Scripture Encounter is coming back to St. Monica on August 24 with a seasoned facilitator team, including Glenda Ong. Reflecting on previous years of the bible study, Glenda finds: "every time the participants tell me that our fellowship inspires them and touches their lives, [it’s a] pay off.” Reading the Bible can be difficult, and many of the individuals coming to the Catholic faith through RCIA share that reading the bible, and increasing their knowledge of scripture, is an important goal on their faith journey. "Studying scripture has put [me] on God's pathway for cultivating my spiritual growth,” Glenda shared, as her initial motivation for beginning bible studies in her own life.

The Gospel of St. Matthew, our current lectionary reading this year, is particularly interesting. Pope Francis once shared that: “I am a sinner,” but more concretely, he explained that he was thinking of his own story as the calling of St. Matthew. “That’s me. If feel like him … Here, this is me, a sinner whom the Lord has turned his gaze.” 

From tax collector to evangelist, St. Matthew provides a rich narrative driven by the question of sin, of what it means to be Christian and Jewish, and to encounter the risen Lord. This Fall in Scripture Encounter, we are journeying together through the first half of Matthew’s Gospel; reading, praying and discussing the Word of God. Breaking the word open together will facilitate our encounter with Christ, as we grow as his disciples and in community. This will enable us to become, as Msgr. Torgerson often says: People of the Word. 

Studying the Bible in a group, hearing about the background and interpretations, praying together, and discussing questions, will enrich our own understand, not just in our heads, but also in our hearts. Our Scripture Encounter experience will be strengthened with the addition of Steve Picard, who joins the team from the Catholic Bible Institute. Scripture Ecounter will provide a high-quality Bible Study with a resource from Catholic Publisher Little Rock Scripture Study. Click the image below for more information on how to participate with us!