SCHERERVILLE – It’s not often that students ask for summer school, but that is exactly what’s happened with the adult faith formation program at St. Michael the Archangel.
“We have had a Bible Study series each fall and spring, probably for 12 or 13 years, using the Little Rock Scripture Study on the books of the Bible, but we usually take a break in the summer,” explained Deacon Ron Pyle, facilitator. “The program has been so popular, however, that all the participants wanted to continue into the summer. We usually meet for 6 to 8 weeks in the fall and spring, but they have a shorter, four-week series on specific topics, so we signed up for that this summer.”
This summer’s offering is the Sermon on the Mount from the Book of Matthew, introduced on July 18 and continuing on Tuesdays through Aug. 8.
Before each session, participants are given “homework” that includes a reading assignment and 10 questions to answer in a workbook “Each session starts with a video, usually about 20 minutes in length, and then we gather in small discussion groups to answer the 10 questions presented in the study guide,” Deacon Pyle said.
There is no penalty for those who get too busy to finish their assignment, but most “students” are eager to please.
“I’ve been doing Bible Study for years,” said Mary Hahn, a retired teacher who considers herself a lifelong learner. “I find it interesting to learn more about my faith, and the topics have been interesting, like Genesis, Exodus and the Women of the Bible. There is so much more to Scripture than any of us know.
“When we meet, you learn from other people and hear other points of view. I look forward to coming to every session and finding out what is the next topic,” Hahn added.
“We are spreading the Word of God and giving people the opportunity to learn more about God and their faith,” Deacon Pyle said. “The Little Rock Scripture lessons give you the history and the why about things that happened in Scripture, but then explains how that applies to your life today. They offer the facts and opinions that offer different viewpoints.”
The Sermon on the Mount was chosen as the current topic “because it is well known and people already have questions about it,” added the deacon. “Why are the poor in spirit ‘blessed’? How do the Beatitudes apply to life today?”
During one group’s discussion about the question “What does it mean to be poor in spirit?” the consensus was that “Knowing that you are a needy person, if you don’t know you need God, (that) can lead you to be poor in spirit.”
Trying to define “meekness,” John Dubec called it “a firm gentleness. I’ve thought of it as similar to humility.”
Deacon Pyle pointed out that “a lot of people looking at Jesus (on the cross) thought of him as meek, but I don’t see that as a weakness,” while Sue Solorio recalled that the reading for the lesson called meekness “the virtue of those possessed by God.”
Discussing the beatitude “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” another study group found a contemporary connection to mourning in the violence and child abuse that has become so prevalent in society. “I don’t ever remember having active shooter drills (in school), and the recent death of a child who was beaten by her grandparents is just unbelievable,” said Cheryl Bozacki.
“There are two ways to understand the Beatitudes and the ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness,’” added Nancy LaMagdeleine, moving on to the next beatitude. “If you feel you have personally failed by being unfair to others, and need to seek repentance, (that is one way), or seeing the world as broken by a lack of justice and righteousness (is another way).”
Addressing the beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” Mary Anne Adamson said she thought of prayer as the surest way to peace. “Be a good role model of how to change,” she suggested. “The more people who pray the Rosary, the more peace we will have.”
Patty Doffin said she has attended the Bible Study lessons for years, but missed a couple of series before she felt a need to return. “The Holy Spirit said to come back, and by studying the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes we are living the graces of God better,” she said. “The world needs a lot more mercy and forgiveness. If we ‘kill’ the world with kindness, maybe (the problems we are facing) will work themselves out.”