JESUS CHRIST: MISSION & PERSON 3) to suffer a martyr’s fate, death.

 “And you,” he said to them, “who do you This is the pattern of Jesus’ ministry that we
say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, find in the Gospel of Mark.
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
Jesus is “a prophet equal to any of the
God!” (Mt 16:15-16)
prophets” (Mk 6:15). His ministry incited the
 Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”
Pharisees to ask for signs (cf. Mk 8:11), and
(Jn 20:28)
he was put to death for being a false prophet
PRESUPPOSITIONS (cf. Mk 14:65).
- First, we must recognize that to really Jesus himself spoke of his own experience in
know Jesus Christ is a life-long task. terms of a prophet’s rejection by his own
- Second, knowing Jesus is a living, people (cf. Mk 6:4) and compared his own
changing, growing, and deepening fate to a prophet’s death in Jerusalem (cf. Lk
experience. 13:33).
- Third, the Jesus we come to know is both
But most of all, Jesus lived a prophetic
the historical earthly Jesus and the Risen
mission by reason of his possession of the
Christ of faith.
Spirit.
- Fourth, to know Jesus means being
committed to following him, being his In the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus calmly
disciple (cf. PCP II 34, 44). appropriates to himself the text of Isaiah: “The
- Fifth, that we come to know who Jesus is spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore He has
from what he did, his salvific mission. This anointed me. He has sent me to bring good
is exemplified by one Eucharistic tidings to the poor . . .” (Lk 4:18).
acclamation which proclaims: “Lord, by
your Cross and Resurrection you have set The three dimensions of the prophet’s task
us free. You are the Savior of the world!” word, deeds, and fate __ as Jesus gives
them their fullest meaning in his own ministry.
THE MINISTRY OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS
WORDS
- The irreplaceable starting point for
knowing Christ is the historical Jesus. The teaching and preaching of Jesus
- We proclaim in the Creed that the Son of centered on the “Kingdom of God,” a dynamic
God came down from heaven “for us and symbol of God’s active presence among His
our salvation.” people.
- Scripture likewise declares: “The Father (Parables)
sent His Son as Savior of the world” (1 Jn
4:14). Another characteristic of Jesus’ preaching
was his peculiar use of “Amen.” While “Amen”
This means… was customary in responding to another’s
- First, that God sent His Son as an offering assertion, Jesus used it rather to introduce his
for our sins (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). own message. Jesus’ Amen expressed a
- Second, he came to reveal to us God’s unique blend of certainty, authority and power.
love, that we might have life through him Certainty,
(cf. Jn 3:16).
- Third, he came to be our model for because Jesus claimed to be expressing only
sanctity, so that, what he hears from the Father. “I do nothing
- fourth, we could share in his divine by myself. I say only what the Father has
sonship (cf. 2 Pt 1:4; CCC 456-60). taught me” (Jn 8:26-28).

JESUS AS A PROPHET
The vocation of a biblical prophet often Authority,
embraces three typical tasks:
because unlike the prophets of old, Jesus
1) to proclaim the word of God with authority; spoke in his own name: “I solemnly assure
you . . .” (cf. Jn 3:3,11; 5:19,24, etc.) Jesus
2) to accompany this word with signs and puts his word above Moses and the Law.
wonders (deeds); and
“You have heard the commandment imposed
on your forefathers . . . What I say to you
Second, the salvation which Christ has
is. . .” (Mt 5:21-48).
already won for all is not yet complete. It must
be accepted, embraced and acted out in the
free lives of believers today.
Power,
Saving from Cosmic Evil
because Jesus claimed a unique filial
relationship with God his “Abba,” Father. And “To be saved” here means to be a “new creation”
he claimed the power to share this in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
relationship with others creation” (2 Cor 5:17).
DEEDS
Peter’s Pentecost discourse began with: “Men Saving from Socio-Political Oppression
of Israel, listen to me! Jesus the Nazorean
- First, Jesus exposed the enslaving, corrupting
was a man whom God sent to you with
power of riches. Jesus showed that giving was
miracles, wonders, and signs as his
better than taking, sharing more liberating than
credentials. These God worked through him in
hoarding (cf. Lk 6:29-30; 14:13-14; Acts 20:35).
your midst, as you well know” (Acts 2:22). But
Jesus was not the typical “wonder worker” - Second, Jesus taught that any power not rooted
creating a big show to draw crowds of in mutual service was enslaving and oppressive.
followers. Rather he worked a healing ministry
which constantly called to personal faith and “Whoever wants to rank first among you must
discipleship (cf. PCP II 84). serve the needs of all” (Mk 10:42-45). Love is
ultimately the only power that sets people free.
FATE
- Third, Jesus liberated his followers from the
The third dimension of the prophet, to suffer a common social prejudices that bound them.
martyr’s death. Jesus referred to such a fate These were the customary ways of honoring the
(cf. Lk 13:33-34). Moreover, he had the wise and the rich while discriminating against
example of John the Baptist before him. Jesus foreigners, women, public sinners and outcasts.
himself was accused of blasphemy because He taught concern for “the little ones” of the
he proclaimed the forgiveness of sins, and of Kingdom (cf. Mt 18:10).
casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub
(cf. Mk 3:22). Finally, Jesus freed his contemporaries from mere
external, lega1istic religious obedience to the Law
by interiorizing and prioritizing its obligations.
JESUS AS SAVIOR/REDEEMER
More than being a “prophet,” Jesus was SAVING FROM LIFE’S MEANINGLESS
proclaimed Savior/Redeemer even before his
birth. “You are to name him “Jesus” because To his followers Jesus promised: “If you live
he will save his people from their sins” (Mt according to my teaching, you are truly my
1:21). The very name “Jesus” means “God is disciples; then you will know the truth, and the
salvation.” truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31f). His teachings
set us free because they offer meaning and
purpose in life, dispelling the darkness of
ignorance and despair.
First, Christ “saves” by touching the spiritual
root of all these evils experienced today,
namely, SIN __ people’s proud, self-seeking
moral attitudes and acts before God and with
one another. Selfishness enslaves. “Everyone
who lives in sin is the slave of sin. . . . That is
why, if the Son frees you, you will really be
free” (Jn 8:34-36).
  To be our model for holiness.
 To enable us to share in God’s nature.
JESUS CHRIST: HIS MISSION & MINISTRY
 The most important word ever spoken is
the Word of God. LEARNING ABOUT JESUS
 The prologue of the Gospel of John calls
Who is the real Jesus?
the Son of God “The Word”
 The Word of God became man in Jesus  Many ways to know Jesus:
Christ. Whether we get our information about
Jesus from our parents, priests, teachers,
THE INCARNATION OF JESUS
bishops, popes, or from reading the Bible;
 The Incarnation is the essential Christian all knowledge about Christ goes back to
belief that the Son of God became human the apostles, who knew him in life and
in the person of Jesus Christ. saw him after his death and Resurrection.
 We celebrate the conception of the Son of
The Jesus of History
God at the Annunciation.
 With Mary’s “yes,” the Son of God became  We know from historians outside the
human. Bible, that Jesus was known to be a
 The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell carpenter and lived in Galilee according to
how the angel Gabriel brought Mary the the Law of Moses.
news of God’s plan for the salvation of the  We know also, that Jesus gathered
world, and how she named her baby disciples and preached a powerful
Jesus, which means “YHWH is salvation,” message to them.
or “savior.”  Historical records verify that Jesus was a
real person, not just the invention of early
(Today, we associate Christmas with gift giving.)
Christians.
 This is appropriate, for on the first  Because Jesus spoke with authority and
Christmas, God gave us the greatest gift challenged the way people had come to
of all – his Son. respond to God, he angered many of the
 The Nativity refers to the birth of Christ in leaders in the Jewish community.
Bethlehem, nine months after the  His message was one of repentance and
Annunciation. the coming of God’s Kingdom.
(The presence of Joseph is strongly felt in the The Miracles and Ministry of Jesus
Gospels.)
 In addition to preaching about the
 We know Joseph was a man of Kingdom of God, Jesus performed
tremendous faith and great courage. He miracles to show that God’s Kingdom had
raised Jesus to become a man of love, already broken into human history.
gentleness, and hard work.
The Humanity of Jesus
 Joseph should also be an example for us
of these important values.  Jesus was a human being – like us in all
 While the Gospel of John does not things but sin. He had a charismatic
describe the Christmas story, it makes a personality, experienced human emotions
powerful statement about the origins of and human pain.
Jesus.
 In the Prologue of John’s Gospel, the JESUS, RESURRECTED LORD
evangelist makes it clear that Jesus is true  The teachings of the Church pass on to us
God and true man. He wrote this to that Jesus was much more than an
combat a heresy called Docetism, which influential human figure. The doctrine of
said that Jesus only appeared to be the Incarnation tells us that Jesus is the
human. Son of God.
THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION  Another essential belief of the Church is
that of Christ’s Resurrection.
 To reconcile us with God.  Our belief in the Resurrection tells us that
 To show us God’s love. after Jesus suffered a painful death on the
 cross … He rose from the dead, and is  Mystery also refers to God’s saving plan
alive now, in glory forever. that was gradually revealed in human
history.

MEETING JESUS TODAY

THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF JESUS
We can read about Jesus in the New Testament –
especially the Gospels. Christ also makes it  In the Nativity, God humbled himself and
possible for us to know him and have a came into the world as a vulnerable infant.
relationship with him in several ways: The first to witness his arrival were poor
shepherds.
 In the Sacraments
 In the Epiphany, Jesus is revealed as
 In Prayer
Messiah to non-Jewish wise men from the
 In his body, the Church
east—signifying that Christ is the Savior of
(The Seven Sacraments) the entire world.
 At Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple,
Simeon predicts the suffering and death of
Jesus, as well as the sorrows Mary will
experience. Mary and Joseph presented
Jesus as a firstborn son in the Temple
forty days after his birth to fulfill the Law of
Moses.
THE HIDDEN LIFE OF JESUS
 In the Sacraments of the Church, Jesus
comes to us in the very special moments  The Evangelists don’t tell us much about
of our lives, to give us powerful signs of the childhood of Jesus. The Gospels do
his love for us. convey, however, that Jesus grew in
wisdom, and our faith shows us that Jesus
(Prayer) lived out respectful obedience to his
earthly parents and the Jewish religion.
Jesus told us: “Wherever two or three are
On one pilgrimage to the Temple in
gathered together in my name, there I am in the
Jerusalem, Jesus was left behind, and
midst of them.”
amazed the priests with his understanding
 This is the Lord’s invitation to us to of his heavenly Father.
approach him in prayer. He also showed
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
us, by his own example, the importance of
prayer.  Even though he was without sin, Jesus
submitted to baptism by John the Baptist
CHRIST’S BODY: THE CHURCH
in the Jordan River. At this beginning of
 Jesus lives in the institution that he his public ministry, God the Father
established to be a vehicle of our salvation revealed that Jesus is his beloved Son,
– the Church. and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
 Christ is the head of that Body, and he like a dove.
lives in each of its members. Because the
THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS
Son of God became human, all of
humanity has tremendous dignity.  The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ being
 In Matthew 25, Jesus reminds us how tempted by Satan in the desert help us to
important even the poor and outcast understand that Jesus had free will like all
among us are by telling us that whatever human beings, but that he resisted every
we do to these least of our brothers and temptation put before him.
sisters, so we do to him.  Satan tempted Jesus to use his divine
power to create bread to satisfy his
THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST’S LIFE
hunger. He then tempted him to throw
 A mystery is a truth about God that will himself off the Temple parapet, knowing
always be beyond human understanding. that angels would catch him and the
crowd become his devoted followers.
 Finally, Satan offered Jesus worldly power  “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
if only he would worship him. Jesus but whoever humbles himself will be
resisted all these temptations, and exalted.”
remained sinless.

JESUS PROCLAIMS GOD’S KINGDOM

 The message of Jesus’ words and actions THE MIRACLES OF JESUS
was to consistently proclaim the Kingdom
of God, or Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus performed many miracles that
confirmed the truth of his words and his
CHRIST’S MINISTRY BEGINS AT CAPERNAUM authority to proclaim his message.
 When Jesus said that he could forgive
 Jesus called us to turn away from sin and
sins, some of the scribes accused Jesus
listen to the message he proclaimed about
of blasphemy, which is a sin against the
God’s love for us. He chose twelve
dignity of God, since only God can forgive
apostles to follow him and help to spread
sins.
the Good News.
 By healing the sick, Jesus proved that he
 The first of Jesus’ chosen apostles were
did, indeed, have the power to forgive.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John; whom
 The miracles themselves teach us
Jesus called away from their fishing nets
important truths about God’s Kingdom.
to go and follow him.
 Physical healings demonstrated Jesus’
THE KINGDOM IS OPEN TO ALL power over sin and revealed that the
coming of God’s Kingdom brings
 Jesus opened his arms to everyone.
wholeness and happiness. When Jesus
Sinners, too, are called to enter God’s
drove out evil spirits through exorcisms,
Kingdom—but people must repent of their
he established his power over Satan.
sins and respond to God’s love.
Jesus showed his power over the forces
THE POOR AND LOWLY ARE BELOVED IN of nature, since all of creation came to be
THE KINGDOM through him, with various nature miracles.
And by raising people from the dead,
 Jesus tells us in many ways that we must Jesus proved his mastery over life and
have a special love for the poor and death as the true Son of God.
persecuted in the world. He also tells us
that we must become as little children and THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
be open and accepting of others and
 The Transfiguration confirmed Jesus’
God’s will.
divinity as he appeared gloriously
 With parables and rich images, Jesus
transformed alongside the prophets
explained God’s Kingdom. He surprised
Moses and Elijah. The presence of the
his listeners and helped them understand
Old Testament prophets confirmed that it
that the true nature of our God is vastly
was Jesus whom they had foretold as the
different than many of their assumptions.
savior.
He often used paradoxes, which are
 This event inspired Peter’s confession that
statements that seem contradictory, but
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living
actually contain a hidden truth.
God.
A few examples of Jesus’ familiar THE PASSION, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION
paradoxical teachings: OF JESUS (PASCHAL MYSTERY)
 Obedient to his Father’s will, Jesus
 “Many who are first will be last, and the
submitted to humiliation and an agonizing
last will be first.”
death to become the Savior of the world.
 “Whoever wishes to be first among you,
 But Jesus’ story did not end in death. On
shall be your servant.”
the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus
rose to eternal life.
 THE MEANING OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY must make a difference in our lives. It
must accompany loving service of others
 The sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf
in living faith).
repaired the broken relationship between
5) we come to know who Jesus is from what
God and humanity.
he did, his salvific mission. (This is
 By his death, Jesus liberated us from sin.
exemplified by one Eucharistic
 By his Resurrection, he opened for us the
acclamation which proclaims: “Lord, by
way to new life.
your Cross and Resurrection you have set
us free. You are the Savior of the world!”)

CFC Chapter 10 Notes

JESUS CHRIST: MISSION AND PERSION MINISTRY OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS

 Jesus Christ – The center of our  Historical Jesus (the starting point for
Christian Faith (Hence he is the heart knowing Christ) - The life and work of the
and center of catechesis). historical Jesus alone provides the basic
 To re-animate our life in Christ Jesus; to ground for confessing Jesus as Christ the
unite all things in him.” Lord.
 To truly know ourselves and the ultimate  Why the Historical Jesus? We proclaim in
meaning of our lives “we need to the Creed that the Son of God came down
contemplate the face and the heart of from heaven “for us and our salvation.”
Christ” - This means first, that God sent His Son as
an offering for our sins (cf. 1 Jn 4:10).
THREE POPULAR FILIPINO IMAGES OF - Second, he came to reveal to us God’s
CHRIST love, that we might have life through him.
 Santo Nino (the Holy child) - Third, he came to be our model for
 Hesus Nazareno sanctity, so that, fourth, we could share in
 Sacred Heart his divine
Sonship.
IN PHILIPPINE CONTEXT  Christ as: the prophet,priest, and king
 It is in this concrete Philippine context that JESUS AS PROPHET
Jesus Christ must be approached today.
As “Church of the Poor,” we Filipino  The vocation of a biblical prophet often
Catholics must be “willing to follow Jesus embraces three typical tasks:
Christ through poverty and oppression in 1) to proclaim the word of God with
order to carry out the work of salvation” authority;
2) to accompany this word with signs and
EXPOSITION wonders (deeds); and
3) to suffer a martyr’s fate, death.
1) to really know Jesus Christ is a life-long
task. (Because only in Jesus Christ do we (This is the pattern of Jesus’ ministry that we find
come to know our own true selves, and in the Gospel of Mark.)
the deepest meaning and destiny of our
lives).  Jesus himself spoke of his own
2) knowing Jesus is a living, changing, experience in terms of a prophet’s
growing, and deepening experience. rejection by his own people and compared
(knowing Jesus means entering into a his own fate to a prophet’s death in
personal relationship with him). Jerusalem. But most of
3) the Jesus we come to know is both the all, Jesus lived a prophetic mission by
historical earthly Jesus and the Risen reason of his possession of the Spirit.
Christ of faith. One cannot be separated (We shall briefly develop each of the three
from the other. dimensions of the prophet’s task __ word, deeds,
4) to know Jesus means being committed to and fate __ as Jesus gives them their fullest
following him, being his disciple. (here is meaning in his own ministry).
no authentic “knowing Jesus Christ”
outside of personal commitment to his WORD
teaching and way of life. Knowing Jesus
 The teaching and preaching of Jesus FATE
centered on the “Kingdom of God,” a
 Jesus referred to such a fate
dynamic symbol of God’s active presence
 Jesus was constantly under attack by the
among His people. For Christ, this
Jewish religious authorities. This was
Kingdom, was grounded in the Old
because he overturned the priorities of
Testament hope for Yahweh’s presence.
their religious practice, especially in
 This hope was eschatological, that is,
regard to the Sabbath Law and the
something already present but not yet
Temple.
fully.
 To suffer a martyr’s death
 Christ’s typical method of communicating
his word about the Kingdom was by telling
stories, parables.
 Another characteristic of Jesus’ preaching
was his peculiar use of “Amen.”
 Jesus used it rather to introduce his own
message. Jesus’ Amen expressed a
unique blend of certainty, authority, and
JESUS AS SAVIOR/REDEEMER
power.
 Jesus was proclaimed Savior/Redeemer
DEEDS
even before his birth. (The very name
 Jesus was not the typical “wonderworker.” “Jesus” means “God is salvation.”)
creating a big show to draw crowds of  Thus both Scripture and the liturgy invite
followers. Rather he worked a healing us to see Christ our Lord in terms of his
ministry which constantly called to saving
personal faith and discipleship. (The direct work.
connection between faith and healing  What does Christ save us from? To reply
works is clearly affirmed by Christ in many effectively, two basic insights are
of his signs.) essential. - First, Christ “saves” by
 “Your faith has been your salvation. Go in touching the spiritual root of all these evils
peace” experienced today, namely, SIN
 But beyond open acceptance, this faith - Second, the salvation which Christ has
which Jesus praises also involves already won for all is not yet complete. It
discipleship: an implicit commitment. must be accepted, embraced and acted
 Christ’s ministry was noted for his out in the free lives of believers today.
celebration of the Kingdom in table
fellowship. He not only forgave sinners  Christ’s saving work in his Paschal
and associated with tax collectors and Mystery:
outcasts. 1) Saving from Cosmic Evil
 Such table-fellowship symbolized Christ’s In his public ministry Jesus was noted
whole mission and message of drawing all for casting out evil spirits.
into his Father’s Kingdom. 2) Saving from Socio-Political
 The importance of this table-fellowship in Oppression
Jesus’ ministry is confirmed by two things. He teaches a new hierarchy of values
The that undermined the oppressive social
- first is the special importance among the structures of his day. But how did
early disciples of the “breaking of bread” Jesus actually liberate? First, he
- second is the Lord’s prayer which Christ exposed the enslaving, corrupting
taught his disciples. It summarizes the power of riches. Jesus showed that
ministry of Christ in terms of “Abba” giving was better than taking, sharing
(Father), the Kingdom, bread, forgiveness more liberating than hoarding.
and the final test. For Jesus, the key to economic
- Not just voluntary “coming together” but liberation was twofold:
the koinonia, the transforming communion 1) to free human hearts from their
we have in the Eucharistic celebration as greed and self-seeking; and
members of Christ’s Body. 2) to inspire them with respect for
others, sensitivity and compassion for
 the needy, and a generous, outgoing First, Jesus as God’s Eternal Word
love for those in want. coming down to take on human nature in
the Incarnation.
Second, Jesus taught that any power Second, Jesus as “lifted up” at the
not rooted in mutual service was Resurrection.
enslaving and oppressive. Love is
Jesus is One Person
Ultimately the only power that sets
people free. - The Scriptures clearly affirm “there is only
one mediator between God and men, the
Third, Jesus liberated his followers man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as
from the common social prejudices ransom for all.”
that bound them. These were the - Easter shows how Jesus is both God’s
customary ways of honoring the wise own
and the rich while discriminating Self-gift to us, and the perfect human
against foreigners, women, public response to God. For it is precisely Jesus
sinners, and outcasts. He taught the Crucified one who is risen.
concern for “the little ones” of the - Jesus, then, cannot be divided. He is one
Kingdom. Person, for this man Jesus is the Eternal
Son of God
made man. This is the “Good News” which
Finally, Jesus freed his contemporaries
the Catholic Faith proclaims. This man
from mere external, lega1istic religious
Jesus is the Son of God who knows us
obedience to the Law by interiorizing and
and loves us.
prioritizing its obligations.
SAVING FROM LIFE’S MEANINGLESSNESS MARY, MOTHER OF THE SON OF GOD
 Christ saved by being the revelation of the
Mary in Scripture
Father.
 His teachings set us free because they
- The coming of the Holy Spirit upon her,
offer meaning and purpose in life,
and her carrying the Child in her womb,
dispelling the darkness of ignorance and
pictures Mary as the living Ark of the New
despair.
Covenant in Christ her Son.
 “I have come into the world as its light, to
- Thus Mary, the physical mother of Jesus
keep anyone who believes in me from
our Savior, becomes the spiritual mother
remaining in the dark”
in the order of grace of all, particularly of
THE PERSON OF JESUS the disciples of Christ

 The Scriptures ground three fundamental Mary in Catholic Doctrine

truths about the Person of Jesus: Jesus is
true man, true God, and one. 1) Mother of God
Jesus Our Brother: True Man - The Virgin Mary is acknowledged and
honored as being truly the Mother of God
- The Scriptures and constant teaching of and of the Redeemer.
the Church are one in asserting that Jesus 2) Blessed Virgin
is truly a man. So the Creed proclaims: - Mary, Virgin and Mother, manifests God’s
“He was conceived by the power of the perfectly free initiative in the Incarnation
Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary” (God’s Word/Son becoming enfleshed, Jn
- He who is ‘the image of the invisible God’ 1:14). Mary’s perpetual virginity is not
is himself the perfect man simply abstention from sexual intercourse,
but the positive value of perfect personal
One Lord, Jesus, the Only Son of God
integrity in her total gift of self to God.
- The Christian Faith stands or falls on the 3) The Immaculate Conception
confession of Jesus as the only Son of - Mary, therefore, had the unique mission
God, our Lord. from God to be Mother of His Son-made-
- Scripture grounds this confession in two man, the Redeemer. She thus shares in a
ways: special way Jesus’ salvific mission. From
 this mission flows her singular grace and INTEGRATION
privilege of the Immaculate Conception.
 The doctrine of the mission and identity of
- This signifies that Mary was, “from the first
Jesus Christ is the core of every Christian
moment of her conception, in view of the
Creed. To affirm “Jesus is Lord” is the
merits of Christ Jesus the Savior of the
central conviction of the Christian
human race, preserved immune from all
community.
stain of original sin”
 On the truth of Christ as Son and Savior
4) The Assumption
depend on all the basic Catholic doctrines:
- Moreover, thus “preserved free from all
1) of God as Triune Creator,
guilt of original sin, the Immaculate Virgin
2) of the Church as Christ’s Mystical
was taken up body and soul into heavenly
Body,
glory [Assumption] upon the completion of
3) of redemption from sin by Christ’s
her earthly sojourn”
Paschal Mystery,
- With her Assumption to join her Son, the
4) of our life of grace in the Holy Spirit,
Risen Christ, in the fullness of her
and
personality, Mary reveals the fullness of
5) of our final destiny with God in eternal
God’s redeeming work for all of us, “a sign
life.
of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim
 The moral dimensions of Christ’s mission
People of God”
and identity are innumerable. Christ as
- Both privileges of Mary, her Immaculate
Son and Savior becomes in person the
Conception and her Assumption, are not
fundamental moral norm for Christian
exceptions that separate Mary from us.
action.
They are rather privileges of fullness and
 The basic worship dimension of
completion.
Christ’s mission and person is felt in
- Mary’s grace is universally shared; her
two areas. There is:
privilege is that of fullness. Both privileges
1) first the place of Christ in all
are constituted by the Spirit’s presence, in
Christian worship. The center of the
whom we are all called to share.
Church’s liturgy is the Eucharistic
- These graces were given to Mary
Sacrifice of his Body and Blood, the
precisely in view of her unique role in
sacramental representation and
God’s plan to save all through Christ’s
application of Christ’s sacrifice on the
redemptive mission.
Cross. (Christ himself, as Son and
Savior, is in Person the Primordial
5) Mediatrix
Sacrament of God’s presence among
- Authentic Catholic doctrine teaches that
us.)
Mary’s intercession does not in any way
2) Second, there is the yearning prayer
detract from, or add to, the unique
to Christ himself, expressed in the
mediation of Christ.
ancient liturgical refrain: “Marana tha!
- Two analogies help us to understand this:
O Lord come!”
First, in God’s continuing act of Creating,
the one goodness of God is SUMMARY
communicated diversely to all creatures.
Second, the 1) What conditions indicate a special
priesthood of Christ is shared in various yearning for Christ in the Philippines
ways both by sacred ministers and by all today?
the baptized.
- Hence, in like manner, the unique  The thirst for a personal relationship with
mediation of Christ is shared by all, since Christ our Savior (e.g., in the “Born
God calls all to cooperate, in manifold Again”), and for Christ the Liberator
human ways, in Christ’s redemptive among the oppressed and exploited,
mission. indicates a strong yearning for Christ
- Catholics see in Mary a special among many Filipinos today.
cooperation due to her God-given role
within His saving work through Christ and 2) What does “knowing” Jesus Christ
the Spirit. entail?
  Getting to know Christ is a gradual, life- • power because he claimed a unique filial
long, ever-deepening personal relationship with God, his “Abba,” Father.
relationship with the Jesus of the Gospels,
6) What signs and wonders did Jesus
present to us now in multiple ways as the
perform?
Risen Christ.
 Moreover, “knowing Christ” means being Jesus worked many miracles, wonders, and
committed to him, being his disciple. signs, healing the sick, freeing the possessed,
raising the dead to life. Through these signs he
3) How do we come to know WHO Jesus called all to faith in him and to discipleship which
is? consists in following him in building the Kingdom
 We come to know who Jesus IS, from through loving service of others.
what he DID and continues to DO.
Therefore, it is important to know the 7) What was Jesus’ fate as a prophet?
historical life and work of Jesus through Jesus suffered a martyr’s death at the hands of
constant contact with the Gospels, in his own, “who killed both the Lord Jesus and the
order to know in faith that “Jesus Christ is prophets” (1 Thes 2:15). “The God of our fathers
Lord” (Phil 2:11). has raised up Jesus whom you put to death,
hanging him on a tree” (Acts 5:30; 10:39).
4) Why did God become one of us in Jesus
Christ? 8) Why is Jesus called “Savior”?

God the Son became one of us: As announced even before his birth, the Child is
to be named Jesus because “he will save his
• for our salvation, that is: to save us from the people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). “Lord by your
slavery of sin; Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
• to reveal to us God’s unending love for us; You are the Savior of the world.”
• to be our model, as the Way, Truth and the Life;
• to actually share His divine sonship with us.
5) How was Jesus a prophet?
Jesus, the “Beloved Son” of the Father and filled
9) How does Jesus “save”?
with the Holy Spirit, perfectly fulfilled the task of
a prophet: Jesus saves by making it possible for us to work
throughout our lives against SIN, the spiritual root
• to proclaim the Word of God; (word)
of all the evils which we experience. He calls us
• support it by signs and wonders, and (deeds) to embrace and exercise his liberating grace in all
our moral actions, especially by working for
• seal it with his own blood. (fate) justice and peace.
6) What did Jesus Proclaim? 10) How does Jesus liberate from socio-
- Jesus proclaimed the “Kingdom of God,” economic oppression?
already present and “at hand” through him, but Jesus liberates in this area by exposing the
not yet realized fully, as it will be at the end of corrupting force of:
time.
• riches that enslave;
- This “Kingdom” summarized all the blessings of
God’s presence among His people, liberating • self-seeking ambition that knows no bounds;
them from sin, for loving service of one another.
• social prejudices that oppress and exploit
7) How did Jesus preach and teach the others;
“Kingdom”?
• a legalistic attitude toward law that makes even
Jesus preached and taught with: God’s commandments oppressive and
exploitative.
• certainty, because he taught only what he
heard from his Father; Positively, through word and example, Christ
saved by inspiring men and women with the ideal
• authority, because he spoke in his own name, of loving service.
of what he knew personally;
 11) How did Jesus save from the “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a
“meaninglessness” of life? loud voice, ‘. . . blessed is the fruit of your womb.
But who am I that the mother of my Lord should
Jesus saved by dissipating the darkness of
come to me?’ ” (Lk 1:41-43)
ignorance and prejudice through the light of his
15) Why is Mary exalted as “the Blessed
Truth, and by giving meaning and purpose to
Virgin Mary”?
human life, even its sufferings.
Mary’s virginity manifests both God’s free initiative
12) From all Jesus did, what can we say of
in effecting the Incarnation of His Son, and Mary’s
who he is?
complete gift of self to God.
Sacred Scripture grounds three fundamental
16) How is Mary “our Mother”?
truths about the person of Jesus. He is:
Besides being the virgin mother of Jesus, Mary
• truly human, like us in all things but sin (cf. Heb
was given by Christ on the Cross to be the
2:17; 4:15);
spiritual mother in grace of all his disciples. (Cf.
• truly divine, God’s eternal Word, the only Son Jn 19:25-27.)
of the Father, full of grace and truth, ever at the
17) What is the meaning and significance of
Father’s side, who has revealed Him to us (cf. Jn
the Immaculate Conception and the
1:14,18);
Assumption?
• one, the “one mediator between God and
Chosen to be the Mother of Jesus our Savior,
men” (1 Tim 2:5). He cannot be divided.
Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb
“When the designated time had come, God sent “preserved free from all stain of original sin”
forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the (Immaculate Conception). At her death, she was
law, to deliver from the law those who were taken up body and soul into heaven
subjected to it that we might receive our status as (Assumption). Both graces are not exceptions
adopted sons” (Gal 4:4-5). “Simon Peter said in separating Mary from us, but privileges of
reply, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living perfection and completion that enable Mary to
God’” (Mt 16:16). fulfill her unique role in God’s plan to save all
through Christ, the one Mediator.
13) Was the truth that Jesus is true God and
true man easily understood?
The early Church only gradually came to an 18) How is Mary “Advocate” and
accurate expression of the divinity of Jesus, “Mediatrix”?
culminating in the Nicene Creed’s profession of:
St. Paul clearly affirms “there is ONE mediator
“One Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
between God and men, Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God,
But just as Jesus calls all to follow him and share
Light from Light, true God from true God,
in his mission as Prophet, Priest, and King, so he
begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.”
gave Mary, his Mother, the unique mission of
The Council of Chalcedon further defined Jesus
being mother to all his disciples (cf. Jn 19:26).
as:
Thus Jesus makes Mary share in his own
- “begotten from the Father before the saving mediatorship, neither adding nor
ages as to the divinity, and in the latter detracting from it in any way.
days for us and our salvation was
- born as to his humanity from Mary, the
Virgin Mother of God” (ND 614).

14) Why do Catholics venerate Mary as

“Mother of God”?
The Gospels clearly teach that Mary was chosen
by God to conceive and bear a son, Jesus, who
will be called Son of the Most High. (Cf. Lk 1:31.)
Mary is the mother of God because she is the
mother of Jesus, the God-man.