LSVI102 SCRIPT

Revelation and Faith

Prayer Leader: “May we please ask everyone to stand for our opening prayer.”

“Dear Lord, we ask for your help as we prepare to speak publicly. Fill us with your courage and strength and
guide our words so that they may bring inspiration and understanding to those who hear us. May our group be
a worthy representative of your message, and may our speech bring hope and positivity to all who listen.”

Lasallian Prayer
I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of you.
Saint John Baptist de Lasalle, pay for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
Amen.

INTRODUCTION/ICEBREAKER

Meo: “Good morning, everyone. We’re the group 1, and we’re here to discuss about revelation and faith, and
Biblical figures in the Old Testament and their relevance in our contemporary world.
Before anything else, we thought that it would be a great idea to have an icebreaker to start our day.”

“We’re going to play a game and we’re going to need five (5) volunteers here in front. The winner gets 200
peso-worth of Cafeteria credit.

“Here’s what you’re going to do: Each one of you will show us your best evil laugh. Whoever gets the loudest
applause from our classmates will be the winner.”

“Thanks to everyone who participated. Now, what comes to mind when you hear the word ‘revelation’?
Anyone?” (Get multiple classmates to recite).

“Thank you. Those are well-thought answers. What is ‘revelation’? By natural reason, we can know God exists
with certainty because of the created world. Revelation is the love and knowledge of God that we cannot
possibly arrive at by our own powers of reason. Out of divine love, God has chosen to reveal Himself to the
world. God's self-manifestation is the personal revelation of the mystery of His plan of salvation. The plan of
divine revelation begins with creation and is perfectly fulfilled in the sending of God's own Son, Jesus Christ for
the redemption of the world. Our faith journey is an invitation to understand and accept the revelation of God in
Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. By revealing Himself, God wishes to make each of us capable of
responding to Him, of knowing and loving Him far beyond our own natural human capacity.”

“Now, that we’ve defined ‘revelation’, let’s discuss the meaning of faith.” Faith is the human response to God
who reveals. To strengthen that faith, it is imperative that we discuss the 3 types of revelation. Here’s Sander
and Abi to discuss that with us today.

Sander: “Like what Meon said, ‘revelation refers to the way in which God reveals himself. In return, we are
responsible for listening to God’s word in order to see how God is revealing Himself to us.”

“The first type of revelation is ‘Divine’. When God reveals Himself in ways that are beyond our natural reason,
that’s called divine revelation. We know divine intervention through Scriptures where Jesus revealed divine
truths, and these were written down for us by the apostles. God inspired men to write down his revelations.”

“God revealed Himself divinely in several ways and we will discuss them one by one.”
“First one is, by love. God has revealed Himself to humanity. Divine revelation provides the answers to the
questions that human beings ask about the meaning and purpose of life.”

“God reveals Himself in order to invite and receive us into His company. God's will is that humanity should
have access to the Father, through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“God's revelation is manifested in words and deeds that have an inner unity. The stages of revelation begin with
the creation of the world and continue with the covenant with Noah, the call of Abraham and the people of
Israel.”

“God revealed Himself fully by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ in whom he has established his covenant
forever.”

“What Christ entrusted to his apostles, they handed on by their preaching and writing, under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, to all generations till Christ's return in glory.”

“Scripture and Tradition make up the single deposit of divine revelation.”

“Faith is our personal and free assent to the whole truth of divine revelation. Faith is a gift from God, it is an
ecclesial act, and it is necessary for our salvation.”

“That’s it for divine revelation. Let me now turn you over to Abi for the remaining two (2) types of revelation.”

Abi: “Another type of revelation is ‘general revelation’. General revelation is a revelation that everyone can
experience. Can any of you think of some examples? Okay, Let’s have a brief sharing. Recall a profound
experience of yours where you intensely felt that God was revealing Himself to you. (Get multiple classmates to
share, at least 3 sharers).

“Thanks to everyone who shared. Now, let’s move on to the last type of revelation, the ‘special revelation’.
Special revelation is where something is revealed to an individual person or select group. This is often used to
describe the way God is revealed through a dream, a vision, a miracle, or even a prophecy.”

“Special revelation is severely evident in the life of Moses and the Exodus event. From the burning bush
(Exodus 3:2) to the revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20).”

“That was it for Revelation and Faith” Here’s Ztel, Janssen, Janelle, Christienne and Grace to discuss with you
the Biblical figures in the Old Testament and their relevance in our contemporary world.”

Janssen: “Of course, the reason for existence of the bible is God. He is the creator of the world and an all-
powerful being. God calls himself the only true deity worthy of human worship. As the figurehead of Israel and
the force behind every event, God acts as the unseen hero of the Old Testament. God reveals his intentions by
speaking to people. Physical manifestations of God are always indirect or symbolic. God appears in many
different forms, including an angel, a wrestler, a burst of fire, and a quiet whisper.”

“God is relevant in our world today because He nourishes us intellectually, emotionally, psychologically and
morally, we came to know Him in a way that is personal, real and relevant. He is relevant because He give us
‘meaning’. The thought that God has a plan for us has great appeal to so many. Many of us feel lost, so the idea
of divine guidance brings comfort to many. Many people live in poverty or in desperate circumstances. They are
told that their life may indeed be one big struggle, but not to worry - God will reward your hard work and your
moral life. There is a meaning behind your pain and struggles. It is their faith in God that helps get someone get
through a hard day.”
“Abraham is the patriarch of the Hebrew people. Abraham is traditionally called “Father Abraham” because the
Israelite people and their religion descend from him. God establishes his covenant, or promise, with Abraham,
and God develops an ongoing relationship with the Israelites through Abraham’s descendants. Abraham
practices the monotheistic worship of God, and his resilient faith in God, despite many challenges, sets the
pattern for the Israelite religion’s view of righteousness.”

“Moses is the reluctant savior of Israel in its exodus from Egyptian bondage to the promised land. Moses
mediates between God and the people, transforming the Israelites from an oppressed ethnic group into a nation
founded on religious laws. Moses’s legendary miracles before Pharaoh, along with his doubts and insecurities,
make him the great mortal hero of the Old Testament. He is the only man ever to know God “face to face.” Four
out of the five books of the Pentateuch are devoted to Moses and Israel’s activities under his leadership.

“David is the king of Israel and the founder of Jerusalem, or “Zion.” David’s reign marks the high point of
Israel in the biblical narrative. Although David’s claim to the throne is threatened by Saul and by David’s own
son, Absalom, David maintains his power by blending shrewd political maneuvering with a magnanimous and
forgiving treatment of his enemies. David’s decision to bring the Ark of the Covenant—Israel’s symbol of
God—to the capital of Jerusalem signals the long-awaited unification of the religious and political life of Israel
in the promised land.”

Grace: “Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, Jacob is the third patriarch of the Israelite people and the father of
the twelve sons who form the tribes of Israel. Jacob experiences a life fraught with deception, bewilderment,
and change. He steals his brother Esau’s inheritance right and wrestles with God on the banks of the Jabbok
River. Appropriately, the nation that springs from Jacob’s children derives its name from Jacob’s God-given
name, “Israel.” “Israel” means “struggles with God,” and Jacob’s struggles are emblematic of the tumultuous
story of the nation of Israel.”

“Joseph is Jacob’s son and the head official for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Despite being sold into slavery by his
brothers, Joseph rises to power in Egypt and saves his family from famine. Joseph’s calm and gracious response
to his brothers’ betrayal introduces the pattern of forgiveness and redemption that characterizes the survival of
the Israelite people throughout the Old Testament.”

“Saul is Israel’s first king. After God chooses Saul to be king, Saul loses his divine right to rule Israel by
committing two religious errors. Saul acts as a character foil to David, because his plot to murder David only
highlights David’s mercy to Saul in return. Saul’s inner turmoil over the inscrutability of God’s exacting
standards makes him a sympathetic but tragic figure.”

“Solomon is David’s son and the third king of Israel. Solomon builds the opulent Temple in Jerusalem and
ushers in Israel’s greatest period of wealth and power. God grants Solomon immense powers of knowledge and
discernment in response to Solomon’s humble request for wisdom. Solomon’s earthly success hinders his moral
living, however, and his weakness for foreign women and their deities leads to Israel’s downfall.”

Ztel: “Elijah & Elisha are the prophets who oppose the worship of the god Baal in Israel. After the division of
Israel into two kingdoms, Elijah and his successor, Elisha, represent the last great spiritual heroes before Israel’s
exile. Their campaign in northern Israel against King Ahab and Jezebel helps to lessen Israel’s growing evil but
does not restore Israel’s greatness. Israel’s demise makes Elijah and Elisha frustrated doomsayers and miracle
workers rather than national leaders or saviors.”
“Adam & Eve – they are the first man and woman created by God. Adam and Eve introduce human evil into the
world when they eat the fruit of a tree God has forbidden them to touch.”

“Noah is the survivor of God’s great flood. Noah obediently builds the large ark, or boat, that saves the human
race and the animal kingdom from destruction. Noah is the precursor to Abraham, because Noah represents the
first instance of God’s attempt to form a covenant with humanity through one person.”

“Isaac is Abraham’s son and the second member in the triumvirate of Israel’s patriarchs. Isaac’s importance
consists less in his actions than in the way he is acted upon by others. God tests Abraham by commanding him
to kill his son Isaac, and Isaac’s blindness and senility allow his own son Jacob to steal Isaac’s blessing and the
inheritance of God’s covenant.”

Janelle: “Aaron is Moses’s brother, who assists Moses in leading the Israelites out of Egypt. God designates
Aaron to be the first high priest in Israel. The quiet Aaron often stands between Moses and the people to soften
Moses’s angry response to their sinful behavior.”

“Joshua is the successor of Moses as Israel’s leader. Joshua directs the people in their sweeping military
campaign to conquer and settle the Promised Land. Joshua’s persistent exhortations to Israel to remain obedient
to God imply that he doubts Israel will do so. His exhortations foreshadow Israel’s future religious struggles.”

“Samson is One of Israel’s judges and an epic hero who thwarts the neighboring Philistines with his
superhuman strength. Samson is rash, belligerent, and driven by lust for foreign women—qualities that
contradict Jewish religious ideals. Samson’s long hair is both the source of his strength and the symbol of his
religious devotion to God as a Nazirite. Samson’s character demonstrates that in the bible, heroic potential is
gauged not by human excellence but by faith in God.”

“Samuel is the last of Israel’s judges and the prophet who anoints both Saul and David as king. Samuel fulfills
political and priestly duties for Israel, but he ushers in Israel’s monarchy mainly as a prophet—one who
pronounces God’s words and decisions. Samuel’s stoic and aloof position in Israel allows Saul to struggle with
God and his fate on his own.”

“Absalom is David’s son, who attempts to overthrow his father’s throne. Absalom’s violent rise to power
suggests that the evil that corrupts Israel comes from within.”

Christienne: “Joab is King David’s loyal military commander. Joab serves as a foil to David’s successful
combination of religion and politics. Joab’s reasonable desire to see justice and retribution delivered to the
kingdom’s traitors emphasizes the unusual quality of David’s kindness to his enemies.”

“Rehoboam & Jeroboam are the opposing kings who divide Israel into the northern kingdom of Israel and the
southern kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam and Jeroboam introduce rampant worship of idols and false gods into
their kingdoms. Each king acts both as a point of contrast and a double, or mirror, for the other, allowing the
biblical reader to trace the rapid growth of evil in Israel’s two kingdoms.”

“Ahab & Jezebel are the most wicked rulers of Israel. Ahab and Jezebel spread cult worship of the pagan god
Baal throughout the northern kingdom. Dogs gather to eat their blood at their deaths, fulfilling Elijah’s
prophecy.”
“Esther is a timid Jewish girl who becomes the queen of Persia. Esther boldly and cunningly persuades the king
of Persia to remove his edict calling for the death of the exiled Jews.”

“Job is the subject of God and Satan’s cosmic experiment to measure human faithfulness to God in the midst of
immense pain. Job scorns false contrition and the advice of his friends, preferring instead to question God’s role
in human suffering. He retains an open and inquisitive mind, remaining faithful in his refusal to curse God.”

Meon: “The Old Testament has never been so relevant. It covers plagues, detailed regulations for hand washing,
community quarantines, and enforced periods of ‘rest’ in which normal work is not allowed. Aspects of the Old
Testament that may have seemed so foreign just a few years ago, have now also become major concerns in our
daily lives.”

“But the Old Testament has always been relevant, filled with narratives, poetry and prophecy that strike to the
heart of human experience – especially the experience of those who have a sense of God but don’t always know
how, why or where this God should be worshipped.”

“The Old Testament also provides wonderful songs of joy and hope, even through difficult times. There are
words of tender comfort from God to the people; words of joyous praise in the psalms of the people sung to and
about God; and beautiful visions of a restored future. Joy and hope are expressed, even in times of very real
darkness.”

“Finally, the Old Testament challenges us in our ethical responsibility and faithfulness to our creator.”

“Attention to the riches of the Old Testament allows us to hear the voice of the God of Jesus Christ as it was
heard by many generations.’

“That was it for our presentation. Our group hope that you learned something new today, Thank you,
everyone.”