way to do that, is to follow Him and hear Him.

The translation "continue in" is of the Gk μένω - menō - A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand,... The best non-literal translation I have seen of that word (a favorite in John's Gospel) is, "make your home in", as in:
"If you make your home in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will be knowing the truth, and the truth will make you free."

That is the key, I believe, to understanding the Truth of His Word (and His words, and His actions). To truly become and remain His disciple, then we begin to learn how to "hear" Him.

And as far as the "one eyed people"... our "problem" is not too many with only one, but too many have two, but remain unseeing:


But to His disciples, He says,

Using the Catechism as our authority we find that the Magisterium of the Church is the appropriate interpreter of Scripture not the individual, individual interpretation leads to misinterpretation and false teaching. CCC#85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. CCC#86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."

 

[fide]

Using the Catechism as our authority we find that the Magisterium of the Church is the appropriate interpreter of Scripture not the individual, individual interpretation leads to misinterpretation and false teaching. CCC#85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. CCC#86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."

I hope you don't hear that teaching as a proscription against lay embrace and devout study of Holy Scripture!

The Catechism includes this as well:

V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church

131 “And such is the force and power of the Word of God that it can serve the Church as her support and vigour, and the children of the Church as strength for their faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting fount of spiritual life.” Hence “access to Sacred Scripture ought to be open wide to the Christian faithful.”

132 “Therefore, the study of the sacred page should be the very soul of sacred theology. The ministry of the Word, too—pastoral preaching, catechetics and all forms of Christian instruction, among which the liturgical homily should hold pride of place—is healthily nourished and thrives in holiness through the Word of Scripture.”

133 The Church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful...to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

Holy Scripture, together the Catechism, are acknowledged by the Magisterium to be essential to all in the Church. In a "Preface" to the Catechism, Pope St. John Paul II writes, in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum :

The approval and publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church represent a service which the Successor of Peter wishes to offer to the Holy Catholic Church, to all the particular Churches in peace and communion with the Apostolic See: the service, that is, of supporting and confirming the faith of all the Lord Jesus’ disciples (cf. Lk 22:32) as well as of strengthening the bonds of unity in the same apostolic faith. Therefore, I ask all the Church’s Pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel life. This catechism is given to them that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is also offered to all the faithful who wish to deepen their knowledge of the unfathomable riches of salvation (cf. Eph 3:8). It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the holy desire for the unity of all Christians, showing carefully the content and wondrous harmony of the catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, lastly, is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. I Pt 3:15) and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes.