Ponder Contemplative Bible Study for Year B

Mahri Leonard-Fleckman

“I just wanted to thank you for the incredible gift of Ponder! I am a recently retired Catholic priest. This past year, when I was still in parish ministry, we decided to use Ponder for our Bible study group. I have to say, in forty-three years I have never used a Bible study tool that was more favorably received than your publication. Now that I am retired (but still helping out in many parishes), I sit with Ponder at the beginning of each week to begin the process of preparing my homilies. I just ordered Years A and B, and I eagerly await their arrival.”

Fr. Stan Rataj, Archdiocese of Chicago

• Ponder invites prayer and study of the Sunday Scriptures, rooted in lectio divina.

• Lectionary readings, informative commentary, and thought-provoking reflections are included for every Sunday of the year.

• Intentionally designed for flexible use, including personal prayer, group Bible study, Breaking Open the Word, and homily preparation.

• Clear instructions are provided for individuals and groups.

• Group pricing is available for 5+ books.

YEAR A

978-0-8146-6557-2

Paperback, 336 pp., 6 x 9

$24.95 (1-4 copies)

$19.95 net (5-9 copies)

$17.45 net (10 or more copies) e eBook

YEAR B

978-0-8146-6500-8

Paperback, 296 pp., 6 x 9

$24.95 (1-4 copies)

$19.95 net (5-9 copies)

$17.45 net (10 or more copies) e eBook

YEAR C

978-0-8146-6558-9

Paperback, 312 pp., 6 x 9

$24.95 (1-4 copies)

$19.95 net (5-9 copies)

$17.45 net (10 or more copies) e eBook

Each book includes:

• Free access to online video lectures (DVDs also available)

EXPLORING LESSON SIX

• Engaging, informative commentary

• Questions for learning, reflection, and discussion

• Opening and closing prayer for each session

• Affordable group pricing

Take advantage of discounts for groups!

Lesson Five

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH

Luke is the only Gospel writer who has given us a second volume: the Acts of the Apostles. He has thereby created a narrative that does not end with the death and resurrection of Jesus but continues to describe the activity of the early church.

1. AccordingtoPaul’sunderstandingofthegospel,whyisJesus’resurrectiongoodnewsfor us?InwhatwaydoesPaul’sperspectiveenlargethegospelbeyondourpersonalsalvation (seecommentaryon1Cor15:12-18)?

The Acts of the Apostles could be called the “Book of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit is mentioned more times in Acts than in any other book of the Bible (fifty-five times) and functions as a major character within the narrative, impelling and guiding the plot. Luke’s second volume presents the Holy Spirit as the interior dynamic force of the church. Although the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the church is treated in many New Testament texts (some of which we will explore in Lesson Six), we will limit our discussion in this lesson to the Acts of the Apostles, which not only directly addresses the life and growth of the church but also displays Luke’s exceptional ability to tell a story.

2. ChristianfaithdemandsabalancebetweenthesalvationalreadyaccomplishedinChrist andthefinalsalvationthatisnotyetpresent.Whathappenswhenthe“already”ofChrist’s victoryisoveremphasized?Whathappenswhenthe“notyet”ismadetoomuchafocus?

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4.

Although Luke’s second volume is called the “Acts of the Apostles,” the name is misleading. Only two apostles are treated in any depth: Peter and Paul. John travels with Peter but has no “acts” of his own. Philip is provided with a few scenes in chapter 8, and the death of James, son of Zebedee, is mentioned (12:2). Moreover, Paul, whose ministry is narrated more than any other character, was not one of the original twelve apostles selected by Jesus. But it was not Luke’s intention to enumerate the acts of each of the twelve apostles. He wanted to present the growth of the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Theophilus, taught instructions apostles self alive fered, speaking meeting part of the speak; days ered this 7He times his when be and he lifted

3. FirstCorinthians2:9-13assuresusthattheSpiritallowsustoknowGodnotthroughhuman wisdombutthroughwordstaughtbytheSpirit.Canyouidentifyatimewhenyousimply knewthroughasenseorpromptingthatsomethingwasgoodorright?Didyourecognize thatsenseasagiftofGod’sSpirit?

SecondCorinthians3:1-6remindsusthatitisthroughtheSpiritthatweareable others.Wereyoueverawarethatyourabilitytohelpsomeoneinneedwassuccessful becauseofGod’sgracethanyourownefforts?Pleaserelatethecircumstances

When he is put to the test, he does not repeat the mistakes of the past. Life is able to trans- form us into better people. When such growth occurs, God’s Spirit is at work.

2) God works in hidden ways. We discussed at the beginning of this section how the Joseph story was written in a secular manner. God’s Spirit is clearly active but works “behind the scenes.” The Spirit works in a similar way in our lives. Few of us receive a visit from an angel or witness the heavens torn open. God more often leads us through quiet promptings, ideas that come to us, friends who guide us,

Acts 1:1-9

The Promise of the Spirit. 1In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. alive to them by many proofs after he had suf fered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. meeting with them, he enjoined them not to de from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus. ered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” and life events that give us pause. Just as God led the brothers to Egypt because of a famine, God can direct us by the trials we endure. Just as Joseph’s brothers recalled their guilt as they told their story, God can stir memories of our past mistakes so we can repent and address them. Like Joseph, we might not recognize God’s action until our story draws to an end. But that is what makes the Joseph narrative so valuable. It shows us that even when God’s plan is not obvious, God’s Spirit is still moving, drawing the broken pieces of our lives toward repentance and reconciliation.

He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.