Part I The Life of Jesus Christ
Important events
- 4B.C. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem in Judea
- Mary was the mother of Jesus Christ and Joseph was the husband of Mary
- Joseph dreamed that Herod (King of Judea) was planning to kill Jesus Christ
- Joseph, Mary and Jesus Christ, guided by angles, fled to Egypt
- Herod, unable to find Jesus Christ, ordered to kill all the babies in the Bethlehem (Judea) and this event was called the “Slaughter of the Innocents.”
- After a while, angles guided Joseph, Mary and Jesus Christ back to Israel
- During the journey back to Israel, Archelaus (son of Herod) found out about Joseph return; so Joseph went to Galilee instead and settled in Nazareth
- Jesus Christ was able to confidently converse with the elders whom he astounded with his wisdom and understanding
- There is a period of 18years before the inaugural event of his public ministry: Jesus’ Baptism at the hands of St. John the Baptist
- By Jesus’ Resurrection three days later, he showed his victory over death, thereby calling every person to repentance and the fullness of filiations with the Father
Important themes in his preaching
- Deposit of faith: heritage of faith, contained in Sacred Scriptures and Tradition
- Fulfilling the traditional Law found in the Ten Commandments, Jesus taught the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer
- Transformed Old Testament by adding charity (compassion and mercy) into New Testament
- New Covenant founded by Christ would perfect the Old Law through the New Law based on love and grace
Sources of information about his life and teaching
- Most of what is known about Christ’s life comes from the four canonical gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
- Jesus’ teaching given in Sermon on the Mount
Part II.
Pentecost, the Birth of the Church
- On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims from nearly every nation.
- The Apostles were all gathered in one place most likely still fearing persecution.
- On Pentecost, the Father and the Son sent Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, to complete and perfect anointing the Church for her mission of evangelization of the world.
- The Apostles were given the gift of tongues and found themselves miraculously speaking to the multitude.
- St. Peter, responding to skepticism that the disciples were “filled with new wine”, addressed all who were present. He proclaimed the special calling of the Jews in God’s plan of salvation for the world.
- Pentecost marks the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church that enables Christians to announce the truth of Christ’s Gospel. It also shows that Christ will live in his Church throughout all ages.
Life in the Christian Community
- Community was of one heart and mind
- There was no needy person; no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common
- With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all
Part III.
Nature of the Church
- Church forms the Mystical Body of the Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
- Church is visible and spiritual
- Church is made up of God’s people “born” into his family through faith in Christ and Baptism
- Head of this people is Jesus Christ
- Christ’s new commandment: to love each other as Christ loves them
- People of God bring the hope of salvation to the world until the Kingdom of God is fully established
- Church reflects both a human and divine reality
Four Marks
1. The Church is One: acknowledges one God in Whom she professes one Faith
2. The Church is Holy: Founder is Holy, means to salvation is Holy, and the aim of the Church’s teaching and sacraments is the holiness of its members
3. The Church is Catholic: “catholic” means universal
4. The Church is apostolic: built upon the foundation of the Apostles
Apostolic Tradition
- Apostles received teachings and instructions from God
- Apostles were chosen by Christ and empowered by Holy Spirit to launch the first evangelization with faith and courage
- Apostles continued Christ’s ministry of preaching, healing, and exorcising demons
- Apostles spread the Gospel to the world
Office of Bishop
- Apostles passed on their priestly powers and mission to their successors through the office of bishop
- Bishop is a successor of the Apostles who has received the fullness of Christ’s priesthood
- Church has successfully transmitted the Apostolic Tradition down through the line of bishop and she will continue to do so until Christ returns
Deacons
- St. Stephen and six others were chosen by the people, blessed and commissioned by the Apostles. These seven men were called Deacons were ministers of the Church’s pastoral mission
Growth of Church
- Through the Signs and Wonders of Apostles(power of Apostles), some people were converted into Christians
Ex) Peter Heals Aneseas At Lydda (Acts 9)
- Through visions of Jesus Christ, some were converted
Ex) Saul/St. Paul conversion
Problems and resolutions during the Growth of Church
- Hatred/disagreement from Jews
- The Sanhedrin disagreed with the apostles and tried to punish them but the Sanhedrin wasn’t successful because Jesus Christ would help the apostles to escape
Peter
- The first apostles
- Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen. One day Jesus came and said “Follow me, and I will make you fisher of men”
- St. Peter was crucified in Rome, upside down at his request, saying that he was not worthy to die right side up as Jesus did.
Stephen
- St. Stephen began to work among the people, evangelizing and working “great wonders and signs”
- Soon, however, an angry mob seized St. Stephen, dragged him before the Sanhedrin, and accused him of “speak words against this holy place and the law”.
- The execution of St. Stephen, the first martyr, marked the beginning of a severe persecution of the early Church in Jerusalem.
- St. Stephen’s example quickly seized the imagination of the early Church as a most admirable way to imitate Christ.
- St. Stephen’s feast day is celebrated on December 26 highlighting how highly Church regards his heroic witness.
Saul/Paul
- Saul was a strong Jew who hated the Christians. He would drag the Christians out of their houses.
- On his way to Damascus, Saul fell off his horse and lost his sight because he was blinded by this light which was Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ asked Saul of his cruelty towards the Christians
- Ananias, one of the disciples, was instructed through a vision to find Saul and give his sight back. When Ananias found Saul and gave his sight back, Saul converted into a Christian and was called St. Paul
Simon Magus (Act 8: 9-25)
- A man named Simon used to practice magic in the city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.
- Simon wanted the power that the apostles had
- Apostles said “…wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven.”
- Simon regretted and asked for forgiveness for what he said
- Apostles returned to Jerusalem and preached the good news to many Samaritan villages