JESUS CHRIST: HIS MISSION AND MINISTRY MICHAEL PENNOCK AVE MARIA PRESS, 2011

CHAPTER 1 – GOD’S REVELATION AND OUR RESPONSE To be human is to question! Our questions come from our searching minds, but also from our restless hearts Sense a deep longing in our hearts for something more Only found in God who is Truth and Love The Confessions (St. Augustine): God as our true happiness

Transcendence and Immanence of God Transcendence: God is beyond our comprehension Immanence: God is intimately united with all of creation and sustains their being Find God in creation and in human persons

What about nonbelievers? Atheists: deny that God exists Agnostics: refuse to take a stand on the question of God’s existence

Story of God’s saving activity for humanity known as salvation history God’s self communication (Divine Revelation) to humans has occurred gradually Story of God’s saving activity for humanity known as salvation history Series of covenants between and humans With Noah: after the flood; rainbow as sign With Abraham: “Father of Faith”; circumcision as sign

With Moses: Mount Sinai; YHWH (I am who am); Ten Commandments as sign With David: line of David future Messiah Jesus Christ, the New Covenant: Climax of Salvation History = Jesus Christ (God’s Son, the fullness of God’s Revelation) Brought Sinai Covenant to fulfillment (depth of its meaning) Jesus as God’s final, total, definitive Word

How do we who are living today learn about God’s revelation? Transmission of Salvation History to us: Apostles Deposit of Faith Magisterium Magisterium: guided by the Holy Spirit Determines canon of inspired writing 46 Old Testament bks., 27 New Testament bks. Dogma: a central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe

Four Gospels: the heart of the NT; principal source of information about the life and teaching of Jesus Christ Life and Teaching of Jesus (4-6 BC and AD 30/33); historical documents Oral Tradition: Apostles preached what they witnessed Written Gospels: (AD 65- Mark’s gospel); four reliable accounts of Jesus’ life Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Four orderly accounts that would appeal to their various communities of people

Faith: our positive response to Revelation A virtue (habitual and a firm disposition to do the good) Cardinal Virtues Theological Virtues Prudence, justice Infused into our souls Fortitude, temperance Gifts from God (unearned)

Faith: in Baptism; believe in God; lifeline to God First shared in the “domestic Church” (parents and children worship God, receive sacraments) Religion (a set of beliefs, values, practices that bind believers in a relationship with God and other believers Religion flows from faith Christian Faith unites us with a community of faith, the Catholic Church, which professes belief in Jesus Christ

Hope: helps us to desire God; rely on God not on our own strength and abilities; keeps us from getting discouraged Charity (Love): greatest of the theological virtues; If we love everyone, it transforms us.

Church as the Body of Christ in the World St. Paul: Jesus as head of the body; we are its members. Dignity of each member Marks of the Church Unity (rooted in the mystery of the Trinity) Holy Catholic (universal) Apostolic (missionary) Explaining the Faith Reason: Thomas Aquinas (Five Proofs) Ordinary Experience Witness of martyrs