The Second Person For Our Sakes He was Crucified 1 Holy Trinity - 14

Where is God? Write a Prayer!

Experience 3 Write down a story about someone who did something special for you, in fact… the most special something that anyone ever did for you. Then read your story to the class.

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Discussion & reflection: 5 Name your favorite star…music, movie, etc. Then tell us how you learned about this star. Ignatius of Antioch (c c , Turkey ) And the ruler of this world knew nothing of the virginity of Mary, her child-bearing or likewise the death of the Lord – three mysteries crying aloud, though they were performed in the silence of God.

Discussion & reflection: 6 If you were accused of doing something bad, would you like to have one, two, three people come as witnesses in your defense? Ambrose (c April, 397 Italy) The Lord’s generation received testimony not only from angels and prophets, from shepherds and parents …a virgin bears him, a barren woman gives birth, a mute man speaks, Elizabeth prophesies, the magi adore, the one enclosed in the womb leaps for joy, the widow confesses him…

Discussion & reflection: 7 Jesus came once, at the time of his birth. And He is coming again, at the end of history. Will there be a sign of His coming again? Justin Martyr (103 – 165, Italy ) If then the teaching forces one to admit that two appearances of Christ were announced as future events…shall we not deduce that the Word of God proclaimed the future advent of Elijah on that great and terrible day, that is, at his second coming?

Discussion & reflection: 8 Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Does that mean Jesus is a sinner just like you and me? Athanasius (c May 373, Egypt) When the Lord, as man, was cleansed in the Jordan, we were the ones who were cleansed in him and by him. And when he received the Spirit, we were the ones who became recipients of it through him.

Discussion & reflection: 9 There is an old song which says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen!” Does anyone understand the trouble you’ve seen? Maximus the Confessor (c Aug 662, Turkey) The demons neither tempt us or arm against us those who have no fear of the Lord. They tempt us themselves when we withdraw from human society, as they tempted our Lord in the desert. They tempt us through other people when we spend our time in the company of others, as they tempted our Lord through the Pharisees.

Discussion & reflection: 10 A long time ago, the people who built this church sacrificed much so that not only they but you too would have a place to worship and to learn about our God. What do you sacrifice? Faustinus (d. 360, Italy) And see how this very fact – being made lower by virtue of his mortal suffering and his tasting death on behalf of all by the grace of God – is interpreted by the wise Paul as a fitting act in what follows: “For it was fitting for him on whose account and through whom all things, having conducted many sons into glory, to be perfected through sufferings as the captain of the salvation.”

Discussion & reflection: 11 A friend wants to do something nice for us. Is it important for us to understand what is being done for us? Origen (c c , Egypt) And thus it is a great thing that Peter should say to the Savior, “You are the Christ,” when this was not known to the Jews. But it is a greater thing that he understood him to be not only Christ but the Son of the living God…

Discussion & reflection: 12 If we had a friend who, it turns out, suddenly shows great promise and ability, far more than our own, would we be glad for them or sad for ourselves? Pope Leo the Great (c Nov 461, Italy) Although they had learned the majesty of God was in him, still they knew nothing of the power of that body of his where divinity lay concealed.

Written reflection Name: Date: 13 What was most important to you in today’s lesson?