On Catechism Paragraphs 26-143

This is my first time reading the Catechism, and I have really enjoyed the insight is offers regarding the specifically Catholic tenets and perspective from a closely Scripture-based reading. I feel that its format of doctrine and summary makes the information highly accessible and understandable, like various citations from St. Paul, St. Augustine, etc. that communicate the “substance” behind what can be confusing readings on belief. 

Some new terms I have learned are “Revelation” and “Divine Revelation” in the context of Theology, “ecclesial,” and “Magisterium.” Revelations are obviously a key term to the course, and having a foundational understanding of God’s communication and reaching out/down to us as humans is a profound and important part of the Catholic faith. Now approaching this study with the term “Divine Revelation” (versus my previously secular view of the word “revelation”) equips me with basic terminology as a send-off point. Similarly, another basic term referring to a sect/denomination of faith, but also related to a book in Scripture itself would be the term “ecclesial.” Finally, “Magisterium” as used in sections 85-87 “The Magisterium of the Church” refers to the sacred authority to teach by the Roman Catholic Church. These terms all relate to concepts with which I am familiar, but now having a greater understanding of the words, I can more precisely discuss topics in the text and class.

There could be a little more clarity for me in my understanding of Noah’s covenant with God, specifically the part of the passages 56-57 in which it says, “The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the ‘nations,’ in other words, toward men grouped ‘in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations.’” The passage then discusses a “perverse ambition to forge its own unity.” My questions are one, why is it a “perverse ambition” to form unity? And two, why does it seem God is advocating for division? I think digging into the story of Babel can help me understand this better, and I intend to do that digging.

I found most everything in the reading to be persuasive, in part because I approached the reading from an already believing perspective, but to have the background information was a compelling way for me to intellectual connect with the text more profoundly.