God Comes to Save His People The Incarnation

Readings of the Easter Vigil Old Testament Readings Genesis 1:1-2:4a (Creation) Genesis 7,8,9 (Noah) Genesis 22:1-18 (Abraham) Exodus 14:10-31; 15: 20-21 (Red Sea) Isaiah 12:2-6 Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4 Ezekiel 36:24-28 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Zephaniah 3: 14-20 New Testament Reading and Psalm Romans 6: 3-11 (Dying-rising) Psalm 114 Gospel Matthew 28: 1-10 (Resurrection) Prophets

Timeline Roman occupation Parousia Creation Noah Abraham Moses 1800 1250 900 500 1200 1000 700 100 300 Noah Abraham Moses Joshua & Judges Monarchy Divided Monarchy Era of the Church Incarnation Period of Independence Foreign Control Assyrian Conquest of Israel Babylonian Conquest & Exile Return, Restoration & Rededication Period of Wandering Primeval History Creation Fall & Promise Covenants Judges Kings Prophets Jesus Church Parousia

What is the Incarnation The second person of the Trinity assumed a human nature to accomplish our salvation Achieved by the “power of the Holy Spirit” Pre-existent From eternity- Son of God Earthly existence begins at conception- Son of Mary

The Word Made Flesh God had prepared humanity for the Incarnation God’s self revelation throughout Old Testament history prepared humanity for his ultimate revelation, his Son, and for the development of the church Fulfillment NOT replacement Jesus’ Incarnation does not replace the promises made to the chosen people. It fulfills those promises

Mary’s Role - Immaculate Conception God honors Mary by granting her freedom from original sin. We celebrate this honor on Dec. 8 Annunciation Mary is asked through the angel Gabriel to become the mother of Jesus (spiritually she is the mother of us all) Celebrated March 25 Fiat Mary’s answer to submit to God’s will. By becoming the Mother of Jesus, she becomes the Mother of God. The “Theotokos”, bearer of God Perpetual Virginity Conceived by the Holy Spirit- Did not KNOW man. Mary remains a virgin throughout her whole life What about Jesus’ “brothers and sisters?” Assumption God save Mary from the decay of death by bringing her body to heaven at the moment of her death. Celebrated Aug.15 -

Reasons for the Incarnation To bring us back to the original holiness, and original harmony that existed prior to the original sin. Repair our relationship with God Bring back our “immortality” Assumed a human nature for our salvation To save us by reconciling us with God To share His divine love with us To model holiness for us Enable us to share in His divine nature To teach us about God’s mercy and forgiveness and the kingdom of God

Why God? Salvation had to come from God since only one free from sin could rescue us from sin Sacrifice had to come from a human to repair what human sin brought about Therefore, God became human to accomplish our salvation with the union of His divine nature to our human nature. This inseparable union is called the “hypostatic union”

Jesus as Model Humility Prayer Poverty Did the will of the Father without question Washed the feet of the apostles Prayer Models a life firmly grounded in a relationship with God that requires communication Taught the Lord’s Prayer Poverty Material poverty Born in a stable Lived simply Focus on spiritual riches not material wealth

Revealer & Mediator Jesus, the Revealer Jesus becomes the ultimate revelation of God. He repeats several times that to know him is to know the Father Forgiveness, mercy Justice Triune God (Reveals the Trinity) At his baptism and the transfiguration Jesus reveals the Father and the Spirit. Jesus says several times that to know Him is to know the Father and that He would send the Spirit to guide the Church after His return to the Father. Jesus, the Mediator The bridge between God and us He reconnects our relationship with God that was lost after the original sin