Good News For Living Years 11 & 12 Syllabus

Module 1 is oriented towards students making an encounter with Jesus, who is the Living Word of God, and the light for the world.
 

Jesus, the meaning of being human; Divine Word and human word; Four Senses of Scripture; the relationship of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium; Saints; Sacred art; Lectio Divina.

• What does ‘being human’ mean? 
• What is the purpose of my life? 
• Why did God become man?
• What is Divine Revelation?
• How does God ‘speak’ to people?
• How can one read and interpret Scripture? 
• What significance does Jesus have for my life? 

“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, 
but will have the light of life” (John 8:12)

Establishing the foundation of the Good News For Living Years 11 and 12 Syllabus as being centred on Jesus, the Person of the Word of God made flesh. 

Module 1 will extrapolate key aspects of the doctrine of the Incarnation, and at the same time draw out the meaning of the mystery and purpose of being human that this implies for the seeking student. The teacher will be mindful of gently and continually inviting students to “come and see” (John 1:39), so as to discover Jesus as the light for their lives.

Elucidating how the Word of God follows the Incarnational pattern of Jesus being fully human and fully divine in the one Person, Module 1 will draw out various ways in which Divine Revelation is communicated through the Scripture as both a Divine Word and a human word. It will do this through: 

• an exploration of the Four Senses of Scripture; 
• establishing the relationship of Scripture and Catholic Tradition, as two sources “Flowing from the same Divine wellspring”, with the Magisterium, whose role is of  “authentically interpreting” them (Dei Verbum, reference to Vatican II Pope Paul VI, 1965, p.9-10); 
• exploration of Saints Jerome and Thérèse of Lisieux, who embody and teach ways that inspire and equip students to prayerfully respond to Jesus as the Living Word; 
• examination and contemplation of supporting examples from Sacred art, for Jesus is “The visible image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). 

The regular prayerful practice of Lectio Divina will provide students with the opportunity to appropriate their learning into living.

The emphasis on Jesus Christ, Prayer and Scripture, which Module 1 has made, is to be developed and deepened throughout all the six modules of the Syllabus.

The work requirements of this Module is to apply the Four Senses of Scripture to a Gospel narrative, using examples from Jesus’ teaching, healing and nature miracles, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus Walks on Water, and with him Peter (Matt. 14:22-33), the cure of the woman with a haemorrhage and the daughter of Jairus raised to life (Mark 5:21-43), and to do so while referencing the synthesis of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium. 

Size: 800 words.

Barron, R. (2021). And now I see-- : a theology of transformation. Word On Fire Academic.
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Part One, Section One, Chapter 2, Article 3, III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture (The Senses of Scripture, 115-118). www.vatican.va. 
              https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PQ.HTM
DeT., DeA., & Day, M. (2010). The story of a soul : the autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Tan Classics.
Pope Benedict XVI. (2008). Foreword. Jesus of Nazareth : from the baptism in the Jordan to the transfiguration. Bloomsbury.
Pope Paul VI. (1965, November 18). Dei Verbum. www.vatican.va. 
               https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_1965
               1118_dei-verbum_en.html
Ratzinger, J. (2004). Introduction to Christianity. Communio Books (Ignatius Press).
Spitzer, R. J. (2015). Finding true happiness : satisfying our restless hearts. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2015). The Soul’s upward yearning : clues to our transcendent nature from the experience and reason. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2016). God so loved the world : clues to our transcendent destiny from the revelation of Jesus. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2017). The light shines on in the darkness : transforming suffering through faith. Ignatius Press.

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