Jesus is the greatest role model Jesus is the role par excellence for us to follow. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. —John 14:6 It is important to have a role model like Jesus.

Jesus’ public life began with his baptism Jesus’ public ministry began with his baptism by John in the Jordan. The Baptism includes the forgiveness of the Original Sin. Baptism can also signify turning one’s life toward God in obedience and loyalty. The Catholic Church celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday after the Epiphany.

Jesus’ baptism foreshadows his Death Through consenting to his baptism by John, Jesus symbolically took on the brokenness of human sin and publicly proclaimed his loyalty to the Father and to his mission as Savior. This event marks the beginning of Jesus’ mission among us”, his Kenosis (Greek word meaning emptiness). This public witness foreshadowed his suffering, Death and Resurrection. See page 105.

Jesus resisted temptation Jesus was fully human in all ways except sin. Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, the forces of evil tore at his mind and heart and will. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. —Mark 1:1213 The events of the Exodus, prefigure Jesus living in the wilderness.

Jesus resisted temptation Being fully human, Jesus experienced temptation as we all do. In his steadfast loyalty to God the Father, Jesus ‘role-modeled’ for us how to respond to temptation: to trust that God is always ready to help us. Follow Jesus is the right way. After 3 attempts, Satan failed. Jesus resisted and rejected Satan. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and first Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus responded: “One does not live by bread alone” Second the Devil tempted Jesus showing him all the kingdom of the world and he would share that power with Jesus for the price of worshiping him and not the Father. Jesus responded: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him”. Third the Devil said to Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the Temple to test his Father’s love for him. Jesus responded: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”.

Jesus’ mission After Jesus’ baptism and temptation, Herod Antipas, Rome’s puppet-king in Galilee, placed John the Baptist under arrest, Jesus began his public life and Ministry which was to announce and inaugurate the Kingdom of God and he announce this theme in the synagogue. The time is fulfilled: God’s promises are coming true in Jesus. The Kingdom of God is here: Jesus is the presence of God on earth. The seed of the Kingdom is the Church on earth. Repent: Jesus called people to turn their lives around. Believe: Jesus called people to believe in God with their minds and their hearts. Good News: the Gospel (God-spel in medieval English) is our Good News.

The Kingdom of God The Kingdom of God is not a piece of territory, is a symbol of what God desires for all people and for creation. It signifies a reign of love and kindness, of peace and justice, of holiness and fullness of life for all. An oracle from the prophet Isaiah, was written After the rule of King Ahaz. The reign of Ahaz was marked by his maltreatment of the poor and other unjust policies.

Good News with unexpected twists Jesus’ proclamation of the Good News makes many people angry because following God will require them to make personal sacrifices of wealth. After returning from the desert, Jesus entered in the synagogue in Nazareth and announced the theme of his ministry. For the Jews the Messiah would bring freedom and healing to God’s people after the Babylonian Exile. It was hard for them to believe that the son of a carpenter would be the Messiah. Jesus was inaugurating the Jubilee year. The Jubilee year commended Jews that once every 50 years, all Israelite slaves be freed, all their debts erased, and every piece of land that had being bought or sold be returned to its original owners. The Jubilee Year represents a challenge to build a society upon the Great Commandment And the Torah. Jesus’ life showed that preaching and living for the reign of God can be a dangerous business.

Good News with unexpected twists When Jews heard this, they drove him out of the town and led him to the brow of the hill..so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But ….he went on his way. (Luke 4:28-30) Jesus’ proclamation was too much for his listeners to handle. Jesus invites all people to belong to and to work for the coming of the Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is for all people.

Miracles as signs of God’s reign Jesus performed many signs or deeds of power (Luke 19:37) The miracles of Jesus reveal that‘the Kingdom is present’ in Jesus and that he was the promised Messiah; the saving and compassionate presence of God Is always at work among us and within the world. The” Feeding of the Multitude” is the only miracle story reported in all 4 accounts of the Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-14) Feeding the hungry was the mission of Jesus as well as the Mission of the Church. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things..(Mark 6:34).

Eucharistia In the accounts of Feeding the Multitude Jesus identified with the poor and the hungry, as God has done in the history of the ancient Israel. Jesus’ response to the needs of the people revealed the saving love and compassion of the same God present and at work among them. The power of Jesus “ thanksgiving” ( in Greek eucharistia) in lifting the baskets of food transformed these resources in a completely unexpected way. From a generosity of a young boy, and with the God’s blessing, Jesus could make a little go a long way. And he can do the same for us, even with our limited resources.

What is a parable? Parables are a characteristic feature of Jesus’ teaching. Parables are simple images or comparisons which confront the hearer or reader with a radical choice about his invitation to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus used parables—metaphors, similes and mini-stories of everyday life—to teach about the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ parables focused on topics and details familiar to his audience- nature, farming, village life, business and politics.

The parable of the Mustard Seed [Jesus taught,] ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ —Mark 4:30–32

A Kingdom of restored justice To live in God’s Kingdom means to arrange our society, our businesses and our personal lives so that everyone has both the basics and the chance for joy. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy guide us in living the values of the Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus through his life and teaching. See page 118

The story of Pope Leo XIII Elected Pope in 1879. Worked tirelessly to guide and support Catholics to bring the Gospel to the modern world and live it authentically. His efforts and writings are the basis of what is today the Social Teachings of the Church. His social encyclical Rerum Novarum is acknowledged to be the origin of the Catholic Church’s social principal ‘the preferential option for the poor’.