Unit 3
Christ Our Light
Redemption Unfolds
Vocabulary
Allegory
Parable
Ascetic
Prejudice
Beatitude
Real Presence
Blasphemy
Synagogue
Kingdom of God
Transfiguration
Learning from the Life of Christ
The Gospels are NOT biographies of Jesus.
They tell little about the years between his birth
and his adulthood
They do not describe him or give many details of
his personal life
They are FAITH WITNESSES (John 20:31)
Every aspect of Christ's life is a revelation from
God.
Every action, word, silence, suffering, mannerism
The smallest details and the greatest miracles all
teach us something about God's great love.
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”
(John 14:9)
John the Baptist
Prophet, compared to Elijah
Lived in the wilderness
–
Dressed in camel fur and leather
–
Ate grasshoppers and wild honey
Started preaching around 28 AD
–
Message of repentance
–
Preparation for God's judgment on the sinful
–
Repent and be baptized
Baptism by John
NOT the sacrament that we have today.
–
Sacraments are instituted by Jesus Christ only.
Baptism by John was a sign that one was willing
–
To turn over one's life to God.
–
To change one's way of living, forsaking sins of
the past
–
To prepare for the coming of the Lord
Jesus is Baptized
By submitting himself to baptism by John, Jesus
was
–
Taking on the identity of his people
–
Permitting himself to be counted among the
sinners, foreshadowing his death for our sins
–
Identifying with our spiritual needs, by being the
model for our own baptism
–
Subjecting himself humbly to the role of the
servant – the Suffering Servant in Isaiah
The Holy Trinity
All four Gospels
The sky opens revealing that through the person
of Jesus Christ the mission is about to begin.
God the Father –the voice from heaven, “This is
my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well
pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
God the Son – the person of Jesus, taking on the
mission of Salvation
God the Holy Spirit – “descending like a dove and
alighting on him” (Matthew 3:16)
The Temptations of Jesus
After his baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the
wilderness where he fasted and prayed for forty
days.
Jesus was tempted by the devil during this period.
Each of the three temptations represents a
temptation that had been faced by the people of
Israel while they wandered in the wilderness for
forty years.
Matthew 4:1-11
The First Temptation
Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread and
take away his hunger.
The Israelites were hungry while wandering the
desert. They wanted to return to Egypt where
they were fed but not free
Jesus was not swayed by his hunger.
He knew that God's word was more fulfilling than
bread.
The Second Temptation
Satan tempted Jesus to throw himself from the
highest point of the Temple.
This would be a test of God's love and protection
in the face of danger.
Jesus teaches us to trust in God's love, even
when there are obstacles in our way.
“You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
(Matthew 4:7)
The Third Temptation
Satan offers Jesus all of the nations
of the earth, with the power and
wealth that goes with them, if he
will bow down to him.
Jesus rejects what Satan is offering – the easy,
popular, and pleasurable way of life
The offer of Satan is empty - not his to give.
Jesus rejected worldly goods and an earthly
kingdom to bring about the Kingdom of God.
Temptation is not a sin. It is a test.
It forces us to choose, therefore demonstrating
our beliefs in the way we respond.
We will be tempted
– To seek the easy way out
– To put ourselves before the needs of
others
– To seek pleasure rather than God's will
We can turn to Jesus when we are tempted, for strength
and example. WWJD
Temptation = desire + opportunity
Sin = desire + opportunity + action
The Kingdom of God
The central theme in the preaching of Jesus
God's reign of “righteousness, peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17)
Brought about by the words and actions of Jesus
Accomplished definitively by the Paschal Mystery
Present for us in the Eucharist and in the Church,
the people who the Spirit forms
Will be fully realized at the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ
Teaching with Authority
Jesus began his ministry by going to his own
synagogue in Nazareth.
As was the custom for Jewish men, he asked to
read from the Scripture
Luke 4:18-19 – Jesus' mission
Jesus applied this reading from Isaiah to himself.
He was the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Many of his neighbors accused him of blasphemy.
The Mission of Jesus
Luke 4:18-19

To bring good news to the poor

To proclaim liberty to the captives

To recover sight to the blind

To let the oppressed go free

To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
Call of the Disciples
John the Baptist announced Jesus as “the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
(John 1:29)
As Jesus began to preach, people began to listen,
and many began to follow him as he traveled.
Among his followers were people of many
different backgrounds
Wedding at Cana
The first of the signs (or miracles) in
John's Gospel – changing water to wine
Occurs before Jesus begins his public ministry
Hospitality was a great virtue in this culture and
the host would suffer great shame if he failed to
provide refreshment to his guests.
Mary's faith in her son compels her to ask him to
help, even though his hour has not yet come.
Symbolism in the Sign
John's is a highly symbolic Gospel
The wedding represents the joining of Jesus and
his “bride” the Church
– Just as the couple is given the grace they
need to love each other as Jesus loves
his Church.
– It is a foreshadowing of when Jesus will
change the wine into his own blood in the
Eucharist.
The water represents the ordinary things we need
in life. The wine represents the joyful moments
of life when we celebrate.
– By telling Jesus that the people have run out
of wine, Mary is reminding Jesus that the
people need to know that he is here and they
have reason for joy
Jesus Announces the Kingdom of God
• Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites
had different ideas about the reign of God
– God’s justice and judgment over the Israelites
– A future event that would free them from their
oppressors
– A cosmic battle between good and evil
– A new heaven and a new earth ruled by peace,
justice, and goodness
– A Messiah, anointed one, would bring them the
Kingdom
Jesus IS the Messiah
• He is God’s only son
• Emmanuel – “God with us”
• Not only announced the coming of the
kingdom, but brought it about with his own
presence
• “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of
God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
The Kingdom Present and Future
• Matthew refers to the Kingdom as the
“Kingdom of Heaven” rather than the “Kingdom
of God” as a sign of reverence.
• Jews avoided saying the name of God, as a
sign of respect.
YHWH
Especially the Poor
• Jesus announced the Kingdom in a special
way for the poor and lowly.
• Jesus shared a special bond by living the life of
the poor, from his humble birth to his death on
the cross.
– He understood their needs – hunger, thirst, poverty
Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.
(Mt 8:20)
Conditions for Entering the Kingdom
• Matthew 25:31-46
• Corporal Works of Mercy - We must respond to
the needs of the poor and less fortunate
– Feed the hungry
– Give drink to the thirsty
– Welcome the stranger
– Clothe the naked
– Care for the sick
– Visit the imprisoned
– Bury the Dead
Open to Sinners
• Jesus preached and ministered to
sinners.
• Tax collectors were considered sinners
because they were Jews who worked for Rome
to exploit and abuse other Jews.
• The Pharisees and scribes believed that if one
associated with sinners, it was showing
approval for the sins.
– They stayed away from sinners, fearing that they
could “catch” their immorality.
Jesus and the Sinners
• Jesus ate at the house of tax
collectors, Levi and Zaccheus.
• Scribes and Pharisees complained
about Jesus associating with sinners.
• “Those who are healthy do not need a
physician, but the sick do. I have not come to
call the righteous to repentance but sinners
(Luke 5:31-32)
The Beatitudes
• Jesus asks us to live in such a way that we will
attract others to the Kingdom.
• In Matthew, they are presented in the Sermon on
the Mount. (Mt 5:3-11)
• In Luke, the presentation is at the Sermon on the
Plain. (Lk 6:20-26)
• They teach us that wealth can blind us to the
Truth that God is the source of all gifts, and we
should share those gifts with others – even our
enemies.
The Higher Standard
• The Commandments are the basic law. They
represent the minimum standards.
• The Beatitudes are a higher law. They
represent the higher ideals of behavior.
• We must strive to imitate God by extending our
goodness to ungrateful and wicked people.
– Not judging or condemning people
– Give without counting the cost
The Beatitudes
• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
– Not too proud to ask God for help, recognize their need for God
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.
– Experience the sadness of the changes in life and leaving people/things
behind
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
– Not stubborn or quick tempered, chose their battles wisely
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
– The need to do the right thing is burning, almost physical, and must do
what they can to correct injustice
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
– Sympathetic, generous, helpful without a selfish motive
•
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
– Doing right in thoughts and actions, recognize God’s image in
themselves and others
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God.
– Actively seek peace in their world and in the treatment of others
• Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
– Standing up for beliefs even in the threat of being ridiculed or injured in
some way because of those beliefs
Parables
• Parables are analogies. Jesus used more
familiar images, such as fishing, farming,
celebrations, shepherding, and everyday life to
illustrate a deeper reality.
Importance of Parables
• They convey the heart of Jesus’ message.
– The Kingdom of God
• They show that Jesus was an outstanding
teacher.
– Easy to remember, bring to mind important
teachings
• They give us a good idea of how Jesus was
able to defend himself against opponents.
– Shows the uniqueness of the New Testament as a
way to live and believe
Parables of the kingdom
• Parables in Matthew’s Gospel show that the
Kingdom has both present and future
dimensions.
• The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
– The mustard seed is a very small seed, just as the
kingdom starts out small in the preaching of Jesus
– The seed will grow into a very large shrub, just as
the Kingdom will flourish
in the future.
• The Treasure (Mt 13:44) and the Pearl (Mt 13:45)
– Show the value of the Kingdom and the total
commitment it requires
• The Weeds Among Wheat (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43)
and The Fishing Net (Mt 13:47-50)
– Express the coming of the Kingdom and how God will
separate the good from the bad, rewarding the faithful
and punishing the unjust
For All
• Although Jesus announces it to
the People first, he invites all
people to enter the Kingdom
• The Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-9,18-23)
– The seed must be carefully planted, just as the
word of God must be received in a prepared heart.
– Those who hear God’s word, accept it, and work to
properly understand it will reap amazing results
Miracles: Signs of the Kingdom
• Miracles are observable events that the laws of
nature cannot explain. They happen as a
result of God’s power.
– Signs that the Messianic time had started
– Proof that the Father had sent Jesus
– Invitation for people to believe in Christ
• In response to their belief, Jesus grants
believers what they ask.
• This deepens their faith.
• Not all who witnessed miracles believed.
Some questioned the source of his power to be
the power of Satan.
• Miracles ALWAYS resulted in great good, the
defeat of evil, and God’s power over Satan
Exorcisms
Healing Miracles
Kinds of Miracles
Nature Miracles
Raising
from the
Dead
The Transfiguration of Jesus
• One of the most dramatic and important of the
miracles
• Witnessed by three of the Apostles – Peter,
John, and James
• Jesus asked the apostles who people were
saying that he was. Answers varied:
– John the Baptist, back to life
– The prophet Elijah
– A great prophet
• Jesus asked the apostles, “Who do you say
that I am?”
• Peter answered for the three, “You are the
Messiah, Son of the living God.”
• The apostles did not understand the full impact
of that statement until after the Resurrection,
Ascension, and Pentecost
• The apostles were given a preview of the Kingdom of
God in the Transfiguration.
• Jesus took them to a mountain where his face “shone
like the sun and his clothes became as white as light.”
(Mt 17:2)
• Jesus is joined by two Old Testament figures
– Moses, representing the Law given to Israel
– Elijah, the great prophet who preached about the
sufferings of the coming Messiah
• The presence of the Holy Trinity is also
experienced.
– The Father in the voice from heaven
– The Son in Jesus
– The Holy Spirit in the shining cloud
Institution of the Eucharist
• If we open ourselves to the gift of Eucharist,
the gift Jesus gave us of himself, we are
nourished with the REAL PRESENCE of God.
• The institution of the Eucharist begins on Palm
Sunday, with Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.
– To fulfill prophecies, Jesus must die in
Jerusalem
– It was also prophesied that he would enter
Jerusalem as a humble king
During the week before he died,
Jesus was often in the Temple.
– Turning out the money changers and
thieves
– Teaching and defending his authority
to teach when questioned by the
priests
• The leaders of the Temple plotted
his death.
– Tempted Judas, one of the apostles,
to turn Jesus over to them
• Jesus prepares to celebrate the Passover with his
apostles.
• John’s Gospel reports that Jesus washed the feet of
the apostles as a sign of service.
• Jesus gave the apostles the great commandment.
“This is my commandment: Love one another as I love you. No
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends… This
I command you: love one another.”
(John 15:12-13, 17)
• Jesus instituted the sacrament of Eucharist as
a memorial to his death and Resurrection.
• He commanded the apostles to celebrate the
Eucharist until he returned.
• He gave them his body and blood in the form of
bread and wine.
• Followers are commanded to celebrate the
Eucharist in memory of the Life, Death,
Resurrection, and intercession of Jesus.
The Church
• The Church has faithfully
celebrated the Eucharist from its
beginning.
• Especially celebrated on Sunday,
the day of the Lord’s Resurrection
• Catholics recognize the Eucharist as the center
of the Church’s life in Christ.
• Eucharist celebrates and creates the Church,
where Jesus lives in and transforms us.