MODULE 3: UNIT 1

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

MARY
- accepted the angel’s message and all its implications for her own life – a radical, unforeseen change in
her plans
- angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace"
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name
shall be called Emmanuel.”
Later in Isaiah, Emmanuel is referred to as the future Savior of his people “God-with-us”
Micah 5:2-3
Foretells the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem from a woman who will “bring forth” the “ruler of Israel”
The mother, introduced so suddenly in Micah and so specifically designated without a husband, conveys the
same virginal sense
The fact that she is clearly designated as a woman without a husband, something most unusual in Jewish
genealogy and identification, represents an implicit reference to that same virgin birth.
ENMITY (Gen 3:15)
- opposition, between the woman and the serpent (who represents Satan).
- opposition between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (which represents sin)
Luke’s story of Mary
- includes a woman’s spiritual life of prayer and relationship with God
- portrays her wisdom to discern deep waters, her need for practical encouragements, and her
courage to enter into the ways
- calls us to notice and ponder how God is forever stirring up wild possibilities, and how God
invites us into the ongoing story of wonder, inclusive of happiness and sorrows, but, according to
Luke, into a life where God’s joy ultimately reigns
ANNUNCIATION
- The Angel Announces that: The Holy Spirit will fill her conceive and Bear a Child Name the child
“JESUS”
- was the beginning of the Incarnation: a silent and mysterious event that changed the world because at
that moment,
- Annunciation of the Lord is a Solemnity
- Feast of the highest rank in the Catholic Church
Annunciation to Mary
- inaugurates "the fullness of time”
- the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations
- Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell "bodily"
- whole life of Jesus Christ will make manifest "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power.
- Mary’s total YES (FIAT) to God’s plan of salvation makes the incarnation possible
MARY exemplified:
- Obedience
- Trust
- Faith
MAGNIFICAT(VISITATION) - Mary rushes to Elizabeth (in Judah)
- Thankful for God’s blessing
 - For blessing a nobody like her
- MORE praises for God
NATIVITY
- Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem
Settled in a Manger
Shepherds – Jesus to shepherd the people
The Wise Men - 3 Gifts (Gold, Myrrh, Frankincense)
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
- Dogma which asserts that from conception, Mary has no original sin.
The Most Blessed Virgin Mary
- virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David
- "the All-Holy" (Panagia)- as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit
and formed as a new creature
- from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and
by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all
stain of original sin.
- "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ:
- is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son"
- responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible"
- is hailed as pre-eminent and as wholly unique member of the church, and as its exemplar and
outstanding model in in faith and charity
- The name Mary is almost synonymous to full of grace
 One who is full of grace is very humble, recognizing one’s own limitations and incapacities
and then simply waiting for the assurance from the Holy Spirit.
 One who is full of grace magnifies the Lord
 MODULE 3: UNIT 2
John the Baptist
- Son of Zechariah
- He stayed in wilderness (which made him strange)
- Baptizes Jesus (his cousin) holy spirit tempted Jesus
- Killed by King Herad Antipas
- Bridge of old testament and new testament.
JOHN 1; 19-34
- THE BAPTIST (Identifies someone who administers the rite of immersing)
RITE OF IMMERSING: Cleansing the Original Sin in a body of Water
- He confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
- “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet
said.” It against wealthy and indulgent Jews of His days.
- He baptizes not to cleanse people from sin but to witness to God’s presence in the world.
JOHN’S GOSPEL
- message of John announces a new intervention of God in the history of the people. It invites the
Israelites to accept the prophetic manifestation of God’s will.
- shows how what we do reveals to others what we believe.
Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about John the Baptist.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
- the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way.
- "Prophet of the Most High",
- surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last.
- inaugurates the Gospel,
- already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ,
- rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom"(Jesus), whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world".
- Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah", John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by
his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.
JOHN THE BAPTIST’S MINISTRY
- marked by humility, repentance and selflessness as clearly stated in John 3:30, “He must increase, I
must decrease”.
JOHN’S SOLE PURPOSE
- to prepare the people to receive the “One more powerful than I”
- (Mt. 3:11)
JOHN THE BAPTIST (MAN OF COURAGE AND HUMILITY)
 We are called to be witnesses of Christ and bearers of the true light to our family, school, friends and to
the community through our commitment to the truth and the promotion of justice.
 Most especially, like John the Baptist, we have to manifest our willingness to prepare for the coming of
the Messiah and work, in his behalf, towards the world’s experience of well-being.
THE COVENANT - The promises and prophecies that were talked about in the past are now starting to
unravel.

MODULE 3: UNIT 3
Jesus’ Public Ministry and the Kingdom of God
The Cure of a Demoniac (Luke 4: 31-37)
- Jesus first action after coming from the desert was to drive away evil.
- Actions are always for the fulfillment of the “Kingdom of God”
JESUS’ TEACHING AND HEALING MINISTRIES
- public ministry includes Jesus’ acts of healing and preaching about the Kingdom of God
- Most of these contain lessons that ideally changes how people treat one another during those times
manifestation of the experience of the Kingdom of God.
“FULLNESS OF LIFE”
o The attainment of the promised “blessing to all people”
o The experience of joy
JESUS’ TEACHING
(LISTEN and LEARN)
- considered the greatest teacher
- utilized parables and aphorisms, were aimed at changing people’s paradigm of God: from being an
authoritative and legalistic god to a compassionate and loving one.
PARABLES
- Christ’s typical method of communicating his word
- he focused on the common life of his listeners, and drew them into recognizing God’s presence therein.
Examples of parables:
o The Good Samaritan
o The Prodigal Son
o The Friend at Night
o The Lost Coin/Sheep
 HEALING MINISTRIES
(REACH OUT and HEAL)
- Jesus healed plenty of people out of COMPASSION and CONCERN for the wellbeing of EVERYONE.
- “Your faith has been your salvation, Go in peace”
Faith (Pharisees): Look at me! I am praying and doing sacrifices (Prideful)
Faith (Jesus): I am helpless but I am open to your love and mercy. (Humility)
TABLE-FELLOWSHIP
(SHARE and CELEBRATE)
- Symbolizes: “EVERYONE is welcome in the Father’s Kingdom”
“I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous”.
- Eating together with different walks of life was the primary way of marking events in Jewish Culture.
- importance of it in Jesus’ ministry is confirmed by two things.
“BREAKING OF BREAD” (Lk 24:35; Acts 2:46)
o This must have come from Jesus’ own mannerism.
“ABBA”
o the Lord’s prayer which Christ taught his disciples.
o summarizes the ministry of Christ in terms of (Father), the Kingdom, bread, forgiveness and the
final test.
For KOINONIA
- the transforming communion we have in the Eucharistic celebration as members of Christ’s Body.
SCRIPTURAL TEXTS (Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum)
- reveals his power over both spiritual and physical oppression. It highlights the following points:
a. He is able to heal all sorts of spiritual and physical ailments.
b. He has a strong and growing reputation as a healer.
c. He also has a ministry of proclaiming the good news, which he is unwilling to have sidelined by
the popular demand for more healing.
d. His teaching, like his exorcism and healing, is marked by a unique authority.
KINGDOM OF GOD
- a dynamic symbol of God’s active presence among His people.
- For Filipino Christians today, PCP II sketches the essentials of the Kingdom as a “gift of God,” made
present in Jesus, as a “Task” and as a “Promise”.
TASK
St. Paul: “There are three things that will remain; faith, hope and love and the greatest is love.
 Our faith in God is justified by love
 Psalms: “You cannot say that you love God whom you cannot see if you cannot even love your neighbor
whom you can see.
 Greatest Commandments emphasizes on love:
 Love God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul.
 Love your neighbor as you love yourself / as I have loved you.
PROMISE
 An eschatological hope: Eschaton(end times) and Logos (study)
 Something we fully attain in the end times.
o A Journey through Faith Hope and Love
 Faith: starting point (Introduces us into the journey)
 Love: Journey itself (Fuels the journey/makes it concrete)
 Hope: Destination (Gives a picture of our destination)
 MODULE 3: UNIT 4
Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection
JESUS’S JOURNEY
Jesus Questioned by Pilate
The Sentence of Death
Mockery by the Soldiers
The Way of the Cross
The Crucifixion
The Death of Jesus
The Burial of Jesus
The Guard at the Tomb
The Resurrection of Jesus
JESUS
- was the most honest, integral and straightforward of persons.
- understood what was his duty and, in obedience to his conscience, was prepared to carry it out, even if it
meant death.
- the passion and death say to us is that, if we dedicate ourselves to establishing the reign of God on earth,
we can expect to face powerlessness, misunderstanding and even death.
JESUS’ PASSION AND DEATH:
- Jesus saw his Passion and Death as redemptive, his ultimate service in the Kingdom.
- historical event and living dynamic memory
- very heart Christian life, liturgy and spirituality.
- the whole creation was transformed
- very source of Jesus’ famous title, “Jesus the Savior” (aside from the fact that his Hebrew name means
“Jesus saves.”)
JESUS’ DEATH
o was a prophetic witness in the cause of God’s justice.
o vindicated by God’s love, a love stronger than death.
o Gospel portray as the culmination of his mission, the final act of selfless love and service that
sealed a life totally committed to others.
 Father forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing
 This day you will be with me in paradise
 Woman, behold your son.
 My God, My God why have you forsaken me
 I Thirst.
 It is Finished
 Father, into your hands I commend my spirit

PASSION OF JESUS
o ultimate meaning of human existence and Christian commitment.
o lives on in the faith and experience of the Christian community.
o historical event: gave meaning and force to the entire mission of Jesus and it is a living memory,
a powerful grace that gives meaning and hope to all human suffering
o gospels embrace dimensions: narratives and inviting the reader to find in the passion of Jesus
Passion Narratives
 are more historically detailed
 theological reflections which try to understand the working of God in human experience.
  Jesus’ last days
JESUS’ SUFFERINGS
o through communion
 continue in the suffering of every child of God, down to the present moment.
o By recalling the distinctive portrayal of the suffering
 we are invited to enter deeply into the mystery of the passion and to bring one’s own
experience into vital contact with this core of the Christian message.
JESUS’ RESURRECTION: (LUKE 24)
- historical in terms of the testimony of witnesses to the Risen Christ
o “Risen, Glorified Existence” - no one claimed to see the event, no one described how it took
place, no one can explain why is essentially
- like and unlike the historical:
o personal continuity with his prior earthly bodily existence
o Risen Christ
 re-established direct relations with his disciples, even with the marks of his Passion. (God
freed from death’s bitter pangs and raised up again)
 showed a clear discontinuity with his earthly state.
 his risen state he transcends the bodily limits of time and space, and inaugurates the new
and final creation, the final destiny of all
 “first fruits of those who have fallen asleep . . . in Christ all will come to life again”
- did not mean a return to earthly life
o Christ arose to an entirely new “glorified” existence. We recognize this in the fact that “Christ,
raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him”
o we pray: “Christ is the victim who dies no more; the Lamb, once slain, who lives for ever”
- actual event of Christ rising from the dead was the real starting point and foundation for the
beginnings of
 the Christian Faith: for the Christian community
 the Church; for adequate understanding of Christ
 his Passion and Death; for how Christ fulfilled
 the Old Testament prophecies; for the apostolic commission to preach Christ to the whole
world.
- Jesus’ passage from death to new, definitive glorified life. (eyes of Faith, not by the senses )
It can be described from three points of view:
1. as passage: an event in human history;
2. as the glorified life of the Risen Christ; and
3. as effected by the Blessed Trinity.
RESURRECTION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
 It shows the justice of God who exalted Christ to a life of glory, as Christ had humbled Himself unto
death (Philippians 2:8-9).
 The Resurrection completed the mystery of our salvation and redemption; by His death Christ freed us
from sin, and by His Resurrection He restored to us the most important privileges lost by sin (Romans
4:25).
 By His Resurrection we acknowledge Christ as the immortal God, the efficient and exemplary cause of
our own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:21; Philippians 3:20-21), and as the model and the support of our
new life of grace (Romans 6:4-6 and 9-11).
JESUS’ RESURRECTION ACC. TO SCHOLARS
- should not be read literally so as not to fall into the error of “over-belief” – fundamentalist interpretation.
- Resurrection
o is rising to a new and different life, a life of which we have little or no experience. The apostles
understood Jesus to be alive, but transformed into a new mode of existence, an existence that
transcends and is different from the former mode but is continuous with it.
o It transformed the lives of the apostles, from being fearful to becoming brave and bold.
o they came to see that Jesus is unique, someone in whom the power and presence of God had
been expressed. They reinterpreted the incidents in the life of Jesus in the light of the
resurrection event.