The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level III
January 6, 2009 - Level 3, Issue 7 |
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| Dear CGS Level III Parent, |
Welcome to 2009! Level III begins 2009 with a series of three presentations on 1/6, 1/20, and 2/3. This series is one of a set of Level III presentation in the category called Typology. I must admit, it has been easier for me to experience and "feel" typology than it is to explain it in writing. Nonetheless, I give it a shot below.
Our first typological study will focus on Creation. Did you know that the Bible has preserved for us two accounts of Creation? We will read and discuss the first account on 1/6 and the second on 1/20. Then, on 2/3 we will work with materials which help children experience the typological method of reading the Bible and extend the typological method to the unity of the entire Plan of God - past, present, and future. Notice that I say "experience the typological method." We do not seek to explain or lecture on this theological doctrine. Perhaps that explains why I, as a catechist, can "feel" it but have a hard time describing it in writing - because a catechist is not called upon to describe the method in words to the children.
As always, do feel free to ask me questions if I leave you confused or wondering. Thanks.
Peace,
Lina Hilko
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| Eyewitness News? |
From History's Golden Thread: The History of Salvation by Sofia Cavalletti, page 25:
What is contained in the first and second chapters of Genesis is obviously not a chronicle of the events of creation as recorded by eyewitnesses. In these chapters we find the response Israel has given to the basic questions, "Where did the world come from? Where did humankind come from?" But Israel has answered this question as ... a people who find themselves in a special relationship with God.
Therefore, the creation accounts in Genesis are the product of God's work within a human author, a process called inspiration. This means that the text has been written with particular guidance from God, such that God is in some way its author.
In our Bible studies on 1/6 and 1/20, we will primarily ask ourselves, "Who is the God we meet in these pages of Genesis?" At some point - maybe right now, maybe years from now - each of us hopefully extends the questioning further to ask, "Who is God? Who are we? What is our relationship?"
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| Creation - The First Account |
| The first account of Creation is recorded in Genesis 1:1 - 2:3. In this account, God creates the earth from nothingness. The account employs the terms "day" and "week" as basic divisions of time which are not to be taken literally.
God's creative process is structured, ordered, rhythmic. The repetition of certain phrases (e.g., "and there was evening and there was morning") underscores this rhythm. God's creative acts are accomplished by His word, and the creative word produces results immediately, without delay ("And it was so"). This is a very powerful God. After each creative act, we hear, "God saw that it was good." These words underscore the positive nature of creation. So, with God, goodness accompanies power. We will consider the order of creation, particularly when human beings are created relative to all else. What does the order tell us about God? About us? About our relationship? We will consider what it means for humankind to be made in the image and likeness of God.
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| Introduction to Typology |
As I mentioned before, the children will not work with concepts of typology until the third presentation of this series (2/3). And so, in this newsletter, I just want to introduce the theological concept to parents without any specific tie to Creation.
Typology is a theological doctrine in which the Old Testament is seen in places as a foreshadowing of the events of the New Testament, particularly of the events of the life of Jesus. Through typology, one can see the New Testament in the Old Testament.
The term "typology" comes from the Greek "typos," which among other things refers to a wooden stamp. Think about the stamps we use today with an ink pad. (Or if you're as old as I am, think about the striking stamps of a typewriter.) The stamp contains the image that it will leave behind, although it is not fully or clearly recognizable by looking at the stamp. For example, when you look at the stamp, words or letters appear backwards. The image is within the stamp but in a mysterious or masked way.
Consider a seed which contains within it all that is needed to form the resulting plant. However, the seed looks very different from the plant, though the seed in some way contains the plant. Seed and plant look different from each other but, yet, are intrinsically connected.
So it is with types in Scripture. From History's Golden Thread: The History of Salvation by Sofia Cavalletti, page 17:
The typological method is the method of exegesis [interpretation of a portion of text of the Bible] that either begins with the present phase of salvation history and searches for its roots in the events, institutions, and persons of the Old Testament, or begins with the Old Testament and reads it in light of the events of the New Testament. In other words, the typological method searches for the "imprint" of one phase of sacred history upon another, keeping in mind the unity of the divine plan from creation to Parousia.
Although theological doctrine originated with a typology of two phases (Old Testament and New Testament), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provides works targeted to a three-phase method. The three-phase method considers sacred history in its entirety, from Creation through Redemption to Parousia. As Cavalletti writes (HGT, pg. 21), "A typology that does not go beyond the present Christian realities is a typology divested of hope and impairs the very plan of God."
I certainly hope this has been more clear than confusing. Please do remember that the children will work with typology but never actually hear any explanation such as what I've written here. I have presented these materials before, and the children have received them very well in my experience. Also, you should know that the materials in no way exhaust the study of types. If anything, the materials give a glimpse of the tip of the tip of an iceberg. The child, through the work of the Holy Spirit, may choose at any point in their life to uncover all sorts of typological imprints. The aim in CGS is to educate the child to the concept so as to open a door which leads to the wonder, hope, and joy contained in these imprints.
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| Archives |
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We have now established an archive of all these e-newsletters. You can access the archive from St. Teresa's web site. There's a link under the Catechesis section along the left.
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Please feel free to talk to me or email me ( LHilko@aol.com) if you have questions or comments or concerns about this information.
Sincerely, Lina Hilko
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