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How do you read the gospels ? T HE WORD “GOSPEL” MEANS GOOD NEWS. It refers to the message proclaimed by Jesus and passed down by knew him a to him. and anyone eager to find out more about Jesus can plunge right in. You a few keys to asures. The heart of the Christian life The gospel: The word of God “The gospel is not a book among books. It isn’t human words among human words. It is the word of God. It is the word of God made human, contemplated and recounted.” MADELE I NE DEL B RêL “Thanks be to the gospel, by means of which we also, who did not see Christ when he came into this world, seem to be with him as we read his deeds.” SAI NT AMB ROSE “True holiness does not mean a flight from the world; rather, it lies in the effort to incarnate the Gospel in life, in the family, at school and at work, and in social and political involvement.” P OPE JOHN PAUL II faith matters faith matters TRANSLAT A A ION BY DANIEL DYKES PHOTO CREDI 1 DESIGNPICS.COM; 2 ILLUSTRATION FROM THE IYSKY GOSPEL (CA 1340) ; 3 A POSTLES, CATEDRAL DA SE”- FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/EDUARDOZARATE (LICENSE-CC 2.0 ATTRIBUTION); ible: A treas ure trove waiting covered (95BBIB) go to confession? (95BCON) can I overcome it? (95 DEP) u rebuild your life? y! (95B EUC) © 2011 BY BAYARD, INC. eds.” SA I N T AM B ROSE oes not mean a flight from the worl ort to incarnate the Gospel in life, in t at work, and in social and political invo L II REDI T S 1 DESI HE S IY PHOTOS/EDUARDO TTRIB le: A treasure trove waiting iscovered n? (9 n I overco u r med by Jesus a do m ls ? do ead osp Ho u the g 5B D y

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How do you read the gospels?

The word “gospel” means good news.

It refers to the message proclaimed by Jesus and proclaimed by Jesus and passed down by those who passed down by those who knew him and were close knew him and were close to him. In his love, to him. In his love, to him. In his love, god sent his his ssson to save humans on to save humans from death and sin. from death and sin. from death and sin.

moving accounts of oving accounts of the life, execution, and the life, execution, and resurrection of Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, these four short, simple these four short, simple texts have always nourished the faith of nourished the faith of nourished the faith of Christians. They reveal Christians. They reveal Christians. They reveal Jesus, son of gggod, who so od, who so deeply affected those who deeply affected those who deeply affected those who deeply affected those who met him on the roads of met him on the roads of met him on the roads of met him on the roads of met him on the roads of palestine 2,000 years ago. alestine 2,000 years ago. alestine 2,000 years ago. alestine 2,000 years ago. alestine 2,000 years ago. alestine 2,000 years ago.

The gospels are the The gospels are the The gospels are the The gospels are the foundation of the foundation of the foundation of the foundation of the foundation of the new Testament, the second Testament, the second Testament, the second Testament, the second Testament, the second Testament, the second major division of the major division of the major division of the major division of the major division of the major division of the Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They Christian Bible. They require no prior knowledge, require no prior knowledge, require no prior knowledge, require no prior knowledge, require no prior knowledge, require no prior knowledge,

and anyone eager to find out more about Jesus can plunge right in. You can plunge right in. You only need a few keys to only need a few keys to unlock the first treasures.unlock the first treasures.

The heart of the Christian life

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But

these are written that you may (come to) believe these are written that you may (come to) believe these are written that you may (come to) believe these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”through this belief you may have life in his name.”through this belief you may have life in his name.”through this belief you may have life in his name.”

• The Gospel of JohnThe Gospel of John

The gospel: The word of God“The gospel is not a book among books. It isn’t human words among human words. It is the word of God. It is the word of God made human, contemplated and recounted.” • madeleIne delBrêl

“Thanks be to the gospel, by means of which we also, who did not see Christ when he came into this world, seem to be with him as we read his deeds.” • saInT amBrose

“True holiness does not mean a flight from the world; rather, it lies in the effort to incarnate the Gospel in life, in the family, at school and at work, and in social and political involvement.” • pope John paul I I

faithmatters

faithmatters

TranslaTranslaTransla ion BY danIel dYkes PhoTo credi 1 designpics.com; 2 illustration from the iysky gospel

(ca 1340)(ca 1340); ; 33 “aapostles, postles, catedral da se”- flickr.com/photos/eduardozarate (license-cc 2.0 attribution);

4 designpics.com

The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discoveredto be discovered (95BBIB)

Why should I go to confession? Why should I go to confession? (95BCon)

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it? (95Bdep)

Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? (95B(95BdIV)

The Eucharist: A great mystery!The Eucharist: A great mystery!The Eucharist: A great mystery! (95B (95BeuC)

I’ve lost my faith… (95BFaI)

How do you read the gospels? (95B (95Bgos)

Living through the ordeal of illnessLiving through the ordeal of illness (95BIll)

Face to face with suicide (95BsuI)

Who is Jesus? (95Bwho)

Why do evil and suffering exist? (95B(95BsuF)

When we’re shaken by death (95Bdeadea)

puBlIshed BY BaYard, InCTwenTwenTTy-Third y-Third

PublicaPublicaTPublicaTPublica ionspo Box 6015

nnew london, CT 06320www.23rdpublications.comwww.23rdpublications.com

creaTreaTrea ivecommunicaTommunicaTommunica ions

for The Parish1564 Fencorp driveFenton, mo 63026

www.creativecommunications.com

© 2011 BY BaYard, InC.

him as we read his deeds.” • saInT amBrose

“True holiness does not mean a flight from the world; rather, it lies in the effort to incarnate the Gospel in life, in the family, at school and at work, and in social and political involvement.”

aul I I

matters

o crediTs 1 designpics.com llustration from the siysky

lickr.com/photos/eduardozarate ( 2.0 attribution)

The Bible: A treasure trove waiting The Bible: A treasure trove waiting to be discoveredto be discovered

Why should I go to confession? (95BC

Depression…How can I overcome it?Depression…How can I overcome it?Divorced: How do you rebuild your life? Divorced: How do you rebuild your life?

proclaimed by Jesus and proclaimed by Jesus and passed down by those who knew him and were close knew him and were close to him. In his love, od sent

on to save humans from death and sin.

oving accounts of the life, execution, and resurrection of Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, these four short, simple texts have always nourished the faith of nourished the faith of nourished the faith of Christians. They reveal

on of gggod, who so deeply affected those who deeply affected those who deeply affected those who

only need a few keys to unlock the first treasures.

texts have always nourished the faith of Christians. They reveal Jesus, deeply affected those who

the gospels?

How do you read the gospels

How do you read the gospels)

(95Bdep

you read

Why the gospels?

A FTer The resurreCTIon oF Jesus, the first

Christian communities appeared in palestine, then very quickly all around the mediterranean. From community to community, the early disciples told the stories and teachings of Jesus. But, with the deaths of the first witnesses and the start of persecution, the idea of a written record

of this “good news” took shape. Four gospels have been recognized by the Church as faithful to the story of Jesus and to the Christian faith: those of matthew, mark, luke, and John. each gospel has its own style and its own way of telling the story of Jesus.

Who wrote the gospels?

W e don’T know. The original texts do

not seem to have had author names attached. But Christian tradition named the authors as matthew, mark, luke, and John. matthew was a tax collector and was—like John—an apostle (meaning an envoy) and disciple of Jesus. according to tradition, mark didn’t know Jesus, but would have drawn from peter’s memories after being converted alongside the apostle paul. and luke, also a companion of paul’s, was a doctor in antioch. he wrote a gospel, as well as the acts of the apostles, which recounts the beginnings of Christianity after the resurrection.

The dates ofthe gospels

The gospel oF mark Is The oldesT. written in

rome in the 60s ad, it is intended for converted pagans. matthew and

luke drew their inspiration from the same source as mark (which has not been passed down to us), in the 80s or 90s, but each used other sources as well. matthew addresses his gospel to Christians of Jewish origin and insists on the recognition of Jesus as the messiah awaited by the Jews. luke wrote for Christians of diverse origins who lived in the greek world, and he developed the universal dimension of Jesus’ message. Finally, the gospel attributed to John—written by disciples of the apostle at the end of the first century—reveals Jesus as simultaneously “true man and true god.”

What do the gospels say?

The Four gospels reCounTThe lIFe oF Jesus oF

nazareTh from his birth to his resurrection after his death on the cross. They are not like newspaper accounts or biographies, but testimonies of faith. none of them claim to tell us

everything about Jesus, son on of god, but they all convey the way in which the risen Christ deeply affected those he encountered.

Why read the gospels?Why the gospels?Why

S ImplYmplYmpl To enCounTer Jesus and enTer InTo

The InTImaCY o hIs word.This intimacy transforms us, liberates us from most of our fears, eases our minds, revitalizes us, and opens the paths of spiritual life. The more you read the gospels and the more sensitive you are to the word of god, the more you increase your desire to deepen and respond to the call through the way you live your life. living according to the gospel fills us with happiness. •

an

d a

lso

Where do ii start? start?• There are many ways to There are many ways to discover the gospels. You discover the gospels. You can start with can start with mark, the ark, the shortest, and follow Jesus shortest, and follow Jesus shortest, and follow Jesus shortest, and follow Jesus throughout his many en-throughout his many en-throughout his many en-counters. Bit by bit, through counters. Bit by bit, through counters. Bit by bit, through counters. Bit by bit, through counters. Bit by bit, through the way in which he speaks the way in which he speaks the way in which he speaks the way in which he speaks and acts, Jesus reveals to his and acts, Jesus reveals to his and acts, Jesus reveals to his and acts, Jesus reveals to his disciples who he is. You can disciples who he is. You can disciples who he is. You can also attend mass, or choose ass, or choose to read the text of the gospel to read the text of the gospel to read the text of the gospel to read the text of the gospel that the Church has chosen for each day. It’s a way of joining in the prayers of the universal Church.universal Church.universal Church.

nnarratives and parablesarratives and parablesarratives and parables• The gospel texts have many different styles. The narratives recount the life of Jesus. The parables are small stories: In them, Jesus speaks using simple images speaks using simple images of the kingdom of heaven of the kingdom of heaven and of the forgiveness that and of the forgiveness that ggod gives. The gospels also od gives. The gospels also include many prayers and include many prayers and include many prayers and speeches, words spoken by speeches, words spoken by speeches, words spoken by Jesus.Jesus.

The gospels for todayThe gospels for today• originally written in riginally written in greek, the gospels came to reek, the gospels came to us thanks to the long chain us thanks to the long chain us thanks to the long chain of believers. This good news of believers. This good news of believers. This good news of believers. This good news is for everyone—that’s why is for everyone—that’s why is for everyone—that’s why it has been translated into it has been translated into it has been translated into so many languages. The gospels belong to everyone and are for everyone. aChristian believes that what we see in the gospel text can be lived out today, by anyone, in any culture.anyone, in any culture.anyone, in any culture.

PrayersPrayers• many prayers are taken any prayers are taken from the gospels. Jesus, from the gospels. Jesus, from the gospels. Jesus, responding to the demand responding to the demand responding to the demand of his disciples, taught of his disciples, taught of his disciples, taught them the our Father. The ur Father. The magnificat of the Virgin agnificat of the Virgin agnificat of the Virgin mmary is taken from the ary is taken from the ary is taken from the gospel of luke. mmatthew and atthew and luke give us the Beatitudes, uke give us the Beatitudes, uke give us the Beatitudes, the most well-known of the most well-known of which is found in the which is found in the gospel ospel of matthew: “Blessed are the atthew: “Blessed are the atthew: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the poor in spirit: for theirs is the poor in spirit: for theirs is the poor in spirit: for theirs is the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven….”kingdom of heaven….”kingdom of heaven….”kingdom of heaven….”kingdom of heaven….”Jesus tells us something unique, which is all we need

to orient our entire life: God is love.

gospels?

, the first Christian communities

alestine, then very quickly all

editerranean.

of this “good news” took shape. Four gospels have been recognized by the Church as faithful to the story of Jesus and to the Christian faith: those of matthew,

and acts, Jesus reveals to his and acts, Jesus reveals to his disciples who he is. You can also attend to read the text of the gospel to read the text of the gospel that the Church has chosen for each day. It’s a way of joining in the prayers of the universal Church.

arratives and parables The gospel texts have

many different styles. The narratives recount the life of Jesus. The parables are

gospels belong to everyone and are for everyone. Christian believes that what we see in the gospel text

anyone, in any culture.anyone, in any culture.

PrayersPrayers•• many prayers are taken any prayers are taken

responding to the demand responding to the demand of his disciples, taught of his disciples, taught

our Father. The magnificat of the Virgin

o enCounTer Jesus and en

oFThis intimacy transforms us, liberates us from most of our fears, eases our minds, revitalizes us, and opens the paths of spiritual life. The more you read the gospels and the more sensitive you are to the

od, the more you increase your desire to deepen and respond to the call through the way you live

• The gospel texts have many different styles. The narratives recount the life of Jesus. The parables are

What do the gospels

he our gospels reCounThe l Jesus o

azare from his birth to esurrection after his

death on the cross. They are not like newspaper

SJesus and ennTIma

This intimacy transforms us, liberates us from most of our fears, eases our minds, revitalizes us, and opens the paths of spiritual life. The more you read the gospels and the more

uke, also aul’s, was

wrote a gospel, as well as

beginnings of Christianity

Jewish origin and insists on the recognition of Jesus

messiah awaited by the Jews. luke wrote for Christians of diverse origins who lived in the reek world, and he developed the universal dimension of Jesus’ message. Finally, the gospel attributed to John—written by disciples of the apostle at the end of the first century—reveals Jesus as simultaneously “true man and true g

shape. Four gospels have been recognized by the Church as faithful to the story of Jesus and to the Christian faith: those of

uke, and

an envoy) and disciple of Jesus. tradition, know Jesus, but would have drawn from memories after being converted alongside the

aa companion of

ntioch. wrote a gospel, as well as

postles, which recounts the beginnings of Christianity

resurrection.

know Jesus, but would have drawn from memories after being converted alongside the apostle a companion of a doctor in

What do the