Where do we find the Mass in the Bible? What is the relationship between the two? In ten beautifully produced lessons, Parousia: The Bible and the Mass answers these questions and more.
In the latest video Bible study from the St. Paul Center, discover why the liturgy is a major theme that runs through the entire Bible, from Genesis to the Book of Revelation. We will not only look to the Law, the Prophets, and life and teachings of Jesus, we'll also lean on the Doctors of the Church to enhance our understanding of the Mass. We’ll see how the New Testament is concealed in the Old, the Old is revealed in the New, and why both point directly to the Mass, the sign of the New Covenant.
Join host Scott Hahn to uncover how and why all of God’s action, in creation and redemption, is ordered to the Mass.
Lesson 1 - “Where is the Mass in the Bible?” That is the question Scott would ask his high school classmates. This lesson explores liturgy and its significance throughout the entire Scriptures. Beginning with the ritual worship in Genesis all the way to the heavenly liturgy of the Book of Revelation, this initial lesson sets the stage for Parousia: the Bible and the Mass.
Lesson 2 - The meaning of “covenant” is the central theme of this second lesson. Covenant is the way that God deals with His people throughout salvation history. Lesson two looks at the relationship between covenant and liturgy, and how God’s ultimate purpose for humanity is communion with Himself.
Lesson 3 - Was the crucifixion of Jesus an execution or a sacrifice? In this lesson, Scott discusses the sacrificial nature of Christ’s offering beginning in the Upper room and culminating at Calvary. He clarifies the meaning of “New Testament” as it was understood by the early Church. What we’ll discover is that it is more than a document.
Lesson 4 - This fourth lesson takes a look at eucharistic prefigurements in the Old Testament. Through the use of the interpretive lens of typology, Scott surveys the different types of the Eucharist hidden in the Old Covenant that anticipated God’s people to live in communion with Him. From the offering of Melchizedek to the prophecy of Malachi, God was preparing Israel with His abiding presence.
Lesson 5 - In this lesson, Scott now moves to the Gospels to uncover types of the Eucharist in Christ’s infancy and public ministry. From His birth in Bethlehem to His first miracle at Cana, Scott demonstrates how Christ anticipates the ultimate fulfillment of the New Covenant. Everything points to His sacrifice that began in the Upper Room and was completed at Calvary.
Lesson 6 - Kimberly joins Scott in this lesson to discuss the Mass in the Book of Acts and the New Testament Letters. What we’ll discover is that from its first days, the Church was preoccupied not only with table fellowship, but with communion.
Lesson 7 - The Letter to the Hebrews and the Book of Revelation offer a unique perspective to liturgy. It is in these two books that we read liturgical imagery, description of sacrifice, altars, priests and banquets. In this lesson, we will see how Hebrews and Revelation describe the Mass as Heaven on earth.
Lesson 8 - Scott takes us through his first experience of Mass in this lesson. Sitting in a back pew trying to take notes of all he observed, he discovered that Catholics heard more Scripture in their liturgies than Protestants did in their services. And that was only the first half of the Mass, in the Liturgy of the Word.
Lesson 9 - Continuing his narration of his first Mass, Scott then proceeds to recount his experience of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This second half had just as much Scripture as the first. Hearing the priest say, “Lamb of God,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy,” he realized where he was. Right before his eyes we was experiencing the heavenly liturgy.
Lesson 10 - Parousia has often been misunderstood even by biblical scholars. In this final lesson we will see that Christ’s Presence, or Parousia is more than His appearance at his final coming. His Parousia is how He remains with us at every Mass, fulfilling God’s desire for humanity: communion with Him.
