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Catholic Bible Study.

Study the Bible through the weekly Sunday Roman Catholic Mass readings.

Each Friday we will email you the text of the Sunday Mass readings along with some analysis to help you understand and apply the Bible readings.

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Mass Notes are sent each Friday at noon Eastern time. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you always wanted to study the Bible but just never seem to be able to get around to it?

What if you could use use the same Catholic Mass readings you will hear during Mass to begin your own weekly Bible study?

Benefits you will receive by signing up for Mass Notes:

You will Understand the Biblical Context

You will learn the about the historical context of the biblical passages.

You will Draw out the Big Ideas

We will help you locate the theological big ideas in the readings and perhaps to an "aha" moment.

You will Apply the Scriptures to your Life

This is the bottom line: You will become a stronger Christian because you will learn how to apply the Bible to your life.

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A SATISFIED READER OF MASS NOTES

My Mom Says:

“Hi, I enjoyed the notes for this week. Very insightful more than what the priest had to say today. I am also doing the study of Paul . . . . It is very interesting to learn of all the Jewish laws. Do you think the Pharisees were more interested in outward appearance than what was in the heart specifically, how they posted the law over the door? It must have been a total transformation for Paul who was raised in such a strict home. Thanks, Mom.”

Mass Notes are sent each Friday at noon Eastern time.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

“Hi, I enjoyed the notes for this week. Very insightful more than what the priest had to say today. I am also doing the study of Paul . . . . It is very interesting to learn of all the Jewish laws. Do you think the Pharisees were more interested in outward appearance than what was in the heart specifically, how they posted the law over the door? It must have been a total transformation for Paul who was raised in such a strict home. Thanks, Mom.”

What People are Saying about Mass Notes:

Matthew

I have been reading the Sunday Mass Study Notes for about 12 months and it has been very helpful in my study of the scriptures before mass each weekend. The reflections and commentaries are very well thought out and written and help me to find what God is trying to tell me and to better help me carry on that message to others during the week. I most like when other scripture passages are brought in for reference, as this is something that I try to do myself as well, and the references I look at are not always the same as in the mass notes, giving me a different perspective. I also appreciate when the readings are given more context, either talking about or explicitly showing the verses before or after a reading. This is always very helpful, especially when I am not as familiar with a particular reading. I hope and pray that this ministry continues and mass notes can be brought each week to myself and others in the Church. Thank you and may God bless you and keep you.

Albert

Dear Sir, I As a 79 year old retired priest, who has to prepare homilies for varied groups, nursing home residents, residents of assisted living homes and frequently for parish congregations I find your notes extremely helpful.

Bernie

I love these notes. These notes help me explain to my students the points that what Jesus is saying is important even today. The passages of the narrow gate are one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Keep up the good work, you’re reaching the audience of your audience. Blessings

Frequently Asked Questions about Mass Notes:

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Mass Notes is a free, weekly service brought to you through the team at Christians for Christ.

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Each weekly email contains a link at the bottom to unsubscribe. Simply clicking that link unsubscribes you from the weekly email. If you want you can then sign up again at some later date you are free to do that. We can also pause your subscription if you let us know.

What's the structure of the Sunday Mass Study Notes ?

The weekly Sunday Mass Study Notes design plan follows a reverse A-B-C acronym: Context, Big Idea, and Application. Each reading begins with an introduction section covering the context. Then the mass reading is given followed by an explanation of what it means, the big theological idea and finally the application. We use the historical / grammatical approach of interpretation.

Can I trust your understanding of the Scriptures, what are your credentials?

Every author and editor for the Mass Notes has at least a master’s degree or higher in a Christian theological field. Some, including Christy Hill, have a PhD. These authors and editors have spent most of their entire lives studying the Scriptures.

Recent Mass Notes

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Sunday Mass Study Notes for 01-02-2021

Welcome back to the Sunday Mass notes. The gift-giving season of Christmas has just passed from our radar screens. However, the tradition of gift giving is found in each of the readings of the mass this week. In the Old Testament reading, we see that people will give gifts to Jesus, the King, who will reign on earth during His second advent. The New Testament reading shows us how St. Paul was God’s gift to the Gentiles. In addition, the Gospel reading recounts the story of the Wise Men who came from the East to give gifts to Jesus during His first advent.

Introduction to the Second Reading:

This week we are first going to examine the second reading from Saint Paul because the first reading from Isaiah and Gospel lesson from Saint Matthew must be studied together in light of the insights from Paul. The second reading is Ephesians Chapter Three where Paul unveiled a mystery that had been hidden throughout the ages until after Jesus’ First Advent, what we just celebrated at Christmas. As you read this section of Ephesians (without all of the skipped verses) try to select the single verse that Saint Paul provided which summarized this mystery.

Second Reading:

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles– 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, (Ephesians 3:1-6)