Session 2.1 The Person of Jesus Christ

Session 2.1The Person of Jesus Christ

Michael PascualInstitute for Pastoral Ministry

Background and Goal of this Session

• We will develop our Christology (blending approaches of both FROM ABOVE and FROM BELOW)• In order to do this, we will need to establish the Jewish

background of “the Anointed One” in the context of Salvation History.• This will include an analysis on “Sin” and an overview of

“covenant”

Values of Ancient Judaism

• The importance of memory

• The role of History

• The Israelites as the People of God

Three Parts

• Looking into Salvation History:• The Fall: The Story of Original Sin• The Genesis Pattern of Sin and Grace• The Major Covenants

The Fall: The Story of Original Sin

NOTE

• The Fall is another name of the story of Adam and Eve’s “original sin.”

• This presentation is based off the Catholic update article “Adam, Eve & Original Sin” by Michael D. Guinan, OFM

Outline for DiscussionI. Seeing the Larger StoryII. Human SinIII. Punishment FollowsIV. Signs of GraceV. What’s Original Sin about?

Seeing the Larger Story

• Genesis 1-11 is the big picture• Sets the whole story of God, Israel and all that follows in

the Bible in a universal, cosmic setting.

The Cosmic story

• Adam and Eve (2:4b-3:24)• Cain and Abel (4:1-26)• Noah and the Flood (6:1-9:29)• Tower of Babel (11:1-9)

The PATTERN: human sin is followed by punishment, but the last word in each story is one of grace from God.

Human sin

• Man and woman violate God’s command• The sin in each of these stories is one and the same…

“you will become like gods!” (3:5)

• We, as human beings, as creatures of God, overstep the limits of creaturhood and prefer to play God instead.”

Textbook says:

• “Their sin was a misuse of human freedom and a lack of trust in God. They did not accept the gift of their humanity and instead tried to replace God with themselves. In some way these two things- not accepting our goodness and a lack of trust in God- are at the root of every sin.” (28)

Punishment follows

• Punishment follows the human attempt to play God.• For Adam and Eve, it is death.

• It is in rejecting God that we are rejecting life.

Biblical View of Death

• Death is the breaking and collapse of all our relationships on all their levels.• Loss of Original Holiness• Loss of Original Justice

• Death is not just a moment at the end, but a whole realm of brokenness that affects our lives on many levels.

• Remember, according to Genesis Adam lived for 930 years!

Loss of Original Justice

• The snake represents the relationship with all animals…now a cursed relationship.• Man’s relationship to the Woman is now broken too…

she’s subjugated to the man.

Loss of Original Holiness

• The rejection of God is the rejection of our source of life

The Biblical understanding of Punishment• Not so much a judge giving judgment, but a natural

consequence of an action

• To reject God is to reject all the relationships that inter-connect with him.

Signs of Grace

• God’s will for life and blessing always prevail

• Notice how God always responds?

What’s Original Sin about?

• St Augustine frames the term in two ways:• Original Sin “originating”• Original Sin “originated”

Original Sin “originated”

• Describes the concrete human condition which is present at the birth of each one of use.

• We are born into a world which in fact is already broken; it is present at our birth, and we enter into it.

• This is the understanding today, thanks especially to the work of Biblical Scholarship and historical research on the work of St. Augustine.

Original Sin “originating”

• The concrete sin of the historical parents, Adam and Eve, whose guilt is passed on down to all generations.

• This is a past, historical understanding (the Catholic Church does not subscribe to this)

The Author argues to read the Bible in Context• Quoting the CCC 110 ( which is quoting “Dei Verbum!!!)

Religious Truth Vs. Scientific Truth

Genesis is not about scientific truth, but religious truth

Original Sin stories

• Not just in Adam and Eve story, but the rest of Genesis 2-11!!!

Was there an Adam and Eve

• Not in the literal sense… • Are there an Adam and Eve?

• Author says “Look in the mirror.”

EVERYMAN

Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection

When all is said and done…

• This is a story about the brokenness of human nature, that while we are a loved creation of God, the summit of all creation, we are also a fallen people.

• But God is always reaching out to us… Prodigal Son story…

And from a Christian perspective…

• The full meaning of the Genesis creation story points us toward the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the embodiment of God’s covenant and source of our hope.

In Summary

• The Genesis narrative reflects a theological belief of human nature, God’s grace and sin.• Catholics do not view the Genesis story in a

fundamentalist/Literal story, distinguishing between religious truth and scientific truth.• The “original sin” of the Genesis story reflects an

understanding about the social reality of human brokenness.

Socrative and break

• Covenants

THE COVENANTS OF SALVATION HISTORY

SESSION 2.2

GOALS FOR THIS SECTION

CONTINUE BUILDING ON THE JEWISH BACKGROUND:• HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAJOR COVENANTS OF

SALVATION HISTORY• SEE THE ROLE OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE COVENANTS•

SOME IMPORTANT VOCAB

• COVENANT• FORESHADOW• PASCHAL MYSTERY• REDEMPTION

COVENANT• A SOLEMN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS OR BETWEEN GOD AND A HUMAN

BEING IN WHICH MUTUAL COMMITMENTS ARE MADE.

• ACTS LIKE A CONTRACT, BUT NOT REALLY

• MORE LIKE A TOTAL SELF-GIVING OF SELF. • BETTER ANALOGY: A MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP

• CONTRACTS CAN BE CHANGED OR DROPPED…COVENANTS DO NOT. • IN FACT, SOMETIMES COVENANTS ARE ADDED ONTO AND/OR REPLACED.

FORESHADOW

• TO REPRESENT OR PREFIGURE A PERSON BEFORE HIS OR HER LIFE OR AN EVENT BEFORE IT OCCURS.• PAGE 62

PASCHAL MYSTERY• THE WORK OF SALVATION ACCOMPLISHED BY JESUS CHRIST MAINLY

THROUGH HIS LIFE, PASSION, DEATH, RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. • PASCH IS GREEK FOR “PASSOVER.” • THUS PASCHAL MEAL IS A TERM THAT REFERS TO THE JEWISH PASSOVER

MEAL THAT JESUS SHARED WITH THE APOSTLES THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED.

REDEMPTION• PAGE 78• FROM THE LATIN “REDEMPTION”, MEANING “TO BUY BACK”; • IN ROMAN ANTIQUITY, TO REDEEM IS TO PAY THE PRICE FOR ITS FREEDOM • IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT REFERS TO YAHWEH’S DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL• IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, TO CHRIST’S DELIVERANCE OF ALL CHRISTIANS

FROM THE FORCES OF SIN• “CHRIST PAID THE PRICE TO FREE US FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN AND BRING

ABOUT OUR REDEMPTION.”• HOW???

PROTOEVANGELIUM

“I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HERS; THEY WILL STRIKE AT YOUR HEAD, WHILE YOU STRIKE AT THEIR HEEL.” ---GENESIS 3:15

THE PROTOEVANGELIUM (GEN 3:15)“I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND

HERS; THEY WILL STRIKE AT YOUR HEAD, WHILE YOU STRIKE AT THEIR HEEL.” ---GENESIS 3:15

HOW MIGHT THIS COVENANT FORESHADOW JESUS?

• IRENAEUS OF LYONS (CA. A.D. 130–200), IN HIS AGAINST HERESIES 5.21.1, FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL OTHER FATHERS OF THE CHURCH, INTERPRETED THE VERSE AS REFERRING TO CHRIST, AND CITED GAL 3:19 AND 4:4 TO SUPPORT THE REFERENCE.

• ANOTHER INTERPRETIVE TRANSLATION IS IPSA, “SHE,” AND IS REFLECTED IN JEROME’S VULGATE. “SHE” WAS THOUGHT TO REFER TO MARY, THE MOTHER OF THE MESSIAH. IN CHRISTIAN ART MARY IS SOMETIMES DEPICTED WITH HER FOOT ON THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT.

HOW MIGHT THESE COVENANTS FORESHADOW JESUS?

• EVEN, AS ADAM AND EVE ARE LEAVING THE GARDEN OF EDEN…• GOD IS ALREADY MAKING A PROMISE, A COVENANT, THAT HE WILL SAVE

HUMANITY FROM THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DEVIL’S DECEOPTION (PASCHAL MYSTERY, 39)• MARY AS THE NEW EVE• JESUS AS THE NEW ADAM

THE COVENANT WITH NOAH (GEN 9:12)

HOW MIGHT THIS COVENANT FORESHADOW JESUS?

• GOD MARKS HIS COVENANT WITH ALL HUMANKIND AND CREATION: “NEVER AGAIN SHALL ALL BODILY CREATURES BE DESTROYED BY THE WATERS OF A FLOOD.” (GEN 9:11)

• THIS IS A UNIVERSAL COVENANT• REACHING OUT EVEN TO THOSE NATIONS IN DANGER (OR PRACTICE) OF

POLYTHEISM• GRACE IS PRESENT AMONG THEM TOO

• THIS COVENANT FINDS ITS FULFILLMENT IN JESUS CHRIST WHEN HE MAKES HIS EVER-LASTING COVENANT TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD (KATHOLIKOS = UNIVERSAL)

THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM (GEN 17)

3 FOLD PROMISE

• TO MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION BY PROMISING ABRAHAM MANY DESCENDANTS

• TO PROVIDE ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS A LAND OF THEIR OWN• TO MAKE ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS A BLESSING FOR ALL NATIONS

FORESHADOW JESUS?

• THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM, GOD’S BLESSING IS BROUGHT TO ALL NATIONS. (PM 44)• “SPIRITUAL KINGDOM?”

THE MOSAIC COVENANT (EX 19)

THE MOSAIC LAW

• THE COVENANT AND THE LAW ARE NOW LINKED FROM THIS MOMENT ON• KEEPING THE LAW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN OF FAITHFULNESS TO THE

COVENANT• HENCE WHY THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES BECAME

KNOWN AS THE TORAH, OR “THE LAW”

JESUS AND THE NEW LAW

• PARALLEL TO MOSES ON THE MOUNT,• JESUS ON THE MOUNT (AND ALL HIS OTHER

TEACHINGS) GIVES THE NEW LAW • OR THE LAW OF LOVE

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT (2 SAMUEL 7)

THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

• GOD’S PROMISE TO DAVID THAT “YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR KINGDOM SHALL ENDURE FOREVER BEFORE ME; YOUR THRONE SHALL STAND FIRM FOREVER” (SEE 2 SAM 7:16)

• HOUSE REFERRING TO BLOODLINE OR DIRECT LINE OF DESCENDANTS

JESUS AND THE DAVIDIC COVENANT

• THE GOSPELS TESTIFY TO JESUS AS THE DIRECT DESCENDANT OF DAVID (SEE MT 1:6; LK 3:31)

• CHRIST ESTABLISHES THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (MORE ON THIS LATER)

COVENANT INTENSIFICATIONCovenant Mediator

Covenant Role Covenant Form

Covenant Sign Reference

Adam Husband Marriage Sabbath Gen 2Noah Father (family

man)Household Rainbow Gen 9

Abraham Tribal Chief Tribe Circumcision Gen 17Moses Judge Nation Passover Ex 19-24David King National

KingdomThrone/House 2 Sam 7

Jesus Royal High Priest

Ekklesia (Church)

Eucharist Mt 26Mk 14Lk 221 Cor 11:25Heb 13:20-21

JESUS CHRIST (MT, MK, LK, JN)

THE INCARNATION

• THE DOGMA (SOLEMN TEACHING) OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING THAT GOD BECAME MAN IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

• LITERALLY MEANS “TO TAKE UPON THE FLESH”

• “GOD BECAME MAN SO THAT MAN CAN BECOME LIKE GOD.”—ST ATHANASIUS

• JOHN 1:14, CCC 464, 480

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

• “THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU…

• “THIS IS MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT THAT WILL BE SHED SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN…

• DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.”

IN SUMMARY

• THE COVENANTS ACT LIKE MAJOR HALLMARKS IN SALVATION HISTORY

• JESUS CHRIST IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE COVENANTS

• THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SEES ITSELF AS THE SIGN OF COMMUNION WITH GOD (LG 1) EXPRESSED AND RENEWED IN ITS OFFICIAL CELEBRATION: THE EUCHARIST

SOCRATIVE

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• 5 MINUTE BREAK

The Life of JesusSession 2.3

In this section

We’ll look briefly into the Life of Jesus Christ, using the outline of “the Luminous Mysteries”

Note in the time between King David and Jesus A tragic period in Jewish history: THE BABYLONIAN EXILE.

In 587 BC, The Babylonians pillaged Judah, destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, and banished the people in chains to serve as slaves in Babylon.

The EXILE lasted until 539 BC.

Around this time, we see the introduction of the prophets

What is a prophet?

Have a special connection with God and understand his desire; crafted and proclaimed theirexhortations to their community

Not necessarily someone who could tell the future

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Prophets and God’s Covenant

At the heart of the message of the biblical prophets is a return to following God’s Covenant. It was not necessarily a return to the

“exact same” practices of the people as in prior days when they were faithful to the Covenant.

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God creates or enters into a Covenant and it is good.

Humanity falls into idolatry, resulting in

disease, war, and grief.

God sends teachers, kings, prophets, or others who lead the

people to repentance.

The people return to following the Covenant.

Peace and God’s healing return to the

people.

Prophets and the Cycle of Redemption

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NOTE: Christ• Prophets were also anointed…(Gk:christos)

• Therefore, in Ancient Israel, the anointed ones were • priests, • prophets • and kings.

The Luminous Mysteries

The Mysteries of Light

Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002)

Prior to this encyclical, the Rosary had only 3 mysteries

Summaries of each Rosary Mystery▪ Joyful Mysteries = about Jesus’ birth▪ Sorrowful Mysteries = about Jesus’ suffering and death▪ Glorious Mysteries = about Jesus’ Resurrection and

early Church So what exactly is missing here?

The Life of Jesus

The Luminous Mysteries were added to reflect on the life of Jesus.

Jesus is the “light of the world” for all to see!

More specifically

the 5 Luminous mysteries are significant moments in Jesus’ public ministry where he is most clearly identified as the Messiah,

the Savior, the Son of God.

Covered next class

Covered next class

The Five Mysteries

The Baptism in the Jordan The Wedding at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom The Transfiguration The Institution of the Eucharist

Matthew 3

 .*13iThen Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14* John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”

15Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

Matthew 3

16* j After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him.

17And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son,* with whom I am well pleased.”

Questions to ponder

John was baptizing as a sign of peoples’ cleansing and renewal. Why was Jesus baptized?

THREE EVENTS OF JESUS’ BAPTISM• Heavens were

opened• Holy Spirit

descends upon Jesus

• God the Father calls Jesus “my son”

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am

well pleased (Mt 3:16)

Jesus’ Baptism Notes

Even though Jesus was free from sin, his baptism showed his willingness to completely identify with the human condition.

By identifying himself with human sin, Jesus Christ became the perfect offering to save us from sin.

2 Cor 5:21

2 Cor 5:21

“For our sake he [the Father] made him [the Son] to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”

Conclusion of Jesus’ Baptism

It is an example of his perfect obedience to his heavenly Father.

It also reveals the mystery of the Holy Trinity The three Divine persons of the Trinity work together in

the plan of salvation.

The Second Luminous Mystery: The Wedding of Cana

General Context Recorded in the Gospel of John only

Takes place after Jesus’ Baptism, but before his public ministry.

John’s Gospel only has seven miracles (or signs)

John 2:11

“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him”

Questions to ponder What does this event show about Jesus’ relationship to

creation?

What might this event show about his relationship with his mother?

What might be the purpose of the 2nd mystery when seen in relation to the other mysteries? (OR, what’s so special about this mystery in comparison to the Baptism, Proclamation of the kingdom, Transfiguration and Institution of the Eucharist?)

The Third Luminous Mystery

Not just one event or one teaching

Through all the things that Jesus did (miracles and teachings), he proclaims:

“THIS IS THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. REPENT, AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.” (Mk 1:15)

The Kingdom of God

The culmination or goal of God’s plan of salvation. Announced by the Gospel, and present in Jesus. The Kingdom is not a place, but the reign of God

in our hearts Consequently: the development of a new social

order based on unconditional love (the exact opposite of human brokenness)

Notes on the “Kingdom”

The fullness of God’s Kingdom will not be realized until the end of time.

Other names: Reign of God, Kingdom of Heaven.

Context of the term

Historically in Hebrew context, “kingdom” refers to “reign” or “rule”

A modern way of understanding the term is “electricity” or “force”

Fulfilling the prophecies

The prophets talk about the restoration of original justice and holiness

The Messiah is one to usher in a new “kingdom” that restores the relationship with God and one another (“salvation”)

Consider this…

Do the miracles by themselves show that Jesus is the Messiah?

Do the teachings by themselves show that Jesus is the Messiah?

Not really…

Because they only make sense in the context of the “KINGDOM OF GOD.”

Jesus’ words and actions proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

The Third Mystery shows

That the Kingdom of God is present in Jesus Christ, and his life brings salvation to our world.

Socrative

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DONE!

14 AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US, AND WE SAW HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE FATHER'S ONLY SON, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

JOHN 1:14

THE UNIQUE AND ALTOGETHER SINGULAR EVENT OF THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD DOES NOT MEAN THAT JESUS CHRIST IS PART GOD AND PART MAN, NOR DOES IT IMPLY THAT HE IS THE RESULT OF A CONFUSED MIXTURE OF THE DIVINE AND THE HUMAN. HE BECAME TRULY MAN WHILE REMAINING TRULY GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN. 

CCC 464

JESUS CHRIST IS TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN, IN THE UNITY OF HIS DIVINE PERSON; FOR THIS REASON HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN.

CCC 480