Biblical Literacy Web Sites

by Brian Singer-Towns

One question I frequently get asked in workshops is, "What Web sites can you recommend for biblical literacy?" The answer is, "Not many."

The problem isn't the lack of Web sites on the Scriptures. There are hundreds of them. The issue is how many Web sites represent a trustworthy Catholic approach to Scriptures. This narrows the field down considerably.

Saint Mary's Press has been working to identify these sites and provide links for you to access them. These links are part of our e-Source Web site and you can find them here: http://www.smp.org/linkslist.cfm?category=28&name=Biblical%20Literacy.

If you know of other Web sites that you have found to be trustworthy and helpful send me an e-mail (btowns@smp.org) and we will add it to our list.

Wisdom Reflection on John 6:1-15

The Sunday Gospel reading for the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (June 26, 2009) is John 6:1-15, or John's telling of the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. The following reflection on this reading is taken from Youth Engaging Scripture: Diving into the Sunday Gospel. Each reflection in this book connects the readings to the context of biblical times and the Catholic Tradition, and then ends with Wisdom Connections on what the reading might mean for us today.

Wisdom Connection
John draws some parallels between Jesus's feeding bread and fish to the five thousand in a deserted place and God's feeding manna to the Israelites in the desert. Both stories point to God's abundance and care for human beings. Whenever the Israelites recall God's feeding them manna, they are quick to point out that they do not live by bread alone but by the word of God (see Deuteronomy 8:3). The crowd comes to hear Jesus preach. Nurtured by his word, they receive the added gift of being nourished, through God's abundance, with bread and fish. This story invites us to share our abundance, a blessing from God, with those who experience physical and spiritual hunger. It reminds us that we are a Eucharistic people and are obligated to behave as such.