Encountering Christ in the
Gospels
(Scriptural Christology)
This course is a learning experience of the incredible richness of Jesus’ life, words, and deeds in relation to his identity
and mission. More than just presenting new information on Jesus and his teachings, this course calls students to
open both their minds and hearts to Jesus, and relate to him and follow him as their friend and Savior. Jesus’
teachings, most especially the Beatitudes, are highlighted so as to convey to students the unwavering call to imitate
him as the model of unconditional love, faithfulness, compassion, and humble service to humankind, especially “the
least, the last, and the lost.”
SOURCES:
 https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.v.html
 Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius
Press, 2011.
 Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), 124-129, 430-435, 571 – 667.
 Catechism for Filipino Catholics (1997), 113, 551–652.
 Finley, Mitch. “What It Means To Be Saved.” Catholic Update (1986), ed. Jack
Wintz. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1986.
 Frago, Ester V. and Josephine C. Dango. CLE HS Series: Called to Meet Christ
in Scripture, Church and Sacraments (The New Grade 9), 3rd ed. Quezon City:
SIBS Publishing House, 2017.
 McDermott, Brian O. Word Become Flesh: Dimensions of Christology. Makati
City: St. Pauls, 1997. p. 76-136.
 O’Collins, Gerald, SJ. Interpreting Jesus. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2002. p. 133–169.
 Rausch, Thomas P. Who is Jesus? An Introduction to Christology. Quezon
City: Claretian Publications, 2004. p. 95-124.
Contents (Topics)
UNIT I:
JESUS’ IDENTITY –
Getting to Know Christ
1.1 Formation of the
Gospels and their
Portrayals of Jesus
1.2 Jesus’ Socio-Cultural
Background
UNIT II:
JESUS’ MINISTRY –
Following Christ More
Closely
2.1 Infancy Narratives
2.2 Jesus’ Baptism
2.3 Jesus’ Response to
Temptation
2.4 Jesus’ Call of the
Apostles
UNIT III:
JESUS’ VISION OF LIFE:
Living and Loving like
Christ
UNIT IV:
JESUS’ PASCHAL
MYSTERY: Being One with
Christ in His Glory
3.1 Jesus’ Proclamation
of the Kingdom of
God and its Gospel
Values
(BEATITUDES)
3.2 Jesus’ Parables and
Miracles: Their
Purpose and Relation
to God’s Kingdom
4.1 Growing Opposition
Against Jesus and
Jesus’ View of His
Death
4.2 Last Supper, Passion,
and Resurrection
Narratives
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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IPP REFLECTION Goals (EUs & EQs) + ACTION GOALS (MILESTONES) + STANDARDS
LTAG 3 (WORSHIP)
Develop a habit of seeking and finding God in all
things through personal and communal prayer.
LTAG 2 (DOCTRINE)
Have a basic understanding and appreciation of the
Church's teachings.
LTAG 1 (SCRIPTURE)
Seek and encounter God as they read the Scriptures.
LTAG
Overarching Enduring
Understandings (EUs)
Overarching Essential
Questions (EQs)
LTAG 1 – EU 1:
God reveals himself
through human words in
the Sacred Scriptures.
LTAG 1 – EQ 1:
How does God make
himself known to us?
LTAG 1 – EU 2:
God’s promise of
salvation in the Old
Testament finds its
fulfilment through the
person of Jesus in the
New Testament.
LTAG 1 – EQ 2:
How does the Old
Testament prefigure
the New Testament?
LTAG 1 – EU 3:
God makes me
understand the meaning
of my experiences in life
through his words in the
Sacred Scriptures.
LTAG 1 – EQ 3:
Why will I read and
reflect on the Word of
God?
LTAG 2 – EU 2:
For God so loved the
world he gave us his only
Son Jesus to save us
from sin and bring us to
eternal life.
LTAG 2 – EQ 2:
Why did God become
human?
LTAG 2 – EU 3:
Jesus is both the Son of
God—who shares in
God’s divinity and, at the
same time, fully human—
who is like us in all things
except sin.
LTAG 2 – EU 3:
Who is Jesus?
LTAG 3 – EU 1:
We pray to God in order
to develop a closer
relationship with him,
leading us to live a holy
life.
LTAG 3 – EQ 1:
Why do we pray to
God?
LTAG 3 – EU 2:
We develop a habit of
prayer by praying
constantly either as an
individual or as a
member of a faithcommunity.
LTAG 3 – EQ 2:
How do we develop a
prayerful character?
Grade 10 Exit Goals /
Milestones
After junior high school,
learners will be able to:
●
Analyze and
evaluate the
Biblical literary
traditions,
authorship, and
audience.
●
Discover and
use official and
authentic
Church sources
for Biblical
interpretation.
Standards
PERFORMANCE
The learner is able to:
P11. Write a basic literary criticism
(form, author, audience, context) of
Biblical texts.
P12. Connect the prefiguration of
the New Testament in the Old
Testament.
FORMATION
The learner will become:
F9. Reflective of Biblical texts
F10. More keen in continuing to
validate their faith through the
inspiration of the Sacred Scriptures
CONTENT
The learner demonstrates
understanding of:
C8. The Christian Sacred Scriptures
as Good News
C9. The content and implications of
Biblical writing
PERFORMANCE
The learner is able to:
P35. Discuss the doctrine of the
incarnation
P36. Explain the salvific mission of
Jesus Christ
P37. Express one’s learning,
appreciation, and promotion of
Jesus’ mission and teachings.
FORMATION
The learner will become:
F28. Living example of the threefold mission of Christ
CONTENT
The learner demonstrates
understanding of
C33. Jesus as God Incarnate.
C34. Jesus and his salvific mission.
Discuss and practice
the value of prayer
and the liturgy.
PERFORMANCE
The learner is able to:
P68. Compose a complete prayer
(ACTS format).
P69. Regularly practice an
examination of conscience.
P70. Practice silent reflection on
and journaling of selected religious
themes and one’s experiences in
social involvement and other sociocivic activities.
FORMATION
The learner will become:
F41. Prayerful in relating to God.
CONTENT
The learner demonstrates
understanding of
C52. Prayer as relationship with
God.
LTAG 4 (MORALS)
Take more responsibility for exploring and validating his/her own faith in relation to self,
others, society, and the rest of creation.
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LTAG 4 – EU 1
We validate our faith
through witnessing, in
which our actions bear
witness to our profession
of faith that is coupled
with the light of reason.
LTAG 4 – EQ 1
How do we validate
our faith?
LTAG 4 – EU 3
We live a moral life by
making Jesus as our
standard of Christian
moral living and following
him through making
moral choices governed
by an informed
conscience anchored in
genuine freedom and
respect for the dignity of
the human person.
LTAG 4 – EQ 3
How do we live a
moral life?
LTAG 4 – EU 4
Christ calls us not only to
a personal conversion of
the mind and heart but
also to social
responsibility, to work for
the renewal of our
communities through
love, justice, peace and
freedom.
LTAG 4 – EQ 4
Why should we be
“persons-for-others”?
●
●
Construe that
faith is a free
response to
God’s love.
Connect justice
with their faith.
PERFORMANCE
The learner is able to:
P104. Appreciate, practice, and
promote the values and teachings
of Jesus in everyday life.
P105. Organize a group and visit a
local poor community.
FORMATION
The learner will become:
F55. Christ-like.
CONTENT
The learner demonstrates
understanding of
C67. How to live as brothers and
sisters of Christ
* Day 1 – Orientation to the Subject Area General Procedures
PRELIMINARY LESSONS (Days 2-5)
Learning Competencies (all TGP):
- Define prayer.
- Recall the various forms of prayer.
- Identify, explain the purpose, and practice proper gestures and attire for the Mass.
- Write or recite reverently a complete prayer (ACTS).
- Write a meaningful spiritual journal.
- Discuss how the Hebrew Scriptures are fulfilled in the person of Christ.
PRAYER – open and honest communication with and a life of personal relationship with God
The saints say…
Prayer is the raising of
one’s mind and heart to
God or the requesting of
good things from God.
- St. John Damascene
Prayer is a surge of the heart, a
simple look toward heaven, a
cry of recognition and of love,
embracing both trial and joy.
- St. Therese of Liseux
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of
God at his disposition and listening to his
voice in the depth of our hearts. God
speaks in the silence of the heart.
Listening is the beginning of prayer.
- Mother (St.) Teresa
Various ways of prayer
- MASS / EUCHARIST (highest form of prayer)
- Spoken (Spontaneous “prayer from the heart” or formulary ex. prayers based from the Bible, Rosary,
Novena, Adoration prayers, litanies, devotional prayers, etc.)
- Written (Journal addressed to God)
- Sung, performed, danced (animations, chants, songs/hymns)
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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SILENCE (1 Kings 19:12-13;
Psalm 46:11)
Recollections and Retreats
Page 4 of 37
The CLF Teacher will bring the students to the Chapel for Chapel
Orientation. He/she may discuss the points on proper gestures and
disposition for the Mass/Liturgy such as proper attire, DOs and DON’Ts.
Proper Gestures
- Kneeling - universal ritual gesture of homage, honor, reverence and worship.
- Genuflecting – Starting with a standing pose, we lower our right knee to the floor and stand again
gently and solemnly to give respect to God in his “holy space,” such as facing or entering the sanctuary.
- Bowing – Bowing the head at the mention of the Holy Name of Jesus is found in Philippians 2:10:
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (sign to respect to the holiest Name)
- Standing – Standing means gearing and being ready for action and in possession of ourselves instead
of sitting relaxed and at ease. A person on his feet can come or go at once and can take an order on
the instant. We stand as the Mass begins, during the Gospel Reading, the Benedictus, and the
Magnificat because we become aware of the Lord's presence in a more intense way.
- Sitting – "The posture of sitting is proper to the bishop who teaches and the head of the community
who presides." That is why the bishop - or the abbot - has a “cathedra” (chair). The word cathedral,
strictly speaking, means the place where the bishop's chair is, which symbolizes his person and
authority. Now, when we sit down for the readings, the posture of being seated signifies attentive
listening and readiness to be instructed. Sit up straight, quietly, reverently. Listening carefully to the
Scriptures requires energy and attention, and our posture should reflect that interior attitude of
alertness as if one, in the words of Saint Benedict, "listens with the ear of the heart."
- Responding in the Mass – The Mass is like a conversation with God and so we need to respond to
him at certain times during the celebration. The most common response is “Amen,” which means “I
believe” or “so be it.” When we respond in Mass, we do it as we mean what we are saying.
- Sign of the Cross – It reaffirms two essential Christian doctrines: The Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit — and humankind’s salvation through the cross of Christ.
Proper Attire in the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Liturgical Celebrations.
Sunday’s best attire
In the guidelines, male Catholics are instructed to wear long-sleeved polo
shirts, collared shirts, or t-shirts paired with either slacks or jeans while
women are asked to wear skirts, long dresses, or collared blouses. Closed
shoes are a must. Male Catholics are also discouraged from wearing caps,
basketball jerseys, tank tops or jersey shorts, and shorts while women are
urged to refrain from wearing spaghetti-strap tops or tank tops, short skirts,
skimpy shorts or sleeveless shirts with plunging necklines during Mass.
Four Moments of Prayer (ACTS)
A doration – prayer of adoration, praise, affirmation, and belief/trust in God. In making an act of adoration,
we acknowledge God whom we speak to and who deserves reverence, awe, and adoration.
C ontrition – praying of begging God’s forgiveness for one’s sins. No one can remain blameless in his
sight, and so we recognize before God that we have offended him and express sorrow for doing so with
firm resolution to make amends for our sins.
T hanksgiving – prayer of gratitude to God who gives us so much already, and before we can ask for more,
it is right and just that we thank him.
S upplication – praying for one’s or others’ intentions or needs. We ask God to supply for us all that we
need materially and spiritually and have faith that we are heard and He will give us what is best for us
(according to his WILL).
In CLF class, everyone is given the opportunity to become a “prayer leader.” He or she leads the class
in prayer with dignity and confidence, not merely reciting, but spontaneously delivering a prayer from the
heart about the previous or present lesson or intention of the day (or concerns of the nation/community).
FORMATIVE ACTIVITY: Compose an ACTS Prayers with 2-3 sentences per moment of prayer. It can
be interchanged, can be in English, Cebuano, or Filipino.
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Written Prayer: Journal
What is a Spiritual Journal?
- Known as the “diary of the soul,” it is a personal record of one’s spiritual insights which serves as a
measure for one’s progress in spiritual or prayer life.
- A highly confidential document that speaks about one’s SELF before God. Hence, nobody has the right
to read it, even parents, guardians, best friends, teachers from other subjects, classmates, except a
competent teacher of the faith – namely, CLF teacher, priest, nun, Jesuit, seminarian, religious
brother, or expert/graduate of Religious Education or Theology – well-versed and trained to provide
spiritual guidance and enlightenment for their student’s prayer or faith journey. Hence, this document
must be well-kept and preserved as important personal belonging of the owner.
- Honesty and sincerity are important attitudes whenever one writes a spiritual journal.
- At the header of every spiritual journal, indicate the date, time, and place. Title or theme is optional.
Two Kinds of Spiritual Journals
-
-
-
FREESTYLE OR PERSONAL JOURNAL
(personal notebook that one may use during his or her prayer
moments, recollection, or retreat. This is optional!)
You may have your own notebook wherein you can write your own “free-style” journals depending on your pacing – anytime,
anywhere, any style of writing – even for many years after.
It can be either: a prayer, a simple reflection or insight (Ex: This morning, I saw a beautiful… I failed in the test and I felt God
was calling me to…)
It can be a song/ poem/ drawing/ picture or a line from the Bible
or saying/teaching of Jesus or a saint.
Any topic, emotion, experience, problem, or struggle in one’s
faith.
CLF JOURNAL (long filler
required for CLF Classes)
A summative Written Work
assessment (unless indicated
otherwise by the teacher).
Usual number of sentences per
entry is 4-7. Each entry
corresponds
to
a
learning
competency
assessed
or
measured in a form of personal
synthesis of the topic (reflection,
“first-person”).
There will be times the CLF teacher (or any competent teacher of the faith) may write a reply to your journal
or set up a colloquy with you for clarification or deepening.
REVIEW OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
The word “Bible” originates from the Greek word biblia, meaning “books.” Literally, it is book that is a
collection of many books. The contents of scripture were first passed on by oral tradition over a long period
of time before they were put in written form. The two major divisions of the Bible are the Old and New
Testaments. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and translated into Greek around the 2 nd-3rd
century BCE. The New Testament was composed in Greek during the 2nd half of the 1st century C.E.
In the Old Testament, God revealed his love and might to Israel, whom he called as a people of his own.
He established his covenant with them as a sign of his constant love for them. In doing so, he instructed
the Israelites to be faithful to him in obeying the Ten Commandments and observing the Torah. But many
times, Israel became stubborn and complaining to God. Many of their leaders turned their hearts from God.
Wanting to cleanse them of their sins, God let them learn from their lessons, so he allowed punishment for
them by letting them be attacked by tribes and foreign nations. In periods of time, he sent prophets and
judges to Israel to remind them of their fidelity to him.
Because of the unbearable heaviness of sins and out of his great love for all humanity, God decided in the
fullness of time to send his Son, the LOGOS, the Word from the beginning as a human incarnate, dwelling
among the humblest of society – the least, the last, and the lost. In the New Testament, God confirmed his
love with a promise he set in earlier prophecies about a Savior-King sprouting from the roots of Jesse and
David. In the Old Testament, priests would offer sacrifices in behalf of the people for the cleansing of sins.
In the New Testament, Jesus himself paid the price of death by placing himself before anything else as
the ultimate sacrificial “lamb” that no one could have ever done. Only God can take away the perils of evil
and death. This is the redemption effected by Jesus out of genuine love for all humanity.
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Jesus came to save us from sin. He preached the WORD OF GOD and also, at the same time, he himself
is the WORD OF GOD. He came to fulfill what God promised in the Old Testament through the prophets
– salvation not only for Israel but for the whole world. Thus, Jesus is the culmination / fulfillment / climax of
the promises of the Old Testament – GOD’S LOVE for humankind was concretely shown in Jesus’ coming
down from heaven – true God and true human – by his Incarnation, Public Ministry, and Paschal Mystery.
He came down to also teach us how to live as truly humans (cf. Spe Salvi, 6).
FORMATION OF THE GOSPELS AND THEIR
PORTRAYALS OF JESUS
(3-4 days)
LESSON
1.1
Learning Competencies
- Discuss how the Gospels were formed.
- Analyze the implied portrayals of Jesus in the four Gospels and their symbolisms.
Page 5
The New Testament Books
(There are 27 books grouped into four categories.)
1. GOSPELS
The Gospels consists of books that announce the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, namely: Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospel of Mark was the first or earliest to be written among the four. The word
Gospel comes from the old English word “godspel,” which means “good news” or “glad tidings.” It is the
translation of the Greek word euangelion, which means “announcement of the Good News.” That is why
the authors are called evangelists. Among the books of the New Testament, the four Gospels are the
principal witnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
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They are faith accounts about Jesus for readers called to believe in Him and his Good News of Salvation.
2. ACTS OF THE APOSTLES – describes the early spread of the Gospel to the first communities within
and outside Israel and the formation of the early Church.
3. LETTERS or EPISTLES – These letters are addressed to early Christian communities and to individual
leaders of these communities whereby the writer gives advice on understanding Jesus’ person and
teachings, as well as guide to live good Christian lives.
** PAULINE LETTERS: The first thirteen of these books are attributed to St. Paul.
** APOSTOLIC LETTERS: Hebrews (author uncertain) and remaining letters – James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter,
1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude – which are attributed to other apostles or writers.
4. REVELATION (also known as “Apocalypse”)
Being the only prophetic book in the New Testament, attributed to St. John the Evangelist who have
written it while on exile in the island of Patmos, it contains highly symbolic and visionary accounts of
the decisive struggle of Jesus and his followers against Satan and evil forces (i.e. persecution of the
Christians)
Stages of Formation of the Gospels
The Gospels were written some 30 years after the events they describe happened.
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Page 7
STAGE 1 – JESUS’ LIFE IN PALESTINE (4 BCE – AD 30)
Jesus proclaimed the Good news for our salvation. He himself, first and foremost, is the GOOD NEWS for
he revealed the Father’s unconditional love for all humanity. Thus, this first stage characterizes Jesus’
words and deeds (or life, teachings, and actions) manifested most especially in his proclamation of the
Kingdom of God during his public ministry and in his PASCHAL MYSTERY (Passion, Death, and
Resurrection).
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During his Public Ministry, Jesus chose twelve men as his apostles whom he sent to carry out his work
when his time on earth had been completed. He commanded them to preach his message of salvation to
all nations. He promised them to send the Holy Spirit to enlighten and empower them as they spread the
Good News throughout the world.
Some Class Activities (Trivia about Jesus) – Try to insert this in your prelection/discussion:
1. Jesus’ hometown (ANS: Nazareth)
2. Meaning of Jesus’ name (ANS: THE LORD saves)
3. Number of siblings of Jesus (ANS: none)
4. Languages of Jesus (ANS: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Aramaic)
5. Staple Food (ANS: matz’ah, lamb, fish)
6. Natures of Jesus (ANS: TRUE GOD / divine and TRUE human)
7. Original Religion (ANS: Judaism. In fact, he was a faithful Jew. He taught with LOVE as emphasis. He added
“Love your enemies.”)
8. Original Occupation (ANS: carpenter)
9. Tribe of Israel to Which his Legal-Paternal Family Tree Belongs (ANS: Judah)
10. Empire that Controlled Israel during Jesus’ Time (ANS: Roman Empire)
11. Roman Emperor during Jesus’ Birth (ANS: Tiberius)
12. “Puppet” king of Judea during Jesus’ Birth (ANS: Herod the Great)
13. Title of Jesus in the Gospels that affirms his divine or being "God" (ANS: “Lord”)
14. Branch of theology that deals with the nature and mission of Jesus (ANS: Christology)
15. A word based from the Greek word for "Messiah" (ANS: Christ)
16. Although he was criticized by Pharisees, who were the two Pharisees who secretly followed his teachings?
(ANS: Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea)
17. Old Testament character whose name has same meaning with Jesus (ANS: Joshua)
18. First disciple called by Jesus (ANS: Andrew – see John 1:40)
19. The woman from whom Jesus expelled 7 demons and had become the first witness to the resurrection though
often mistook as adulterous woman (ANS: Mary Magdalene)
20. The Roman procurator of Judea during the passion and death of Jesus (ANS: Pontius Pilate)
21. The apostle who doubted Jesus’ resurrection (ANS: Thomas)
22. The cousin of Jesus who “prepared the way for the Messiah?” (ANS: John the Baptist)
23. Where did Jesus celebrate the Last Supper together with his disciples? (ANS: upper or Cenacle room)
24. The closest companions of Jesus who later started preaching Christianity (ANS: Apostles)
25. The town where Jesus was born (ANS: Bethlehem)
26. The place where Jesus died (ANS: Golgotha or Calvary)
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STAGE 2 – ORAL TRADITION (AD 30 – 64)
After Jesus’ resurrection and the Pentecost event (descent of the Holy Spirit), the apostles understood
clearly for the first time who Jesus was and what he had accomplished, and so, filled with the Holy Spirit,
they fulfilled his command of preaching the Good News throughout Palestine and Middle East, and moved
to Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria, and Rome. This period immediately following Jesus’ Resurrection
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constituted the Oral Tradition stage in the formation of the Gospels. The original proclamation of the Good
News done by the apostles was called kerygma. It took many years for the Gospels to be spread and
preached orally before the first evangelist put his Gospel into writing. Here are the reasons why there were
no written Gospels yet during those time:
Page 10
1. Semitic people (including the Jews) preferred the spoken “living” word to the written word.
2. The preaching of the Gospel was confined to Palestine and its neighboring countries and the original
witnesses to Jesus’ life were still alive during that time.
3. The early Christians expected Jesus to come back soon, so there was no need to write down his
messages.
Eventually, the early Christians saw the urgent need to write down the Gospels for these reasons:
1. The apostles (and original witnesses) were dying.
2. Since the Gospel was preached to many places farther from Jerusalem (including Jews and Gentiles),
a written record of Jesus’ life and teachings was needed to guide preachers and to help them avoid
errors in their teaching.
3. When the first Christians realized that Jesus’ coming did not happen as they had expected, they
realized the need for a more permanent record of his message for future generations of Christians.
STAGE 3 – THE WRITTEN GOSPELS (AD 65 – 100)
The Gospels were written over 30-40 years (around AD 65 to 100). They are essentially faith testimonies,
not biographical, scientific, or historical sources, about Jesus’ life, teachings, deeds, and Paschal Mystery
(Passion, Death, and Resurrection).
Paraphrase of Pages 11-12
Since they are faith accounts of what Jesus did and said, the Gospels were written in order for all people
to know, to believe in Jesus, and to be saved (cf. Jn 20:30-31). Their writers, or evangelists, were inspired
by the Holy Spirit to use their personalities and writing styles in proclaiming the Gospel without error even
if each organized their writing according to their own sources and purpose. They did so by putting into
writing and compiling the oral preaching of Jesus’ followers and the partially written accounts about Jesus
that were already available to them. Since the proclamation of the Gospels was shaped by the early
Christian communities, and since they were written in, by, and for them, the Gospels are therefore
CHURCH documents.
Gospel Portrayals of Jesus and Their Symbols
There is only one Jesus. Why, then, are there four different accounts of his life? The answer is clear: we
get to know persons better when they are described from different points of view and by many people (e.g.
parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc.).
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Thus, the four Gospels give us a clearer and more complete picture of him. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark,
and Luke are known as the synoptics or synoptic Gospels. Synoptic is from the Greek words syn and
optic which, when combined, mean “to see together.” They are called synoptic because they share many
similarities and thus can be studied together or alongside one another. The Gospel of John, however, is
different from the three. It is poetic and longer, with some elements not found in the Synoptics.
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Pages 13-16
Messiah and King
Jesus is recognized as
Messiah-King through
Matthew’s trace of Jesus to
Abraham’s family line since
Matthew wanted to prove to
his audience/ readers that
Jesus was the MessiahKing they had been waiting
for.
Mark
Suffering Messiah
Jesus was seen many times
attempting to hide his true
identity as Messiah (ex.
from his disciples, from
those whom he healed, and
from demons).
John
Jewish Christians familiar
with Old Testament
prophecies
Christians in Rome who
were persecuted – to whom
Mark wanted to make clear
that like them, Jesus
himself also suffered.
Learn Jesus’ way of life as
he is our teacher or “New
Moses” and appreciate the
importance of the Church
(since its Greek word
ekklesia is only found in
Matthew)
Follow Jesus unto the
Cross (by being a disciple)
Call and look up to Jesus as
friend and comforter of the
weak, the poor, and sinners
Believe in him as the Son of
God and God’s greatest gift
of love to humanity (John
3:16, 20:31)
MAN
The Gospel opens with a
record of Jesus’ HUMAN
ancestors.
DESERT LION
The Gospel opens with
John the Baptist’s
preaching, whose voice (as
well as Mark’s style of
writing) was as clear and
vivid as a lion’s roar.
OX
The Gospel opens with
ZECHARIAH offering a
sacrifice to God in the
temple. (Ox is reminder of
animal sacrifices)
EAGLE
The Gospel opens with the
Prologue of Jesus, who, like
the eagle who can look
directly at the Sun, sees the
Face of GOD
Mark traveled with his
cousin Barnabas and with
Paul. Peter and Paul
favorably mentioned him.
Since he was an educated
physician & historian, Luke
was the “most organized” of
all New Testament writers.
His account was compiled
from eyewitnesses to Jesus’
ministry, carefully written "in
consecutive order" so that
readers would know the
"exact truth" about Jesus’
teachings (Lk 1:1-4, Ac 1:12).
John was the “beloved”
disciple of Jesus present at
the crucifixion. He also
wrote the Apocalypse or
Revelation, and died in exile
in the island of Patmos.
Author
Audience
Son of God,
Word of God
Jesus is always united with
the Father in divine love. He
is divine, the Word
becoming flesh, a glorified
King revealing God in his
words and deeds.
To follow Jesus is
to…
Jesus is a TEACHER
greater than Moses (“I say
unto you…”).
Luke
Savior of the World
Jesus is Savior, not just of a
chosen few, but of all
people (even Gentile
people), especially the
weak and outcasts of
Jewish society – poor, sick,
sinners, women – whom
Jesus showed mercy and
compassion despite social,
religious, and political
barriers.
The Gospel shows
significant role of woman in
Jesus ministry, especially
Mary in the Infancy
Narratives.
Gentile Christians (esp.
Greeks) to know Jesus as
the Savior of mankind and
healer of the poor and
sinners.
Symbol
Jesus is portrayed as:
Matthew
Matthew (also known as
Levi) was a Jew, hired by
Rome to collect taxes in
Capernaum. Jesus called
him to be an apostle.
Gentile Christians to whom
John frequently explained
Jewish customs and to
whom he would describe
places in Palestine.
John the Baptist is
different from John the
Beloved Apostle
(Evangelist).
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
LESSON
1.2
JESUS’ SOCIO-CULTURAL BACKGROUND
Page 10 of 37
(2-3 days)
Learning Competencies
- Identify Jewish institutions and various people in Jewish society during Jesus’ time and narrate
their significance in Jesus’ mission and identity.
- Explain how Jesus is the visible sign of God's love.
- Construct concrete situations on living out as “Good Samaritans” imitating Jesus’ love of others.
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Palestine during Jesus’ Time
The name of the land where the Israelites had lived had many changes in name and in boundaries
throughout history. During the Greek period and until Jesus’ time, what used to be known as Canaan was
named Palestine, meaning “Philistine land.” This land was divided into several regions, including Judea
and Galilee.
Ruled by the Roman Empire, the Jews suffered heavy taxation both from the Romans and local Jewish
leaders. Jewish leaders collect taxes for religious purposes, and pious Jews believed that their tax money,
since it came from the people of God, should be spent for religious purposes, such as support for their
Temple. The Romans, however, collected taxes for the emperor and for the advancement of their empire.
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Among the Jews themselves, there were religious differences, class conflicts, protest movements, and
disunity – all because of differing views on religion and politics. The rich and the powerful Jews made life
worse for the poor majority by collaborating with the Romans for their own benefit. Many of the poor were
driven out from their land due to burdensome taxes. They ended up either joining groups of brigands or
thieves or finding jobs outside Palestine.
Jesus and the Jewish Institutions
Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels as a deeply religious leader immersed in the traditions and rich prayer
life of the Jewish people.
1. Temple and Synagogue
The synagogue and the temple were centers of Jewish worship or religious instructions. The synagogue,
present in every town and city of Israel, housed the Sacred Scrolls or the Torah and served as meeting
place for prayer and legal discussions. There was only one Temple in Israel, located in Jerusalem, and,
being the “holiest of all places,” it was the heart of Jewish worship, where sacrificial offering and rituals
were celebrated.
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Jesus was presented to the priest in the temple by his parents. When he was twelve, he joined his parents
on their trip to Jerusalem to worship in the temple, where he was found to be discussing with the teachers
of the law by his parents who thought he was lost. Later, at one point in his public ministry, Jesus drove
out vendors and moneychangers doing business at the temple courts.
Jesus not only revered the Temple as the dwelling place of God, but actually came to replace it as the way
through which the people would worship the Father “in spirit and truth” – through whom we can pray to and
worship our heavenly Father (Jn 2:19; 4:23).
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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2. Jewish Prayer Life
Prayer was something that Jesus died naturally. He prayed not only alone and for himself, but with and for
the community. As a Jew, he observed rituals and feasts of the Jewish culture, and grew up in a strong
religious tradition of personal and communal prayers grounded in the Scriptures of his people. He was with
the Jews in praying to God three times a day (morning, 3pm, evening).
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With them, he recited the SHEMA or creed or declaration of faith recited at dawn and nightfall. He added
to Jewish prayer his teaching to his disciples to address God as “Our Father.”
3. Sabbath
The seventh day of the week is important to Jewish religion as day of rest and worship, the celebration of
the goodness of God for his creation. The Jews recited the Shema and Eighteen Benedictions that
comprise praise, petition, and thanksgiving, followed by Scripture reading and homily in Aramaic that
explains the message of the reading.
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During Jesus’ time, keeping the Sabbath was complicated because of the lengthy and detailed rules of the
Pharisees and scribes, whom Jesus reminded to keep it simple and free from legalistic, obligation-bound
attitude, He told the people, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27)
4. Jewish Festivals
The Jews observed national and religious celebrations with thanksgiving and joyous feasting (marked with
strong national unity). The greatest of their feasts was the Passover. The Passover commemorates their
miraculous liberation from Egypt and marked the beginning of the Jewish religious year.
Jesus gave new meaning to all the Old Testament feasts by acting as the New Moses (Jn 5: 1-47), the
New Paschal Lamb (Jn 6:1-71), the New Source of Light (Jn 8:12), and the Living Water (Jn 7:1–8:59).
Through him, all true worship of God takes place.
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5. Torah or Law
The Torah is the Jewish name for “The Laws” or the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Deuteronomy, and Numbers. In Greek word, Torah means Pentateuch. Penta literally means “five” and
teauchos means “to implement.” The Torah is the heart of the Jewish religion. It has a primary importance
in the history, culture, morality and worship of the Jews. This is why they STUDY and OBEY IT.
Jesus faithfully studied, obeyed, and taught the Torah even without being accredited or schooled formally.
However, obedience for Jesus does not mean blindly following the commandments. For Jesus, as shown
in the story of The Good Samaritan, we cannot compromise the good of people for the sake of following
rules. In Mt 5:7, he stresses that he did come to abolish the law but to fulfil it.
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He also affirmed that LOVE is the true spirit of the Law. It is the source and value of each commandment.
In Romans 13:10, LOVE is the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus gave greater weight to the morality of actions
– more on what “comes from within,” not on what “comes from outside.” (cf. Mt 15:19-20).
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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NOT IN THE TEXTBOOK: Jesus was actually NOT against religion. His religiosity was always grounded
in the life of his people and in the Scriptures, as well as in praying and following the Torah or the law.
Thus, contrary to what many people of his time claimed about him, Jesus’ teachings are not anti-Jewish
or anti-law, but rather the best interpretation of Jewish law. While Jesus followed the Law, he added
the precept of “loving one’s enemies,” which many Jews found disturbing or annoying (example: How
could Jews love Gentiles and outcasts with the idea that Jews could only be saved according to their faith
tradition?) His reference to God as his Father was seen as blasphemy or grave disrespect “against God”
for the Jews since for them, no one could dare call God as Abba or “Our Father” since if God has a Son,
then His Son is co-equal to the Father. The Jews believed that nobody was equal with God.
Jesus and the People of his Time
As we read about the life and message of Jesus in the Gospels, we learn about the different people he
encountered. Studying Jesus’ encounters with these people will help us understand his unique challenge
to each of them and to each one of us today.
1. Pharisees
The Pharisees were influential lay movement that stressed on strict obedience of God’s Law. The word
Pharisees literally means “the separate ones,” – considering themselves as the holy ones of Israel. For
them, Jews can be saved by their fidelity to the Torah (written) and halakah, the oral traditions of their
forefathers and other moral prescriptions. Jesus criticized their rigid practices of following of the Law and
their moral hypocrisy.
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2. Sadducees
The Sadducees are a group of Jewish religious leaders referred in the Gospels as “chief priests, elders,
and scribes” or “leaders of the Jewish people.” Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected the belief on resurrection
because for them, the belief in the resurrection is not written in the Torah. For them, only the Torah (written)
is the source of salvation. The oral tradition or halakah is a mere invention of man, not inspired by God.
Jesus defended the idea of resurrection before the Sadducees. He rebuked them that God is “the God of
the living.” (Mk 12:27). With this, Jesus asserted himself as the authority of Scriptures.
3. Tax Collectors
Known as “publicans” loyal to the Romans, they were considered sinners for abusing their power in bribing
and imposing excessive tax rates on the poor Jews to enrich themselves. Jesus ate with them and he
chose one of them, Matthew, as one of His Apostles.
4. Zealots
Zealots are “fanatics” of the Torah, believing in God’s direct sovereignty and kingship in the world. They
believed that the Messiah, descending from the line of David, would be a military leader to lead a political
revolt and restoration in Israel. They planned an armed overthrow of the Romans. Jesus chose one of
them, Simon, as one of his apostles.
5. Samaritans
Samaritans (people from Samaria) were “half-Jews” who were not in good terms with the Jews since the
latter considered them impure for intermarrying pagans (or Gentiles). Jesus’ Parable of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) pictures four real-life figures in Israel: a priest, a Levite, a Jew, and a Samaritan.
The person who assisted the wounded Jew was the Samaritan, who, being “culturally unclean,” was called
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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good by Jesus, not the other two “faithful” Jews, since Jesus gave more importance or top priority to
responding to the needs of others, even of one’s enemies, than legalistic temple worship.
Page 39
6. Jewish Priestly Class
In Jesus’ time, there were three levels of priestly class: Levites, priests, and high priests. The Levites and
priests gave Jews instructions on religious ceremonial laws, pronounced blessings upon them, and
discovered or diagnosed and eventually cure diseases such as leprosy. In the Parable of the Good
Samaritan, a priest and a Levite were not able to help the wounded man because they were forbidden to
touch anything unclean.
The High Priest was the highest titular head of the Jewish community, having both religious and political
powers, serving as presiding officer of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish governing body in Palestine, and
being the only one allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of the temple, to offer sacrifices
for the atonement of the sins of the people. Although Jesus was often seen as a threat to the Sanhedrin,
two of their members, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were, in fact, Jesus’ secret followers.
Page 40
7. The Poor and the Outcast
The great majority of the Jewish people during Jesus’ time were poor and considered outcasts of society.
To the Pharisees, they were the “rabble of society” who knew nothing of the law. In contrast, Jesus call
the poor and outcast “the little ones” or “the lost sheep of Israel” to whom he would tend as their Good
Shepherd.
LESSON
2.1
INFANCY NARRATIVES
(2-3 days)
Learning Competencies
- Define incarnation.
- Explain how Jesus is both true God and true Man from birth.
- Recall the details, background, good deeds or virtues, symbolisms, and cause-and-effect
relationship of events in Jesus’ Infancy Narratives.
- Discuss how Mary became a model of faith and holiness and how her example means for us.
- Compose a personal resolution to live out Mary’s FIAT in one’s daily life.
- Construct a personal appreciation of Christ’s incarnation as opposed to secular or worldly notion
of Christmas.
Paraphrase of Pages 176-181
After learning Jesus’ socio-cultural background, let us recall the story how he began his earthly mission
through his birth. Below are the truths of the Infancy Narratives as presented in both Matthew and Luke.
1. Both accounts reveal the Incarnation: that Jesus is both true God (or divine) and true human.
Both Gospels of Matthew and Luke first and foremost narrate the Infancy Narratives or Biblical/Gospel
accounts of the birth of Jesus to show that God’s plan of salvation for the whole world (which was first
revealed to the Jews in the Old Testament) would be first manifested in the Incarnation. “Incarnation” is
the event in which the divine eternal Son of God took human nature while retaining his original divine
nature. “And the Word was made flesh…” (John 1:14). This points to Jesus’ two natures (both 100%, not
half-half): true God (or true divine) and true human. Let us examine some evidences of his natures.
TRUE GOD
- Matthew 2:1. The Magi knelt and worshipped Jesus. “Worship” is an action proper before God.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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- Luke 1:43. Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” Although the title “Lord” could refer to Master or Sir
in cultural practices, the title “Lord” in the Bible (Greek “kyrios” in the New Testament and Hebrew “Adonai”,
“el…”, “Elochim” indicate the divinity of God. By calling Jesus LORD, we affirm from the beginning, Jesus
shares the same and equal power, honor, and glory due to God the Father.
TRUE HUMAN
- Jesus, though God from eternity, experienced what it is to live as human except sin. He teaches us
humility through his birth in Bethlehem, called “least” among the towns of Israel (cf. Mt 2:6, Micah 5:1).
Bethlehem used to have natural caves used as makeshift inns by the poor. “Jesus born in a manger” (Luke
2:16) means that Jesus was born poor and embraced the same suffering of the people deprived of quality
homes. The cave where Jesus was born had inner rooms used as a shed and stable for animals (and
since they had no place to stay in among private inns).
2. Historicity of the Birth of Jesus
The mention of some historical facts, including names of political leaders, was customary to establish the
time and real identity of someone’s birth. Hence, the mention of Herod the Great, “puppet” king of Judea,
and Quirinius, Roman governor of Syria, stresses Jesus’ birth as historical and real.
3. An Angel of the Lord brought the News of Jesus’ Birth
The presence of angels signifies the sacredness of the place or an event by indicating the special favor of
God or the presence of God’s power in a visible way. Jesus’ birth, hence, was a divine action or intervention
in human history. An angel of the Lord announced the birth of Jesus to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds,
while a group of angels praised God in the sight of the shepherds.
4. Jesus was born of Mary, married to Joseph the Carpenter, who became his foster father.
Joseph was portrayed as a silent, righteous man who humbly obeyed God’s will, most especially in the
birth of Jesus. By the time the angel announced to him (and to Mary) about the birth of Jesus, he was
already married to Mary through engagement or betrothal. Engagement or betrothal (or ketubah) is the
first stage of Jewish marriage, whereby the second stage is the period of consummation or honeymoon.
The announcement of Jesus’ birth took place between these two stages to prove that God had plans for
Mary, from whose womb would bear the Son of God not through natural marital act, but through the power
of the Holy Spirit. Mary is “ever-Virgin” by giving birth to Jesus without sexual contact from Joseph (not
even from any man) and without having other children aside from Jesus. Her virginal conception of Jesus
was, indeed, a divine action of God.
Joseph formally accepted and recognized Jesus as his legal son before Jewish law (adoption) through his
act of naming the child Jesus during the latter’s 8th day of birth coinciding circumcision. Although Mary, like
Joseph, was instructed by the angel to give name to the newborn child, it was customary that the act of
naming would be finally done by the father.
5. Genealogy
The mention of Jesus’ genealogy (or family tree) in both Matthew and Luke is not about the exact historical
record of Jesus’ ancestors, but the tracing of his lineage to Abraham. The genealogy includes individuals
known for their sinfulness (Judah, who suggested to his brothers to sell Joseph to Midianites, David and
Bathsheba, known for sexual misconduct, etc.). This shows that God had showed favor, mercy, and
salvation to sinners – to a family, though descended from Abraham, with many imperfections.
** FOR MATTHEW – His readers were Jewish-Christians familiar with Old Testament prophecies – to
whom he wanted to prove that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah, since for them, the Messiah should
be an Israelite, a son of Abraham, and descendant of King David.
** FOR LUKE – His readers were Gentile-Christians to whom he wanted to present Jesus as Savior of all
people, both Jews and Gentiles alike, by tracing Jesus’ lineage to Adam, father of all humanity.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
Page 15 of 37
6. The Holy Family later settled in Nazareth.
The Holy Family traveled to and settled in Nazareth after the death of Herod the Great. There, Jesus grew
in wisdom and obedience to his parents – living out the Fourth Commandment as visible sign of his
relationship with God. He would stay there until the age of 30, when he began his public ministry.
Below are the differences in the accounts of the Infancy Narratives in both Gospels.
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
DURING CHRISTMAS
AFTER CHRISTMAS
(The Holy Family was still in
Bethlehem.)
(exit of the Holy Family from
Bethlehem)
Matthew
Matthew
Matthew
ANNOUNCEMENT OF JESUS’ BIRTH TO JOSEPH
VISIT OF THE MAGI TO
HEROD
FLIGHT TO EGYPT
After the wise men left,
the angel appeared to
Joseph in a dream,
instructing him to take
Mary and Jesus to
Egypt, for Herod was
planning to kill the
Child. Through God’s
intervention, the Holy
Family was guided to
escape the massacre
that was about to
happen (like how
Moses was saved from
the Pharaoh’s order of
massacre in Ex. 1-2).
This narrative focuses on Joseph in order to uphold the
legitimacy of Jesus’ birth in Jewish law. (Naming of
Jesus)
When Joseph discovered Mary bearing a child, he
wanted to secretly divorce her because:
1. He was a faithful Jew and righteous man unwilling
to expose Mary to the law.
2. He had faith that Mary would never cheat on him. (As
what we learn, Mary exemplifies all quality human
virtues.)
In Jewish law, any woman found to be with child before
marriage would be punished to death by stoning. Since
Joseph could not understand what had been happening,
the angel appeared to him in a dream, telling him not to
fear taking Mary as his wife, for she would bear the
Savior.
The Magi or wise men or
astrologers from perhaps
Persia, Babylon, or the
Arabian desert went to
Jerusalem first to ask Herod
about the place of Jesus’
birth. Herod told them to go
to Bethlehem, instructing
them to return after with the
child.
Herod actually wanted to kill
the Child out of fear that the
newborn King would
overthrow him as ruler.
VISIT OF THE MAGI TO
THE HOLY FAMILY
The Magi’s gifts is symbolic
of Jesus’ identity and
mission: gold for a king,
frankincense used in
offerings to God, and myrrh
used to prepare a body for
burial. Jesus is the King of
all humanity, a Savior-God
who would save his people
from sin even unto the price
of his death.
Through the star, God sent
the news of the birth of his
Son to the Gentiles, not to
the political and religious
leaders of Israel. The Magi’s
visit shows Jesus as Savior
of all, including Gentiles.
After the visit, the Magi were
warned in a dream not to
return to Herod.
MASSACRE OF THE
INFANTS
Out of anger, when he
realized that the wise
men did not return as
expected, Herod
ordered the massacre
of all infants in and
around Bethlehem who
were two years old or
under.
SETTLING IN
NAZARETH
When Herod died, the
angel told Joseph in a
dream to take Jesus
and Mary back to
Israel. The Holy Family
settled in the town of
Nazareth in Galilee.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
Page 16 of 37
Luke
Luke
Luke
Before the Annunciation, there was the narrative of the
announcement of the birth of John the Baptist.
VISIT OF THE
SHEPHERDS
SETTLING IN
NAZARETH
ANNUNCIATION TO MARY
Shepherds were flock
tenders of sheep,
considered unclean or
outcast in Jewish society
since they did not observe
Jewish religious laws. Their
occupation was noted to be
the lowest form of work for
poor Jews.
The Holy Family settled
in Nazareth.
This narrative focuses on Mary to show that Jesus came
as Savior of all, including the poor, the sinners, the sick,
and women.
The story of the Annunciation teaches us two important
titles of Mary: MOTHER OF GOD and IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION. Mary bore in her womb not only the
human nature of Christ, but also his divine nature, the
Eternal Word. She is the Immaculate Conception for, by
the singular, highest grace from God (as seen in Lk 1:28
– the angel’s greeting to her kecharitomene or “favored
one”), she was free from original sin. A person endowed
with highest grace from God never commits sin and is
free from all sin. Only Mary was given such privilege.
Full of grace, Mary became instrument of God’s
salvation through her FIAT or “Yes” to God’s will for her.
She became the model for us Christians – to always
strive to follow God’s will. Despite not being able to fully
grasp God’s plan, she totally trusted in God’s ways.
VISITATION OF MARY TO ELIZABETH
Mary, already pregnant, visited her relative Elizabeth,
who was awaiting childbirth. The visitation describes the
quality of Mary’s faith. It was a sign of:
a. complete surrender to and trust in the Word of God.
b. outgoing service to the needy, in this case Elizabeth.
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Elizabeth gave birth to her son, John the Baptist, who
would later prepare the Jews for Jesus’ coming.
TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM FOR THE CENSUS
Because of imperial decree from the Roman Empire for
all citizens, including in Judea, to register for the
census, Joseph and Mary had to leave Nazareth for
Bethlehem since this is where his ancestor, King David,
lived, and where some of his relatives lived.
The announcement of Jesus’
birth to the shepherds shows
that God looked with favor
and mercy to the poor, the
outcast, and the sinners,
who first recognized Jesus
as their Savior, not the rich,
political and religious
leaders.
PRESENTATION IN THE
TEMPLE
Following the Jewish ritual of
presenting the first-born
male in the temple, Joseph
and Mary presented Jesus
to the priest Simeon in the
Temple. Simeon had been
promised that he would not
die until he had seen the
Messiah. Anna, an old
prophetess, spoke about the
Child as a sign of God’s
redemption for his people.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
LESSON
2.2
Page 17 of 37
JESUS’ BAPTISM (1 day)
Learning Competencies
- Recall the details, background, good deeds or virtues, symbolisms, and cause-and-effect
relationship of events in Jesus’ Baptism.
- Compose a reflection on Jesus’ baptism in relation to his mission and to our Christian baptism.
TEXTBOOK
Page 52
The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry was tied in with the ministry of John the
Baptist, his cousin. The ministries of these two men took place in the context of great
confusion and unrest among the people longing for a Savior.
John the Baptist, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, preached about conversion and
repentance to God by inviting people to be baptized in the River Jordan. When John
began his ministry, it had been a long time since a prophet was heard in Israel. His
message was: God was angry with his people and planned to punish them. The only
way God’s anger could be appeased was for the people to repent, ask for God’s
forgiveness, and be baptized. John’s baptism was, thus, a sign of repentance or a
change of heart and was, in fact, a way of preparing for the coming of the Messiah.
Many Jews thought that John was the Messiah. Out of humility, John made it clear
that he was not the Messiah but the one preparing his way.
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Jesus began his public ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist. The Gospel
of Matthew shows three phenomena that took place with Jesus’ baptism.
1. The opening of the heavens – signifies that God has come to visit his people. It
symbolizes God’s intervention in human affairs through His Son-made-man.
2. The descent of the dove – represents the coming of the Holy Spirit, which anointed
Jesus with extraordinary power to accomplish the public ministry. The dove also
symbolizes the Spirit’s gentleness and peace, whose presence characterized their
(Jesus and H.S.) divine joint mission for Israel and the whole world.
3. The voice from heaven – God the Father affirmed Jesus as his own beloved Son.
Jesus’ baptism revealed both who he was and what his mission was. His baptism
showed that he was called to accomplish his Father’s saving work through the power
of the Spirit with which he was anointed.
Teachers’ Guide
Exclusive NOTES
Later on, many of
John’s followers
became followers
of Jesus. John
would say: “he
must increase,
but I must
decrease.” (John
3:30). John,
indeed, was a
man of humility
by turning the
people’s attention
to the “One
mightier than he.”
Jesus was
baptized NOT for
repentance since
he never sinned.
His baptism was
a sign of humility,
of total obedience
to the Father – in
order to begin his
mission of
salvation. He did
not act alone in
Baptism. His
baptism was a
moment of loving
unity with the
Father and the
Spirit.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
LESSON
2.3
Page 18 of 37
JESUS’ RESPONSE TO TEMPTATION (1 day)
Learning Competencies
- Recall the details, background, and symbolisms in Jesus’ temptation by the devil (and His
responses).
- Propose concrete ways to overcome temptations in our life in the light of Jesus’ responses.
TEXTBOOK
Teachers’ Guide Exclusive NOTES
Page 55
Temptation is an
occasion or situation
that may lead one to
The meaning of Jesus’ temptation
sin. It is not sin unless
The Spirit who descended upon Jesus at his baptism was the same Spirit who we give in to it.
drove him into the desert.1 For the Jews, the desert was a place both for testing
and receiving great favors. It is also where decisions involve life and death. Just like all of us
Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the desert. The devil came to tempt humans, Jesus, being
him thinking that Jesus would give up his mission and settle for some truly human, faced
compromise. The story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert summarizes the situations involving
temptations he encountered in his earthly life and provides us a better serious temptations,
“has similarly been
understanding of temptation and how to overcome it like how Jesus did.
tested in every way, yet
without sin.” (Heb.
1. “Turn these stones into bread.”
a. Satan tried to persuade Jesus to accomplish his mission by bringing 4:15). He was tempted
not only once but all
material riches to Israel.
b. The temptation was for Jesus to take a shortcut and perform some sort throughout his ministry,
of magic to produce the material things the Jews needed or wanted, even on the cross.
which would gain for him the people’s acceptance. Jesus refused so.
Villarojo
c. His mission is to save people from sin (NOT to satisfy all physical and Bishop Dennis
st
said,
“The
1
temptation
material needs). Savior vs Genie.
d. His mission was to offer to the people forgiveness and sharing in God’s symbolizes the devil’s
own life, which cannot be offered by just anyone. In response to Satan, effort to reverse, distort,
Jesus answered “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word or destroy the natural
that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4). Jesus was to preach the order of things. Why eat
a stone?” Example:
Word of God – a treasure far more valuable than material prosperity.
same-sex marriage,
moral relativism, loving
Page 56
animals more than
needy humans, treating
2. “Throw yourself down”
a. Jesus was tested to do impossible strange things, such as throwing evil as normal and
himself off the temple. Because angels would support him, he would acceptable, and
prioritizing material
be able to prove that he was indeed God’s Son.
b. Jesus’ mission is to draw people closer to the Father (NOT worldly needs more than
spiritual needs.
prestige or reputation).
In Spiritual Exercises
3. “Prostrate yourself and worship me.”
a. Satan tempts Jesus with material or worldly power in exchange for 325-327, Saint Ignatius
of Loyola pictures three
paying him homage.
images of temptation:
1
Why did Jesus need to be "driven" by the Spirit into the desert?
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church 538, it states that Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the desert after his
baptism by John. Why does it say Jesus was driven by the Spirit? The word "drove" does not mean that Jesus was
resisting the Spirit driving him to be in the desert. Rather, one Person is driving and the other is cooperating. The fruit
is prayer and solitude since, like some Old Testament characters who would go the desert to pray and fast in order
to encounter God, Jesus did the same thing, who, during his weak moments due to lack of food and water, was
tempted by the devil.
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b. Jesus’ mission was to establish God’s kingdom of LOVE on earth,
even in suffering and death, NOT in pursuing the illusion of power.
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c. By his example, Jesus teaches us to reject the ways of the world
such as Filipino crab mentality. He opted for the long and hard way of
obedience to his Father’s will, the way of self-giving love. He took no
shortcuts and did not make compromises. He rejected Satan’s
temptations and relied on his Father totally.
Understanding Temptation in Today’s Context
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military general (strikes
at one’s weakness since
our woundedness can
be openings for attack
by the devil), spoiled
brat (gives what one
wants in an excessive,
unending, and greedy
manner), and seductive
lover (seduces one to
sin as long as he
doesn’t get caught,
hides one’s sins as
secrets, ex.: corruption,
dishonesty, cheating)
Satan is a wily (sneaky) tempter. He usually does not tempt us to do outright
evil. Rather, he leads us to rationalize that the evil we do is “good” (which can
lead to redefining what is good and bad for us according to our own standards).
He has subtle ways of enticing us to do evil. He disguises his suggestions in
many ways - a “practical” solution to a problem, a friend’s advice and the like.
AVOID TEMPTATION
by pursuing what is
good without
compromise, without
shortcut, without
Temptations come to all people, even to those resolved to do good, and even mediocrity, even at the
when one is trying to accomplish something really good. But when they come, threat of pain,
we have our conscience and the grace of the Holy Spirit to help us discern the discomfort, suffering, or
losing “friends.”
evil in the temptation and reject it.
LESSON
2.4
JESUS’ CALL OF THE APOSTLES (1 day)
Learning Competencies
- Identify the characteristics of the apostles of Jesus, and their significance to Jesus’ mission.
- Explain how Christians can participate in the mission of the apostles.
TEXTBOOK
Page 60
Characteristics of the Apostles
Teachers’ Guide
Exclusive NOTES
The word
disciple comes
from the Latin
word
discipulus,
meaning
"learner" (or
discere - "to
learn").
The apostles were quite ordinary men not known for their education, wealth, and status.
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, they did not know who Jesus really was. They could
not be sure of what he was trying to do. They could not tell how things were going to turn
out in the end. They did not foresee that Jesus was going to be crucified or expect that
he would rise from the dead to a new glorious life. It was to these men Jesus entrusted
The word
the mission of carrying out His work, as well as calling others to be his disciples.
Page 61
The Relationship between Jesus and his Apostles
The call of the Apostles is part of God’s saving plan and a mystery. We can never fully
understand why, of all people, these twelve men were called by Jesus, just as we can
never fully understand why God created each one of us.
During Jesus’ time, it was customary for a rabbi or teacher to have disciples who follow
and study under him. Jesus was like a rabbi to his apostles, but his relationship differ in
the following ways.
apostle comes
from the Greek
word apostolos
- one sent forth,
messenger. All
APOSTLES
ARE
DISCIPLES,
but not all
disciples are
apostles. Some
non-apostle
disciples
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A. It was Jesus who chose and called his disciples. “It was not you who chose me, but
I who chose you” (Jn 15:16). During Jesus’ time, it was usually the disciple or student
who approached the teacher and asked to be accepted into the latter’s group of
followers.
B. Jesus called his apostles to a lasting personal relationship with Him. “He said to
‘Levi’, “Follow me” (Lk 5:27). “ I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). Most rabbis kept
their students only to teach them. When studies are completed, most of the students
and teachers no longer maintain contact with one another.
C. The disciples were called not for their benefit only. In the Gospel of John, it is clear
that Jesus called the Twelve so they could “go and bear fruit” (Jn 15:16). In the
Synoptics, the Twelve were called to be “fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). Hence, they were
called to work for the Kingdom that Jesus started.
The Apostles were a major part of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus sent them on a mission to
proclaim his Good News of the Kingdom. But they fully realized their mission after the
Holy Spirit came down upon them in Pentecost. Their mission, however, was never
exclusive to them since we, as Christians, are called to follow their footsteps in spreading
Jesus’ message of salvation by virtue of our Baptism.
Relation of Our Christian Baptism and the Mission of the Apostles
(Paraphrase of Pages 62-63)
include 72 men
sent for a
mission (Luke
10:1-12). While
all disciples
were entrusted
by Jesus to
continue the
mission of
proclaiming
God’s plan of
salvation for
the world (i.e.
Kingdom of
God), He gave
special mission
to the apostles
to proclaim his
message
following the
Pentecost and
to be principal
founders of
Christian
communities
outside Israel.
Baptism was seen as the beginning of new life for John the Baptist’s followers. It was a
sign of Jesus’ start of his public ministry. For Christians, baptism is the start of Christian
vocation – our participation in the divine life of God and our incorporation with Jesus to
be his friend and disciple, just like how Jesus invited his Apostles to be. Just as the Holy
Spirit descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost, we became the temple of the Holy
Spirit in baptism through whom we share in God’s own life. In BAPTISM, we receive the
Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace that removes original sin and disposes us to partake in
the divine life of God, and we participate in Jesus’ mission by living good Christian lives
and witnessing to his kingdom in the Church and in the whole world, just like how the
Apostles did, especially during their preaching after Pentecost.
LESSON
3.1
JESUS’ PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND ITS GOSPEL VALUES (BEATITUDES) (5 days)
Learning Competencies
- Relate the Old Testament and Gospel images of the kingdom of God.
- Define beatitude and its uniqueness from the common understandings of “happiness.”
- Discuss how the Beatitudes stand as the values of God’s kingdom and why we are called to live
them out in our life.
- Discuss the Eight Beatitudes (meaning and challenge for us).
- Compose reflections on and practice the Beatitudes and the Works of Mercy.
TEXTBOOK
Page 75
Teachers’ Guide Exclusive
NOTES
The chosen people
faced struggles that
changed their lives.
Introduction
They lost their
The theme of the Kingdom of God dominates the Gospels. Jesus’ mission was kingdom and fell into
to establish God’s Kingdom, which was understood as God’s Plan of Salvation, the hands of their
God’s Enterprise, God’s Presence, the Good News or the Kingdom of Heaven. conqueror. Thus, the
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Through his teachings, miracles and Paschal Mystery, Jesus made the Kingdom
of God present among his people. To understand the concept of God’s kingdom
more, let us look into how it was understood in the Old Testament and how it was
presented by Jesus.
Israelites waited for
the promised
Messiah-king that will
save them.
The Old Testament Picture
Jesus’ unfolding of
the kingdom involved
his table fellowship
with sinners and
compassion for the
POOR & OUTCASTS
– the “nobodies,”
“sick,” and “notorious”
in society, for the
Kingdom is OPEN for
all.
The Israelites believed Yahweh to be the creator of all things. “The earth is the
Lord’s and all it holds.” (Ps 24:1). The people reasoned that since Yahweh is the
creator of all, He is then the true ruler and real king not only in Israel but the whole
of creation. For the Israelites, the Kingdom of God is a political territory or a
specific territory with God as their king. Since the Israelites had many struggles,
God chose and anointed leaders to guide them and prophets to remind them of
His divine will or plan.
These prophets foretold of a Messiah who would start a new covenant or new
era wherein evil would be abolished and God himself would rule in justice and
Mt 9:12, Lk 5:31
peace. Thus, the Israelites waited for the promised Messiah,
“Those who are well
have no need of a
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physician, but those
who they believed would restore their nation to its former glory and bring back who are SICK.”
the prosperity and power it had during King David’s time. Up until Jesus’ time, the
Israelites were expecting a Messiah-king who would defeat the Romans and gain Jesus’ signs
transformed the lives
independence for them.
of sinners he met to
be his disciples or
Jesus’ Unique Vision of the Kingdom
followers to also
preach the message
Jesus grew up with these traditional Jewish aspirations for the Kingdom of God.
of the Kingdom to
But during his public ministry, he taught and preached about an entirely different
other people. Jesus
concept of the kingdom – a spiritual one. He never gave a verbal definition of the
thus started a
kingdom, but rather, parables and Beatitudes, which sketched images and
community of people
presented analogies describing the Kingdom of God.
who are faithful to
Jewish law but with a
Jesus announced that the Kingdom was present in his person because he was
new and different
the one totally committed to fulfilling God’s saving will. Aside from his preaching,
understanding of love
his miracles revealed what God’s kingdom truly is – a condition of minds, hearts,
and goodness. At
and wills in which God is Lord of all – a condition of order, peace, wholeness in
present, the Church
people as well as the environment.
continues to preach
the Kingdom of God
After fasting and overcoming the devil’s temptation, Jesus returned to Galilee, his
through authentic
home province. The Gospel of Luke records how Jesus came to Nazareth,
witnessing to Jesus’
entered the
teachings for all.
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synagogue, and there proclaimed his mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed
go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk 4:18-19). Jesus then
declared, “Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21).
With this, Jesus announced that he was the Messiah whom the people had been
waiting for, but his neighbors did not believe him and even tried to kill him (Lk
4:29).
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The Gospels record the many good works Jesus performed throughout his public
ministry. He brought the Good News to the poor by preaching throughout Israel
– in the streets, byways, market places, and even along the shores of a lake. He
reached out to ordinary people everywhere. He sought out public sinners like
Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery, forgave their sins, freed them from
their guilt, and even performed miracles.
Jesus’ proclamation that the Kingdom of God had come is a sign of God’s will
that all people, especially those that society had abandoned, be cared for. Jesus’
acts (especially in his PUBLIC MINISTRY) were signs of the kingdom because
he fulfilled God’s will for all people by bringing them to salvation.
Prelude to the BEATITUDES: The Gospel Values of God’s Kingdom (not in the textbook)
We all want to be happy. Everybody seeks happiness wherever and whenever he can. However, we all
have different ideas of happiness, and of where we seek it. Some seek it in material things – “acquiring”
things, amassing wealth, possessing as much as one could. Happiness to them is a matter of “getting,”
and getting more. To them, a happy person is one who has more in life. “You are what you have; you are
what you wear; you are where you live, etc.” Others find happiness in their achievements. They can never
be happy unless they are “known” in society. They feel happy only when people recognize them for their
positions, degrees, awards, etc. But others feel happier when they have the opportunity of “giving,” of
“sharing,” of parting with their “extra cloak.” They find fulfillment in joining projects for the less fortunate in
society, in outreach programs, etc. Others find happiness in “forgetting” themselves, letting go, letting God,
and doing God’s will. They find happiness in a genuine relationship with God. To them, all else is
secondary.
If Jesus were here today to speak to us about happiness, he would not say that these ideas of happiness
are necessarily wrong. Rather, he would say that if you want to experience a deeper, a more fulfilling and
lasting mode of happiness, you can try his secret formula. This formula turns upside down the world’s
common definition of happiness. And this is what the beatitudes are all about.
Before learning and reflecting on Jesus’ other teachings (including lessons from the Parables) and deeds
(including his Miracles), we must have a clear grasp of the Beatitudes as they serve as the foundation of
Christian moral life alongside with the Decalogue or Ten Commandments.
TEXTBOOK
Page 111
Living the Beatitudes
The Beatitudes form the opening part (like a “preamble”) of Matthew’s account
of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:3-10), which puts together most of Jesus’
ethical teachings. They are a set of declarations or pronouncements of blessings
– ethical and spiritual standards that Jesus set for those who want to follow him
and for those who have embraced his attitudes and values.
Following the beatitudes, therefore, makes one “blessed” (or happy in some
versions of the Bible). They are Jesus’ formula for a truly worthwhile and happy
life. They are as relevant to us today as they were when Jesus first preached
them, for the Beatitudes express what ordinary people really desire deep in their
hearts.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Teachers’ Guide Exclusive
NOTES
• These are the most important
teachings of Jesus (cf. CCC
1716). With the 10
Commandments and the
Church teachings, these are
the “paths” to the kingdom of
God. (cf. # 1724)
• The word beatitude comes
from the Latin word beatus, or
“happy.” These are ways or
“attitudes” that we must
possess in order to attain true
happiness.
• WHY EIGHT? The
Resurrection of Jesus is
signified by the number 8. As
the 7th day was the day of
completion, so 8 (8th day) was
above this perfection – FIRST
OF A NEW SERIES.
• A beatitude has a paradox –
a set of two ideas that are
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
satisfied.
Page 112
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is
the Kingdom of Heaven.
Explanation of and Reflection on Each Beatitude
1. The poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom.
To be “poor in spirit” is to have total or complete dependence on God. Material
possessions, friends, talents, and achievements have real value in our life, but
they should not replace or substitute our ultimate trust in God, our “number one,”
highest, or most important priority, value, and treasure in life.
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absurd or opposite of one
another, but are true and real.
• When we encounter
the words poor and
sorrowful in the
Beatitudes, we refer to
them as aspects of
SPIRITUAL
DISPOSITION, not
physical quality. Thus,
they are dispositions of
the soul – to be empty
and poor in order to be
open to, to long for, and
to yearn for GOD! One is
“spiritually poor” since
he is conscious of his
need of God – source of
meaning and purpose in
life, worth, dignity, and
identity. “In God’s eyes I
am nothing, I have
nothing.”
When Jesus declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” he was warning us about
the dangers of using one’s riches wrongly and valuing riches over relationships OPPOSITE: Pride and
– with God and with others. Thus, this beatitude teaches us the fundamental Self-exaltation
truth that our dignity and worth comes from God, not from one’s materials or
Related Parables:
status in life.
2. They who mourn will be comforted.
To mourn is “to experience deep grief.” It is alright to grieve, for God will
Parable Concerning Treasures
(Mt 6:19-21)
Parable of the Treasure and
the Pearl of Great Value (Mt
13:44-46)
Parable of the Prodigal Son
(Lk 15:11-24)
comfort us through other persons or through our prayers by the consoling
presence of the Holy Spirit.
OPPOSITE:
NOT IN TEXTBOOK: Two types of mourning:
Complaining, Bitterness,
Passivity, Blaming
others or blaming God
a. Mourning for one’s pain and suffering
(continuation of page 113)
When Jesus died, many
mourned over him (Lk
23:27). But after three
days, he returned to
them as comforter and
consoler (Lk 24:32).
Jesus is there to comfort us in pain, suffering, or sorrow. When a loved one gets
sick or dies, or when a best friend moves to a new school or place, we are driven
to reflect on the deep realities of life. “Why me, Lord?” we may ask. The second
beatitude says that it is all right to grieve, that it is natural and healthy to mourn. See the example of
It tells us that just as sadness is part of life, so is comfort. When we are in grief, Peter’s “weeping bitterly”
we should open our hearts to the Spirit who will give us comfort.
(Mt 26:75) vs Judas’
APPLICATION: Opening or being sincere or honest about our problems and
difficulties in life to GOD (in prayer), from whom we ask comfort and help.
b. Mourning for one’s sins
NOT IN THE TEXTBOOK: Being guilty and remorseful in our sins, especially in
offending God whom we love and in sincerely and humbly asking Him for
forgiveness.
remorse leading to
suicide
St. Ambrose: “When you
have done thus much,
attained both poverty
and
meekness,
remember that you are a
sinner, mourn your sins.”
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APPLICATION: Confession, reciting the Act of Contrition, and doing good deeds St. Hilary: “Those that
mourn, that is, not loss
in reparation for the evil we have done.
Page 114
of kindred, affronts, or
losses, but who weep for
past sins.”
3. The meek will inherit the land.
They are the opposite of
To be meek is to be humble, gentle, patient, and not ever ready to take offense. self-righteous. They do
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People who remain meek instead of arrogant come out the WINNERS because
their behavior shows they are in control and in charge of the situation, MORE
than those who lose their “cool.” They have control over their reactions and not
self-defensive because they are able to direct their passions and energies to
something positive and they do not need to prove anything since they know their
real worth comes from God, and as such, they are not afraid of cheap attacks
such as name-calling and false accusations. The meek are patient since they do
not try to make moral shortcuts. Take a look at Jesus. He was never too busy to
play with children or to pray to his Father even if many sought his attention.
When Jesus said, “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other
one to him as well.” (Mt 5:39), he is challenging us to break the vicious cycle of
aggression and violence and willingly pursue justice and peace even at the cost
of suffering.
not suffer from an
exaggerated need to win
and look righteous.
Related Parable:
Parable of the Pharisee
and the Tax Collector
(Lk 18:9-14)
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4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied.
Related Parable:
To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to believe in and DO what is right and Parable of the Widow
just (JUSTICE) not only by avoiding the wrong, but by standing up for what is and the Unjust Judge
fair, good, true, and due to others, even to the point of losing others’ approval (Lk 18:1-8)
(ex. being called killjoy/weird or wa’y pakisama for refusing to…)
After discussing the 4th Beatitude, compare it with the 8th in page 121.
8th BEATITUDE: The persecuted for the sake of righteousness will inherit the
kingdom.
Christians who stay loyal to Christ and his Kingdom may find themselves not fit
anymore with certain groups – the secular world (worldly values) where they are
laughed at, ridiculed, and threatened with shame, death, and violence for
following Him, all because they want to be “blessed” and fit in more with Christ’s
kingdom. Being rejected by others who disagree with our choice of embracing
Jesus may cause us emotional and physical suffering, as in the case of martyrs
who died for Jesus and for the kingdom. Jesus did not promise an easy life for
us. He said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Lk 9:24). This is the
Gospel Paradox. Jesus himself embodied this beatitude in his Paschal Mystery.
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5. The merciful will be shown mercy.
Being merciful often involves two virtues: compassion and forgiveness. The
word compassion comes from the Latin words cum passus, meaning “suffer
As Christians, we can
live out mercy through
practicing the Corporal
and Spiritual Works of
Mercy.
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with.” Compassion is empathy accompanied by an urge to help. It is not pity, but Related Parables:
Parables of the Lost Sheep,
a positive uplifting attitude.
the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal
Son (Lk 15), Parable of the
Creditor and Two Debtors (Lk
7:41-43)
Parable of the Laborers in the
Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16)
Parable of the Good Samaritan
(Lk 10:25-37)
Parable of the Unforgiving
Servant (Mt 18:21-35)
Page 118
To be compassionate is to be sensitive, kind, and understanding toward those
who are in pain. When we forgive, we should not harbor grudges or desire to
take revenge or vengeance. Also, we should focus not on the wrong done but
on the doer whose genuine repentance is from God’s grace. The willingness and
readiness to forgive is indispensable to following Jesus. It is the spirit of the
“Lord’s Prayer.” We need to learn mercy for two simple reasons: God shows OPPOSITE: Bearing
anger, grudges and
mercy to all, and we need mercy from others and from God.
vengeance, refusing to
forgive
Page 119
6. The clean of heart will see God.
The clean of heart are those whose hearts are in the “right place,” who seek
what is truly good with pure intentions, and who can discern what is good from
bad. They strive to avoid sin, to do God’s will, and to live as Christ’s disciples.
Because of such perseverance, their reward is the privilege of “seeing” and
finding God in all things. For the clean of heart, they live the truest sense of the
“good life” – an ordered life with God as its center.
Related Parable:
Parable of the Pharisee
and the Tax Collector
(Lk 18:9-14)
If the clean of heart is
selfless and generous,
the opposite are those
living self-centered,
pleasure-seeking, or
indifferent lives.
Page 120
7. The peacemakers will be called children of God.
To be a peacemaker does not need to have a position of power or authority,
rather the willingness to act for peace even in small or simple ways.
Peacemakers are more than just being peacelovers. They work not just for the
absence of conflict, but for authentic justice and harmony and promote
conditions or situations for real peace (love of enemies) even in difficult
situations. They create, develop, and improve relationships to promote justice,
peace, and healing since they recognize every person as a child of God.
THE WORKS OF MERCY (Living out the Fifth Beatitude)
The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and
bodily necessities. They seek to help alleviate human misery – material deprivation, unjust oppression,
physical and psychological illness, and death. Everyone is obliged to perform the works of mercy,
according to his own ability and the need of his neighbor. It is important to remember that ordinary deeds
done every day to relieve the corporal or spiritual needs of others are true works of mercy, if done in the
name of Christ. Taking care of children, teaching children and adults about the faith, caring for elderly
parents or a sick child or spouse are some examples.
YOU ARE NOT FORCED OR OBLIGED TO DO ALL SUGGESTIONS. DISCERN AND CHOOSE WHICH
SIMPLE DEEDS YOU CAN DO OUT OF LOVE AND A GENEROUS HEART, WITH PERSEVERANCE,
CONSISTENCY, AND GOOD INTENTION ROOTED IN THE HEART OF JESUS THROUGH PRAYER.
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Corporal Works of Mercy
They are found in Jesus’ teachings and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were
Christ in disguise, by helping them in their bodily needs.
1. Feed the hungry – Many people hunger or receive food with little or no nutrition. When so much food
is wasted, consider how good stewardship practices can help others who do not have those same
resources.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)





Bring food to the poor; donate money to buy food for the poor; share your food with the needy; or have
a food kit in your car of some non-perishable foods that can be readily given to those knocking at the
window (INSTEAD of giving cash).
Organize soup kitchens with your family or peers for a chosen beneficiary group.
Research, identify, and contribute financially to organizations that serve the hungry.
Do not buy or take more food than you are able to eat. If you notice that you end up throwing away
much each week, buying less yet enough will eliminate waste and allow you to donate savings.
Help your family shop for food groceries; help in cooking; teach others how to cook or prepare food.
2. Give drink to the thirsty – Many do not have access to clean water and suffer from this lack. We should
support the efforts of those working towards greater accessibility of this essential resource.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)




Invite your friends to buy bottled water to be distributed for the poor. If parents can be involved, ask
them to accompany their children in delivering the water to the families.
Make an effort not to waste water. Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or washing dishes
can help, especially in regions suffering from drought. (solidarity with those with no water)
Give someone a drink on a hot day; give the baby its bottle; pour drinks at the table; help lift up a young
child to get a drink at a water fountain.
Help pass out ice cold waters or give a glass of water for your parents who have a long day.
3. Clothe the naked – Sharing our clothes with the needy is an act of love.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)


Donate old or unused clothes (that can still be worn) to a garage sale-drive that seeks to raise funds
for charity, or to some charitable institutions, or to a beggar on the street, or simply to any needy.
Help a young child get dressed (collar, necktie, shoe, etc.) or help with the laundry at home.
SYMBOLIC MEANING: When we search out the “naked” in society, remember that those who are
rejected, alone, and forgotten are “naked” too without friends, family, or meaningful human relationship.
They are like the man in the Parable of the “Good Samaritan,” not only stripped of clothes, beaten, and
left for dead, but completely alone too. Some persons passed by him but did not extend a hand for him,
as if he was “invisible.” Like him, many people (sometimes in our own family) are “stripped” of everything
in their lives. They often feel invisible and think that no one cares about them. As Christians, we must
strive to reach out to them, to comfort, console and “clothe” them with our love, time, and presence.
4. Visit the imprisoned – Despite the gravity of their sins, prisoners are still humans made in the image
and likeness of God and still deserve the opportunity to hear the Word of God and find the truth of
Christ’s message. In his visit to the United States, Pope Francis even blessed an inmate at the CurranFromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia in September 2015.
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Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)




See if your parish has a prison ministry, and if so, you may extend charitable works (Christmas
presents, rosaries, Bibles, unused clothes) for the inmates (or for children whose parents are in prison).
Visit them or promote humane treatment for the imprisoned; help care for the families of the imprisoned;
or join church organizations that conduct spiritual and pastoral visitation to them (example: Legion of
Mary, Daughters of Mary Immaculate, Philippine Jesuit Prison Ministry, etc.).
Get a group of friends to write letters full of encouragement and hope for your local prison.
Suggest to any adult family member well-versed in law or counseling to mentor a teen in juvenile prison
or to provide free legal assistance, whenever possible, to the prisoners, especially the falsely accused
5. Shelter the homeless – Everyone needs shelter. Some live in substandard homes, while many are
homeless or settling informally in a lands not theirs. To help the homeless obtain shelter or to preserve
it is an act of love. Though many circumstances might have led to someone becoming homeless, Christ
encourages us to go out and meet them, affirming their worth and helping them live quality lives.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Donate time or money to organizations that build homes for those needy of shelter (Gawad Kalinga).
Suggest to your family to ensure that your house helpers have good homes for the families they
support.
Volunteer to help in the housekeeping of homeless shelter foundations or charitable institutions.
Send a Christmas card or letter of affirmation for a child in an orphanage.
6. Visit the sick – The sick are often forgotten or avoided. In spite of their illness, they still have much to
offer to those who take the time to visit and comfort them. Helping them in any way is an act of love.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Visit a sick in the hospital, nursing home, or among your neighbors; run an errand for an elderly or sick
person (e.g. buying them food or other needs, shouldering some medicine or hospital expenses, or
assisting their family to get medical or charity assistance from PCSO, DSWD, or Tzu Chi Foundation);
donate blood when necessary.
Volunteer your time at a children’s hospital and spend time with children like playing games with them.
Suggest to the family of the sick or help them to find a priest who can administer the Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick or who can conduct a pastoral visitation to the sick.
7. Bury the dead – Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support. Through our
prayers and actions during these times, we show our respect for life, a gift from God, and comfort those
who mourn. It is an act of love to show respect for the bodies of the dead, since during life, they were
temples of the Holy Spirit and received the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Send a card to someone who has recently lost a loved one.
Visit the cemetery and pray for those you have lost. Next time you pass by it, instead of holding your
breath, say this prayer: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Make sure that when a loved one has passed away, do your very best to attend the funeral or wake.
It’s very important we celebrate their life here on earth and that we pray for the repose of their soul.
Help fundraise money for families who can’t afford to have a decent funeral for their loved one.
Sponsor food or provide financial help for the wake, especially if the bereaved family cannot afford it.
Donate to ministries that offer free Catholic burials to those who are unable to afford one.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
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Spiritual Works of Mercy
They are oriented toward the soul. Though ideally applicable for all faithful, not everyone is considered
capable or obligated to perform the first three Spiritual Works of Mercy before they gain the proper
knowledge, formation, or training to do so. The remaining four Spiritual Works of Mercy are considered to
be an obligation of all faithful to practice unconditionally.
1. Instruct the ignorant – Instructing the ignorant is an act of love to help others in one way or another to
learn the truths they need to know about their faith or about their growth as a good person.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Volunteer to help with evangelization or catechism programs at your parish.
Actively learn about your Catholic faith and share your understanding of it with others and with those
who welcome it (ex.: friends, schoolmates, family members, etc.)
Read good literature (novels, anecdotes, inspirational stories with good moral values) and encourage
others to do so also.
Be patient with those who are only beginning to master new skills or tasks, or even encourage or train
them to become better if you can (ex.: playing basketball, dancing, cooking, photography, playing
musical instruments, etc.).
Invite to attend Mass with you an unchurched friend or family member. Even if they refuse, your
invitation will make them think about it. They will less likely turn you down the next time you ask them.
2. Counsel the doubtful – Helping others to be certain about what they can do to love and serve God is
an act of love.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Dedicate yourself to prayer and falling in love with God so that you might be a faithful witness.
Give a good advice or help for your friend or someone in need of help with serious decisions or
problems in life or clarification in simple tasks or studies (ex. someone needing extra mastery in class).
Share a book you find useful in dealing with concerns with faith and relationship with others.
Say words of affirmation or encouragement. Optimism is contagious. You might inspire someone.
3. Admonish sinners – Helping others realize their sins – in a charitable manner – is an act of love. This
might be done by trying to keep him or her out of sin or an occasion of sin, or by suggesting him or her
to receive the Sacrament of Confession. In cases where we think it might make him or her worse, we
do not correct directly. We can let him or her know indirectly, especially by our example, that we do not
approve of his or her actions. When we correct others, we do it out of genuine love and concern, and
not blindly criticizing or demeaning them. Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Be courageous, compassionate yet PRUDENT or CAREFUL in reminding, informing, or calling
somebody or some groups to be faithful to Gospel values instead of immoral or wrong actions (ex. in
our choice of words or in the social media). You may say positive words instead of negative, biased,
revengeful or anger-filled comments, or gossiping.
Intervene or respond proactively in situations in which people are clearly doing harm to themselves or
others, and not simply remaining silent or passive about it. If you fear that your attempt in “correcting”
can distort relationships or can create trouble, seek the help of a mature adult (ex. parents, guidance
counselors, etc.). When we correct, don’t judge the person, but the behavior in the hope of leading him
to a better life. Journey with the sinner or erring person until he or she changes.
Go to the Sacrament of Confession often. Gaining insight into your own sins and receiving God's grace
to deal with them is a good way to help others.
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4. Comfort the sorrowful – It is an act of love to help another person in any kind of sorrow, and to refrain
from doing anything that would unnecessarily cause another person more sorrow.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Send a card to someone who has lost a loved one or lend a listening ear to those facing a tough time.
Love the unlovable; befriend the estranged and those difficult to relate with and try to understand the
reasons for their “sorrows.” Offer words of encouragement to those who seem discouraged and
sympathy to the grieving.
5. Bear wrongs patiently – Accepting the consequences of another’s thoughtlessness or carelessness
and to suffer inconveniences which another should bear is an act of love, though illogical for some
people. This is the example given to us by Jesus who suffered greatly for us all when he was innocent.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Frustrated with someone? Step away from the situation, take a few deep breaths, pray the Lord’s
Prayer, asking God for patience. Do not be bitter. Instead, place your hope in God so that he may
rescue you from your troubles.
Let go of grudges. You're probably the only one who remembers. Try praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
It will inspire you to be more patient with others.
Work at being less critical of others. Give them benefit of the doubt. Do not be judgmental. Assume
that people who may have hurt you did so because they are enduring pain of their own.
6. Forgive all injuries – It is an act of deep love to forgive all those who have injured us in any way, even
deliberately and with malice. Christ demands his followers to have great love and forgiveness for one
another and even for our enemies in imitation of His own forgiveness of us and of His enemies as He
hung on the cross. In His almighty wisdom, God knows that failing to forgive causes further injury to
the person originally injured.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Let go of grudges. Forgiveness transforms hearts and lives. Participate in the Sacrament of Penance.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Forgive!
Pray for those who have wronged you and ask God for forgiveness for those you've wronged and for
courage to forgive!
Make a pledge that you will forgive everyone in your life both at Advent and Lent for, if not then, when?
Keep to yourself criticisms of others if you will not relay them in a charitable and affirming manner.
Go out of the way to be positive with someone you are having a difficult time with.
7. Pray for the living and the dead – Sharing in the communion of saints demands that we pray for
everyone. This is a great means of spreading the fires of love to others, whether in this world or in
purgatory. Prayers for the dead at a cemetery carry special graces.
Suggestions (such as but not limited to:)
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Request a Mass intention for or include in your prayer intentions a friend or family member who passed
away, or a family member or friend grieving for someone’s death.
Keep your own notebook, journal, or list of prayer intentions, writing down the names of those who you
are keeping in your prayers, including their particular needs or intentions.
Ask a friend or family member if there is anything you can pray for them about.
Through prayer, entrust your concerns for those around you to God and pray for those in need.
Each time you hear an ambulance or fire truck, pray for the rescuers and those who need rescue.
Don't be shy about asking other friends to pray for you. You might as well ask non-Christians as well.
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Page 30 of 37
If you don't pray the Rosary daily, ask yourself if you have better things to do. Then ask yourself what's
so important that you can't set aside 20 minutes in order to talk to God the Father.
Join the Legion of Mary or any church or school organization that promotes the value, culture,
importance, and practice of prayer.
SOURCES
https://fwdioc.org/works-of-mercy.pdf
https://www.hscc.us/uploads/docs/WorksOfMercy.pdf
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-corporal-works-of-mercy.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-spiritual-works-of-mercy.cfm
LESSON
3.2
JESUS’ PARABLES AND MIRACLES:
(1-2 days)
THEIR PURPOSE AND RELATION TO GOD’S KINGDOM
Learning Competencies
- Define parable and miracle.
- Explain why Jesus made use of parables and miracles in his public ministry.
- Relate Jesus’ miracles to his teaching of the Kingdom of God.
- Relate the significance of Jesus’ use of parables and miracles to our everyday life.
Paraphrase of Pages 96-105
Introduction to Parables
Storytelling was intricate part of Jesus’ culture. Jesus, known for being a storyteller, made use of stories
to explain the meaning of the Kingdom of God in an understandable and tangible approach – called
parables or comparisons from nature or human life used for a story to convey some moral or spiritual
insight. The theme about God and his kingdom forms the plot of the story. Jesus’ parables were unique
because of the “twist” or element of “surprise” – a sort of moral awakening that provokes or shocks the
listener. The twist was meant to highlight some countercultural values of the Kingdom since they often run
contrary to the secular values of society. For example, materialism, which is prevalent in society, is
opposite to the Gospel value of detachment from material possessions and power.
When we read Jesus’ parables today, we are led to reflect on and question our attitudes or values that are
contrary to the Gospel values (example: in behaving or relating with others). Thus, the parables always
invite a response from their readers and their message or theme reveals what God’s kingdom truly is.
Themes of Parables
1. God’s loving mercy is at the heart of the Good News. God loves us with infinite, unconditional, and
forgiving love. See Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and the Lost (Prodigal) Son
2. Everyone is called to enter the Kingdom, a gift to all nations. See Parable of the Wedding Feast
3. The Kingdom demands our repentance, to change our old ways and to be selfless. See Parables of
the Unforgiving Servant and the Repentant Tax Collector
4. The Kingdom demands persevering response to always be ready to be accountable for our lives at all
times. See Parables of the Wedding Feast and the Ten Virgins
5. Rejoice and be hopeful! Jesus reveals to us God’s offer of goodness and salvation. Those who accept
God’s message will find the “hidden treasure.” See Parables of the Weeds and the Mustard Seed
Introduction to Jesus’ Miracles
Miracles are extraordinary signs beyond natural or scientific explanation shown to people in order to
awaken faith. For many people, a miracle is a manifestation of God’s presence and power. Though one
can infer that miracles may come from GOD (through certain peoples whom he endowed such power),
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one must not ignore the fact that miracles may also come from Satan or the devil (incantation, sorcery,
magic, occultism).
Jesus’ miracles are among the signs of his inaugurating of the Kingdom of God. Though he required faith
from the sick, possessed, or their relatives and friends before performing the needed miracle, Jesus at
times performed miracles out of mercy without requiring a response of faith (e.g. restoration of the son of
widow from Nain). In the Gospels, three Greek words are used to refer to the miracles of Jesus.
Teras – “marvel” – Jesus’ miracles were acts that made people marvel (acts of wonder)
Dynamis – power – Jesus’ miracles indicate great power coming from him
Semeion – sign – A marvelous act of power is a sign pointing to something (to Jesus’ true identity or call
of faith, or to the Kingdom of God)
Miracles, thus, have two functions in Jesus’ ministry.
Reveals the Kingdom of God
Jesus’ miracles were signs that
the Kingdom of God was
present in Jesus and was active
through his deeds of healing,
love and forgiveness, and
defeat over evil.
Reveals Jesus’ True Identity
Anyone who has power over nature, sickness, death, Satan, and sin
itself must be divine. No human beings can claim such power, hence.
Jesus performed signs that reveal that he is indeed the Messiah, the
Son of God. His miracles prompt us to put our faith in him and to
commit ourselves to his way of life as we work against evils around
and within us.
Types of Jesus’ Miracles
1. Healing Miracles (Jesus relieved physical sufferings and illnesses of some people – accompanied with
forgiveness and mercy) – Two Blind Men; Bartimeus; Leper; Paralytic; Ten Lepers – faith is needed for
healing or cleansing to take place
2. Nature Miracles (Jesus has control over the forces of nature) – Calming the Storm at Sea, Feeding of
Five Thousand; Wedding at Cana; Walking on Water
3. Exorcisms – Jesus drove out evil spirits (Gerasene demoniac, boy possessed by a demon)
4. Restoration – Jesus brought back to life those who had already died: the widow’s son, the official’s
daughter, and Lazarus.
Miracles in Everyday Life
We may not see miracles everyday because we think they are something unexplainable or out-of-thisworld. Little do many of us know that we can witness some “ordinary” miracles such as:
1. God’s ongoing creation – we are amazed by God’s continuing creativity – wonders of nature, new life
2. A person’s change of heart – radical turning away from sin effected by healing and counseling.
Conversion and resolution need support from people and God’s grace.
3. Modern-day miracle workers – people sharing in the task of bringing people closer to God’s kingdom
or alleviating poverty, sickness, oppression, or injustice in society
4. Social transformation – living out Gospel values concretely everyday by denouncing and fighting evil,
poverty, corruption, and injustice. These movements concretize the prayer “Your kingdom come.”
5. WE – uniqueness of every person loved by God (“See, upon the palms of my hands, I have written
your name.” Is 49:16). We are a marvel, a masterpiece, the greatest miracle of God.
Junior High School – CLF 8 Teacher’s Guide
LESSON
4.1
Page 32 of 37
GROWING OPPOSITION AGAINST JESUS
AND JESUS’ VIEW OF HIS DEATH (3 days)
Learning Competencies
- Discuss the reasons behind the Jewish conspiracy for Jesus’ death and reflect on Jesus’
attitude toward his offenders.
- Discuss how Jesus viewed his own death.
- Discuss why and how Jesus suffered and died for our sins.
- Integrate one’s proper understanding of the Paschal Mystery and of the meanings of “Jesus
saved us from sin” in our prayer life and in helping others deepen their understanding and
appreciation of Jesus’ redemption.
Page 134 (with addenda):
SOCIO-CULTURAL REASONS FOR JESUS’ DEATH
As early as the start of his public ministry, Jesus’ identity and authority were put in question and held under
suspicion and surveillance by the Jewish authorities, who considered him disrespectful to Jewish laws, a
threat to their nation and to the Romans, an impostor (Mt 27:63), a false prophet (Jn 7:12), the Evil One in
league with Satan (Mt 12:24), a blasphemer (Mk 14:64), a glutton and a drunkard (Mt 11:19).
The Jewish leaders were scandalized, angered, and threatened by Jesus’ behavior – befriending and
interacting with everybody without exceptions (including sinners, the poor, and Gentiles), curing the sick
even during the Sabbath, and criticizing their hypocrisy. Wherever he went, he attracted a large crowd
from the common people who more believed in him the more the leaders tried to discredit him. Since the
common people learned the moral hypocrisy of their leaders, they would turn to Jesus alone for moral and
spiritual guidance, thus causing division, confusion, disunity among the Jewish population. This caused a
great upset and worry among the leaders: disunity in Israel might spark Roman suppression of their nation.
Thus, the leaders were clear that from the start, Jesus had to die. As Caiaphas said, “It is better that one
man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish” (Jn 11:50).
Aside from the Jewish leaders (collaborators with the Romans), the Zealots and other revolutionaries (antiRoman movement), who were supposed to be sympathetic with Jesus for his criticism of the Pharisees’
hypocrisy, found his teaching “love your enemies” unacceptable because they could not forgive nor come
into terms with the Romans, their most hated enemies/oppressors. The same is true with the leaders who
disliked relating with the “unclean” – sinners, poor, sick, and Gentiles.
The following were the main reasons why he Jewish authorities wanted to put Jesus to death:
1. Calling God as Abba or “Father” – for them, this is blasphemy since no Jew could dare to call God as
Abba (or “daddy”). For the Jews, claiming God as a Father make one equal with Him – thus, blasphemy.
2. Being considered by many as their “Messiah” – They were expecting a political Messiah who would
end all social oppression (especially under Roman rule), but Jesus came for peace and healing, not
with weapons, but with the message of love, non-violence, and “change of heart.”
3. Being considered “King of the Jews” – If the common people were to consider Jesus as their Messiah,
it would not be far from letting them think that he could be their king, since the Old Testament
prophecies referred to the Messiah as a King of peace. This claim opened the possibility of his death
under Roman law since having another “king” aside from Caesar is a major crime punishable by
CRUCIFIXION, a mode of death for slaves under the Roman Empire. In John 18:36-37, Jesus actually
claimed that his Kingdom was “not of this world,” and hence he posed no threat to the world’s political
powers. Pilate still mistook Jesus’ statement, thinking Jesus was a political “king.”
4. “I will build a new Temple.” – Jesus said these after cleansing the temple, stirring the greatest anger
and conspiracy. Any Jew found guilty of disrespecting or threatening the dignity of Temple was subject
to death according to the religious customs. They thought Jesus was disrespecting the Temple, but in
contrast, Jesus was actually fulfilling the True Law against “impurities” in the temple (spreading of
pagan, Roman coins and selling of animals for temple sacrifice). The NEW TEMPLE Jesus was
speaking of is the true worship of God in “spirit and truth” in the person of Jesus, NO LONGER in the
Temple (physical sense), but in the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel to the world (spiritual).
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Jesus was aware of his own dangerous situation, yet he preached a more radical message with no
compromises. He faced death with no revenge or violence, and submitted himself to his Father’s Will.
JESUS’ VIEW OF HIS DEATH (from other books): How did Jesus view his own death?
1. Completion of life and manifestation of true humanity. If Jesus is true human, his humanity would not
be complete had he not died.
2. Fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies. Jesus acknowledged his death as fulfillment of the prophecy
of the “Suffering Servant” (Isaiah 52-53) and various prophecies in the Old Testament pointing to his
imminent death in order to save the world from sin.
3. His own prediction. In the Gospels, Jesus foretold three times his impending suffering and death, and
also his victory in the Resurrection. It showed Jesus’ total fidelity to his mission, even if this involved
his suffering and death. Jesus did not end with predicting his own death, but leaving a message of
hope and new life in his coming Resurrection, which culminates his victory over death. (summary of
p. 135-137 from the textbook)
4. Act of self-emptying humility or kenosis. Jesus humbled himself, despite being God, in order to let us
realize how loving and concerned he is for us, embracing all human experience, including suffering
and death, except sin, in order to reach us despite our helplessness and unworthiness.
5. Caused by our sinfulness. The cause of Jesus’ death were not the Jews, as Jesus had forgiven them
already, but all of us, sinners, who are responsible for wounding and letting Jesus suffer the torment
of the Cross for the sins we commit against him. (cf. CCC 597-598)
6. His greatest FREE act of love for us. Jesus willingly gave up his life, not because he was the perfect
substitute for all sacrifices, but because he knew humankind cannot pay for their wrongs done against
God and, because he loves us, he did not want us to continue suffering the original consequences of
sin brought by Adam and Eve. Though his redemption was in loving unity and obedience with the
Father, he did it out of his own will, not dictated nor forced to die on the cross. According to Mitch
Finley, he “saved us from sin” by:
a. Saving us from FEAR AND DESPAIR brought by evil in the world (since there is HOPE that we can
defeat evil by doing good)
b. Saving us from FEAR of death (BECAUSE THERE WILL BE RESURRECTION after)
c. Saved us from ISOLATION from GOD and One Another (Because there is now healing,
reconciliation, forgiveness, and reunion with God)
Even if Jesus redeemed humanity from sin, many people nowadays still live sinful lives because they
deliberately choose to abuse their freedom and their commitment to live their “new life” given by Jesus.
7. Part of God’s mysterious plan. Jesus’ death is incomplete without his Resurrection. Both events
constitute the Paschal Mystery, Jesus’ saving work in his passion and suffering, death and burial,
Resurrection and ascension to heaven.
a. It is called PASCHAL because Jesus, who died at 3:00pm of Friday of the Passover, has become
the sacrificial lamb, redeeming humankind with the price of his life so that all may have “new life”.
b. It is a MYSTERY because it is a religious truth that one cannot fully understand since God has
reasons why these events had to take place.
REFLECTION
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34). If
Jesus willingly accepted his saving mission by dying on the Cross, we who are called to be his friends and
disciples should be prepared to follow him by taking out own “crosses.” Indeed, Jesus’ Paschal Mystery
teaches us that the living-dying-rising to new life pattern seen in Jesus’ life can be reflected in everyday
ordinary life. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain!,” or “No guts, no glory,” one can live out the pattern of
the Paschal Mystery by striving hard to reach one’s goals and overcome or avoid temptations that may
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distract or lead us away from our very purpose. No student can excel in class; neither an athlete can
succeed nor a worker can get promoted without sacrifice and discipline.
Suffering and pain are part of human reality – problems, tragedies, death, sickness. Today, many people
think God is away, distant from them, or doesn’t care for them, since they tend to question that if God is
good, why is there poverty, evil, suffering, and unhappiness today? However, through Jesus’ self-emptying
humility or kenosis – including his suffering and death – God became one with us to tell us he is THERE,
humble and ready to embrace our miseries, since he too experienced helplessness in his birth and death.
We must never forget that, while we find meaning and hope in Jesus’ Cross and death, we are a people
“of Easter joy” and should rejoice, be thankful for, and share the memories of our happy events, as well as
how our sacrifices got paid off with what we have now. We should bring these experiences in thankful
prayer, most especially in our Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, the memorial of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery
whereby we thank God for the gift of new life brought about by Jesus in his Resurrection.
LESSON
4.2
THE LAST SUPPER, PASSION, AND RESURRECTION
NARRATIVES (Paschal Mystery Narratives in the Gospels) (3 days)
Learning Competencies
- Recall the details, background, good deeds or virtues, symbolisms, and cause-and-effect
relationship of events in Jesus’ Last Supper, Passion, and Resurrection Narratives.
- Classify the events and Gospel lines in the Last Supper, Passion, and Resurrection Narratives
according to theme.
- Discuss how the Eucharist helps us remember and be thankful for Jesus’ Paschal Mystery.
- Compose reflections and resolutions on living out the messages of the Last Supper, Passion,
and Resurrection Narratives.
- Explain why Jesus' Resurrection is the most important truth and celebration in our faith and in
the Church.
Page 138
As his death was nearing, Jesus arranged to celebrate the Passover meal with his disciples, which would
be his “Last Supper” with them. Aside from this, Jesus washed the feet of his apostles and gave his new
commandments of love. Such examples would serve as Jesus’ “last will” for his apostles.
Page 142 (with additional notes)
After the Last Supper Narratives come the Passion Narratives, but at some point, their details differ among
the Gospels since they came from different sources and points of view, but the main ideas and events are
unmistakably clear.
The word passion means “strong and barely controllable emotion,” also referring to one’s feeling of love
and desire. Thus, Jesus’ passion means his great love for humanity even at the expense of suffering and
offering his life for us. The Passion Narratives occurred around AD 30-33 on the days of preparation for
the Passover. In Church Tradition, we have the celebration of Holy Week and devotions like the Sorrowful
Mysteries of the Rosary, the Stations (Way) of the Cross, and the Seven Last Words to help us reflect on
the messages of these events (as well as the Last Supper Narratives). All narratives culminated in Jesus’
victory over sin and death in his Resurrection, an event of true joy and hope that inspired the early
Christians to proclaim the Gospels and that became the foundation of the Christian faith.
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Page 138
1st – The Washing of the Feet
(This is found only in the Gospel of John, while the Last Supper takes place in the rest of the Gospels).
It was a Jewish custom for slaves, specifically the lowest ones, to wash the feet of guests who came to
their master’s house, using water from jars near the entrance door. Jesus surprised his apostles by doing
something completely unexpected – taking the role of a lowly slave by washing their feet. No wonder this
caused shock and confusion among them.
Page 139
This act of washing of the feet represents Jesus’ whole life of loving service and humility, which reached
its climax during His death on the Cross. Though He was God’s Son-made-man, Jesus set aside His divine
glory to become man (Phil 2:6-7). In the act of washing their feet, Jesus bent down and washed the soiled
feet of humankind – a symbol of humility and the mystery of divine forgiveness – to make us fit for the table
of fellowship with God and with one another. By this, Jesus set at example for all to follow, that is, to live a
life of loving service to others. Only through genuine service and humility do we come to true greatness.
2nd – The Institution of the Eucharist
The Last Supper was the new Passover meal. Like all practicing Jews, the apostles were all aware of the
meaning of this meal and its significance and symbolisms. But that night, they realized something even
more significant was taking place.
Page 140
Jesus took the traditional Jewish Passover meal and created the NEW PASSOVER with his own Body and
Blood, thus becoming the new Paschal Lamb, the Sacrifice of the New Covenant, the fullest realization of
the process of God’s saving work – thus instituting the Eucharist, the Church’s celebration that makes
present (NOT repeats) Jesus’ 4 actions at the Last Supper: took the bread, blessed, broke, and gave it to
His disciples. Aside from these actions, Jesus shared this meal as a sign of forgiveness of sins for all.
Took…
Blessed…
Presentation of the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayer
Broke…
Gave…
Breaking of the Host after the Sign of Peace
Communion
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3rd – The New Commandment of Love
Jesus gave His new commandment of love during the Last Supper event: “I give you a new commandment:
love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35). In doing this, He set himself a new
standard of loving and serving others. This is indeed “agape” – true love, readiness to offer oneself for the
good of others. Even before giving this “final instruction” to them, he already showed concrete acts of love
throughout his public ministry, even to the poor and outcast of society, the Gentiles, and even his enemies.
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4th– Agony in the Garden
Jesus’ agony in the garden expressed what death represented to him. The thought of His impending
passion filled him with mental and anguish, inner dread, and sorrow. Jesus, in this event, showed full
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humanity. He prayed to his Father, with his sweat becoming blood, falling on the ground, as he expressed
horror and fear of his nearing death due to his human nature. His only recourse was his Father, whose
Will he accepted in prayer. This perfect loving obedience brought Him the strength to carry through the
Passion. Later, he thrice sought the comfort of His friends, but they were asleep, overcome by their own
grief (Lk 22:45).
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5th – Betrayal of Judas and Arrest of Jesus
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ chosen Twelve, who had turned traitor and hired spy, accompanied the temple
guards to arrest Jesus, in fulfillment of such “silent plan” from the Jewish authorities. His kiss signaled the
temple guards to arrest Jesus. Twice Jesus asked the guards who they were looking for, and twice he
introduced himself. He thus freely and voluntarily permitted his arrest, though Peter reacted violently to the
situation by cutting off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. Jesus rebuked Peter for his action,
reminding him of peace, not violence, then restored miraculously Malchus’ ear.
6th – The Trials of Jesus
Jesus was examined for inquiry (“interrogated”) five times – first by the deposed high priest Annas, then
by Caiaphas the High Priest, Pilate (the Roman procurator of Judea) and Herod Antipas (tetrarch or
“puppet king” of Galilee), then Pilate again – only to be condemned at the end.
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Whether conducted by Jewish leaders or by Pilate himself, the trials were manipulated or “scripted” since
the verdict of guilt was already laid out before the trials began in order to legitimize Jesus’ eventual
execution. Even the crowd’s choice of setting Barabbas, a murderer, free instead of Jesus (as an annual
custom to release one prisoner every Passover) was tainted with secret manipulation by the Jewish
leaders.
Though he knew that Jesus was innocent, Pilate gave in to the pressure of the Jewish authorities to
pronounce the verdict that Jesus was to die by execution. He was fearful too of the consequences he
would face had he not given in to their demands. Before letting Jesus be crucified, he had him whipped or
scourged, crowned with a lace of thorns around his head, and severely mocked and beaten by the Roman
soldiers.
7th – Jesus’ Carrying of and Death on the CROSS
Crucifixion was the most painful form of death widely used in the early centuries of the Roman Empire for
slaves, foreign traitors, and criminals. The stretch of road from the Roman governor’s headquarters in
Jerusalem to the hill of Golgotha (an Aramaic name which means “Place of the Skull,” or Calvary in Latin),
the site of crucifixion, was not long – just a few hundred meters away.
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Jesus was so weak to carry his cross that Simon of Cyrene was commandeered to help Jesus carry it.
Jesus was surrounded by a great crowd of onlookers, including weeping women, and also two criminals
who were to be executed beside him. When they reached the site, Jesus was stripped off his garments
and nailed to the cross. Upon Pilate’s orders, they posted on Jesus’ cross an inscription written in Hebrew,
Latin, and Greek that reads “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (or in Latin, INRI – Iesu Nazarenum Rex
Iudaeourum).
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Jesus chose to die on the cross. Yes, he did not need to, but he did it out of love for us. As any lover
would do, he did not want us to suffer and get hurt. He knew what would hurt us – sin and its effects - and
in so knowing, he prevented us from suffering by suffering on our behalf, thereby restoring the broken
relationship of God and humanity, and man to humanity. Thus, the cross points to 4 directions: Up-Down
symbolizing unity between God and man, Left-Right symbolizing man and fellow men.
8th – Jesus’ Burial
Since the next day was Sabbath, bodies of those who had been crucified must be removed before sunset.
Joseph of Arimathea, a rich member of the Sanhedrin Council yet a secret follower of Jesus, asked
permission from Pilate to secure Jesus’ body for burial. He took Jesus’ body down from the Cross, wrapped
it in a linen shroud, and buried it in a new garden tomb, sealed with a large stone.
Paraphrase of Page 155-156 (Summary of the RESURRECTION NARRATIVES)
9th – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
On the first day of the week after Passover, Jesus rose from the dead. The only things seen in and near
the burial site were the empty tomb and the linen wrappings used to cover Jesus’ dead body. The Gospel
accounts tell us that the Risen Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples walking on their
way to Emmaus, and to the eleven apostles. Forty days after the resurrection event, Jesus ascended into
heaven. His ascension was not like a balloon floating up in the sky or a rocket lifting off, but an event of
completion of his earthly mission, going up to His rightful heavenly place of honor at “God’s right hand.”
This event means that through his power over space, Jesus is always accessible to all peoples throughout
all history and in every place. His ascension was necessary for the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon the
disciples in order to guide us in continuing Jesus’ mission on earth.
Jesus’ death and Resurrection are like two sides of the coin. One is not complete without the other. Jesus’
death is meaningless without his Resurrection. On the other hand, Jesus’ Resurrection could not have
happened without his death. His death brought despair, devastation, fear, and loss of hope to all who
followed him, but his Resurrection gave them joy, renewed hope, and new courage in order to face the
world and continue building God’s kingdom on earth through love. Even if such event had no witnesses,
faith in the event and in the Risen Lord was historical. The witnesses indeed experienced the “undying
JOY of Easter” (Jn 16:22: “So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and
no one will take your joy from you.”). After the apostles encountered Him in his glorified body – a body still
bearing his wounds but NOW standing beyond time and space – their fear, disappointment, and anxiety
were changed to lasting joy that changed their hearts, so radical, that they were able to become his bold
witnesses even to the extent of their own later death (martyrdom).
REFLECTION (summary of page 162)
Without the Resurrection, without Jesus risen from the dead, there would be no Christian faith. The
Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC 621-625) outlines the meaning and salvific importance of Christ’s
resurrection in 5 points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
It confirmed everything Christ has done and taught.
It fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies promising a Savior for all the world.
It confirmed Jesus’ divinity.
It brought us a share in the new life as adopted children of the Father.
It is the principle and source of our future resurrection.
(By his Resurrection, Jesus allowed us to partake in his new and eternal life through our looking forward
to a glorious life at the end of our earthly life, where there will be no more pain and suffering.)