God the Son

1. God the Son Chapter 6 Cosmic Word: Creation Inspired Word: Scripture Incarnate Word: Jesus

2. Image of God the Son How can we find happiness? How can we change ourselves? How can we change the world? Jesus is the answer to many questions… the two most important questions are: What is God like? What did God make me to be like?

3. ICHTHYS is an acronym: Greek: English: Iesous Jesus Christos Christ Theou God’s Yios Son Soter Savior Other acronyms you may know: Radar: radio detecting and ranging NASA: National Aeronautics Space Administration

4. Jesus Native Americans gave descriptive names to their children: “Sure Foot”, “Running Deer”, “Sitting Bull”, “She Who Bumps Into Things” (Tekakwitha) We also do that…. Mike Jordan’s “hang-time” earned him the name “Air Jordan”…. William Perry’s large, solid form led to the name “The Refrigerator” …. Tim Tebow’s action to kneel in brief prayer is now called “Tebowing”…. Jesus’ name is also descriptive: Son of Man – a member of mankind Son of God – the Savior of mankind

5. Christ • When David succeed Saul, God makes a covenant with him: “Your kingdom will last forever” 2 Samuel 7:16 • The covenant begins a series of promises called “messianic prophecies.” • Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah, “the anointed one.” John 10:24 The anointed: Messiah (Hebrew) Christos (Greek) Christ (English) • Christmas is about God becoming one of us to save us and teach us what is for our good, both: • In this life and • In the life to come

6. HG Wells, author and historian, was commissioned to pick the “three greatest men of history.” His placing: • Jesus • Buddha • Aristotle

7. Son of God • Old Testament: used figuratively of many (like kings) • New Testament: used literally of Jesus (John 10:36) • “My Son” – Baptism: voice from heaven • Mountain: voice from cloud • Mt. Tabor – moment of ecstasy, Divinity shines through (Matthew 17:2-6) • Mt. Olives – moment of agony, Humanity shines through (Luke 22:39, 42) • Meditation pg 82 • How might the story of the man saving the boy in the river serve as a parable of Jesus? (Rescued, pg 82)

8. Savior What did Jesus save us “from”? Spiritual slavery and death, “the Kingdom of Satan” What did Jesus save us “for”? Bringing to completion his saving work: replacing the “Kingdom of Satan” with the “Kingdom of God” Titles of Jesus: Jesus The Son of man (human) Lord The Son of God (divine) Christ The promised Messiah

9. Napolean Bonaparte (on Jesus being more than a man:) I know men and I tell you that Jesus is not a man… I have inspired multitudes that they would die for me… a word form me, then the sacred fire was kindled in their hearts. I do indeed possess the secret of this magical power which lifts souls, but I could never impart it to anyone (as Jesus did and continues to do across the ages.)

10. Chapter Test: • Matching: • B • E • A • D • C • True/False • T • T • F • F • F • T • T • F • T • F • Fill In the Blanks • a. baptism • b. transfiguration • a. God • b. ourselves • a. Jesus • b. Christ • c. Son of God • d. Savior • a. divine • b. human

11. God the Holy Spirit Chapter 7

12. Penetcost • 40 days after rising from the dead, Jesus Ascended into Heaven. • Before he did, he instructed his disciples to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for baptism with the Holy Spirit… • 50 days after Easter (Pentecost means 50,) the Holy Spirit came and filled the disciples and graced them with all they needed to build God’s Kingdom on earth.

13. The Maestro • The story of the little boy who wandered on the stage and started to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and the famous pianist, Ignace Paderewski, came out and began playing with him… pg 90 • In what sense was: • The disciples’ spiritual knowledge akin to the boy’s musical knowledge? • Pentecost’s impact on the disciples akin to Paderewski’s impact on Jason?

14. The Holy Spirit • We should not confuse Pentecost with the a ”birth” of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has been around as long as God the Father and God the Son. (CCC 689) • St. Paul’s example of the Holy Spirit’s activity in the Old Testament: Acts 28:27 • Example’s of the Holy Spirit’s activity in Jesus’ life: Luke 4:1, 14

15. An “Art” Aside • Caravaggio was a disciple of the naturalistic school. His paintings are more “photographic” as opposed to Van Gogh, an impressionist. • The painting on pg. 92 is done by Caravaggio (1463-1510). Pg. 26 also have a painting by Caravaggio (St. Jerome.) • The painting on pg. 253 is by Van Gogh (Good Samaritan.)

16. Promise of the Holy Spirit • To be our Helper • So the disciples sons and daughters (that would be us!) will proclaim Christ’s message • To “unite the peoples of the world,” who split into hostile factions and whose sin had scattered them across the earth. • To continue God’s plan to re-create the world.

17. Symbols • Wind • Its whisper touch (1 Kings 19:12) • Its hurricane power (Acts 2:2) • Fire • Burning bush (Exodus 3:3) • Burning mountain (Exodus 19:18)

18. Birth of the Church • Coming of Jesus • Christmas • Jesus becomes the sign of God’s presence in his world • Jesus becomes the instrument of God’s activity in his world • Coming of the Spirit • Pentecost • Church becomes the sign of God’s presence in our world • Church becomes the instrument of God’s presence in our world

19. An old legend says that when Jesus ascended to heaven, he still bore the wounds of the crucifixion: When the angel Gabriel saw him, he said, :Lord, how greatly you suffered! Do all the people on earth know how much you loved them?” Jesus replied, “Oh no! Only a few do.” Gabriel was even more shocked and said, “How will the rest find out?” Jesus said, “I told Peter, James, John, and their friends to tell them.” Gabriel said, “Lord, what if they fail to do so? What if they let you down? Don’t you have a backup plan-just in case?” Jesus said, :No, I’m counting on them not to let me down. And I’m counting on the people they tell not to let me down.” What assures you that people like yourself will not let Jesus down?

20. Images of the Spirit: • Recall the sun as an image of the Trinity: • The Father – light • The Son – warmth, • The Spirit – energy • Fire, a symbol of the Spirit, also produces all three: • light, warmth, energy --- a natural connection to God • Life in the Spirit: • Since the first Pentecost, every person baptized has experienced the “touch of the Spirit” in a special way Discuss “Share Your Meditation” pg 97

21. Virtues, Gifts & Fruits • The theological virtues are given to us through baptism: • faith, hope, charity (CCC 1812-13) • The prophet Isaiah lists seven gifts of the Spirit (CCC 1830-31): • Fear of the Lord (Reverence & Awe,) Piety, Knowledge, Fortitude (Courage,) Counsel (Right Judgment,) Understanding, Wisdom • St. Paul lists 9 fruits of the Spirit (CCC 1832): • Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control For each , which do you feel you most need right now in your life?

22. Chapter Test Matching 1 – h 2 – b 3 – c 4 – g 5 – j 6 – i 7 – d 8 – a 9 – f 10 - e True/False 1 – T 2 – T 3 – F 4 – F 5 – F 6 – T 7 – F 8 – T 9 – F 10 – F Fill In the Blank 1 – Charity 2 – Hope 3 – Fear of God 4 – Paul 5 – Isaiah

23. The Church Chapter 8

24. The Church: “Sacred Assembly” Kahal (Hebrew) -> Kyriake (Greek) -> Kirche (German) ->Church (English) = “sacred assembly” The Church, instituted by Jesus, traces its ancestry, in a sense, back to the “sacred assembly” at the foot of Mount Sinai: At the foot of a mountain in the Sinai desert, the Israelite community encountered God and were transformed utterly by it. That encounter gave them a new identity (God’s chosen people) and a new destiny (God’s chosen instruments to re-create the world.)

25. Plan of God - St. Paul wrote, “This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together… It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in one Spirit into the presence of the Father” Ephesians 1:10-11, 22-23

26. No other religion came about as did Israel’s. Others sprang from nature. Israel's sprang from history – at a specific moment in time, at a specific place on this planet, they encountered the awesome Creator of the universe and were totally transformed by the encounter. (Christianity and Islam both owe their origin, in at least part, to Israel.)

27. Discuss “Reality Connection” pg. 104 • The Jesus who walked the roads of Galilee was both God and man; he had both a human dimension and a divine dimension. • The Church has both a human dimension and a divine dimension. • Jesus - the head of the Church (his body )- is the divine dimension • We - members of the Church (his body) – are the human dimension • Just as the human dimension of Jesus made him vulnerable to sickness, injury, etc., in a similar way, the human dimension of the Church makes it vulnerable to various evils. • The Church is not a collection of saints, but a collection of sinners, desperately seeking to become saints. • Jesus himself said, “I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.” Mark 2:17

28. The Kingdom of God: • manifests the invisible “presence of God among us” by certain signs – for example, when people: • Love one another • Forgive one another • Carry one another’s burdens • Work together for peace on earth • Is manifested its whenever people proclaim the Good news and live their lives according to God’s will • The Church was revealed to the world at Pentecost • The embryonic Church emerged from the womb • Pentecost is the “birthday” of the Church • The Church became the seed, sign and instrument that will effect the “coming” of God’s Kingdom on earth • The Church and the Kingdom of God will reach perfection when Jesus returns!

29. Instituted, Revealed & Perfected • “Kingdom of Satan” unleashed three ancient evils: sin, sickness and death. • Humanity had no defense against them • Jesus came to rescue the human race and inaugurate the “Kingdom of God.” • The “Kingdom of God” is in a process of destroying the “Kingdom of Satan.” • The “Kingdom of Satan” is not dead yet, but in the process of dying, its days are number – it is like a prisoner on death row awaiting execution. • (Each time we say the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy Kingdom come.”) • The Kingdom of God in its present state is God’s presence among us, gradually and invisibly re-creating us and our world.

30. Unfinished Work What have you done to work for the Church’s completion? What are you doing now? What ought you do in the future? • Live according to Jesus’ teaching • Discern your gifts and ask the Holy Spirit’s guiding as to how to use them for the benefit of the Kingdom “Become all God created you to be; Become the best version of yourself.”

31. Models of the Church Discuss Saxe’s poem about 6 blind men and an elephant, pg 105 How can we keep from making the mistake of the blind men in our trying to describe Church? • Our individual viewpoint of the Church is very limited • Three models of Church stand out Scripture: • People of God • Body of Christ • Temple of the Spirit • Jesus used many images to describe the Kingdom of God. (Seed: Mat 13:31-32; yeast: Mat 13:3; pearl: Mat 13:45-46) • Jesus’ images are always clustered together, never alone • Models are like viewpoints – never rely on just one (like the blind men)

32. People of God: • If you wish to know the heart and soul of another – become his close friend or trust someone who is; so it is knowing Jesus. • The new Testament was written by a community of a “People of God” who knew Jesus intimately: “You are to bear witness because form the beginning you are with me” John 15:27 • We have to trust that the inner secrets of Jesus’ heart and soul were entrusted to the early Christian community – or we have lost Jesus forever. • We can never forget or sever our continuity with the Christian community that knew Jesus and authored the new Testament. • Thus it is in foolishness that some people say, “I follow Jesus in my own way. I don’t need a Church (the People of God) to tell me what to do or to interpret the Scripture for me.”

33. Body of Christ: • Church: • is a living organism: Body of the Risen Christ • as Jesus shared the Father’s life, we share Jesus' life • Jesus preaches, heals, forgives: • Gospel times: Jesus acted through the physical actions of his historical body • Today: Jesus continues to act through the liturgical and sacramental actions of his mystical body

34. Temple of the Spirit • Soul = Holy Spirit Human BodyBody of Christ • Soul/Holy Spirit • Permeate the body • Unify the body • Enliven the body Which of the three images of Church: People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Spirit, appeals to you most, why?

35. Marks of the Church • Our Creeds: • Apostles Creed - 12 articles summarizing the faith of the Apostles , Baptismal creed, from early centuries of Christianity • Nicene Creed - longer, more detailed, from Council of Nicea, 325 AD • Four Marks: • One • We are one body for we share one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:17 • Holy • Keep yourselves holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44 • Catholic • Go to all peoples; teach and baptize them. Matthew 28:19 • Apostolic • Your faith rests on the Apostles’ faith. Ephesians 2:20

36. Mystery of the Church • The Church is a mystery of the Trinity’s love • Divine Dimension: • Christ: body’s head, invisible dimension • Unflawed dimension, source of light • Human Dimension: • People: body’s members, visible dimension • Flawed dimension, source of darkness

37. Chapter Test Matching 1 – j 2 – i 3 – c 4 – f 5 – h 6 – d 7 – a 8 – e 9 – b 10 - g True/False 1 – T 2 – F 3 – T 4 – T 5 – T Fill in the Blank 1 a. Soul b. Holy Spirit 2 a. People of God b. Body of Christ c. Temple of the Spirit 3 a. Prepared for b. Instituted c. Spirit d. Human e. Divine