1. The Paschal Mystery
Unit 5

2. The Paschal Mystery John 13:1-30, 18:1-20:18
On a separate piece of paper, create an outline or timeline of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection according to the Gospel of John - from the moment of the Last Supper to the Resurrection. Include all significant moments and details.
John 13:1-30, 18:1-20:18
This can be either in the shape of an outline OR a timeline:
The Last Supper (13:1-30)
Washing of the Disciples’ Feet
Peter is weirded out
“Unless I wash you, you have no share with me” - Jn 13:8
Peter let's Jesus wash his feet
“You also should do as I have done to you” - Jn 13:15
Matthew 26:1-28:10
Mark 14:1-16:8
Luke 22:1-24:12

3. The Paschal Mystery Luke 22:1-24:12
On a separate piece of paper, create an outline or timeline of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection according to the Gospel of Luke - from the moment of the Last Supper to the Resurrection. Include all significant moments and details.
Luke 22:1-24:12
This can be either in the shape of an outline OR a timeline:
The Plot to Kill Jesus (22:1-6)
Chief priests and scribes plot to kill Jesus
Judas agrees to betray Jesus
Preparation for Passover (22:7-13)
Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare
They do!

4. The Paschal Mystery

5. Paschal Mystery:
The mystery of Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and ascension
“Paschal” = Passover

6. Soteriology: The study of the doctrine of salvation
How Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection saves us from sin

7. Atonement:
To provide reparation or expiation for sin

8. The Gap:

9. The Ontological Gap: Humanity separated from God NOT physically
Sin = isolation from God
Death = ultimate isolation
Even Jesus experiences this distance how?

10. The Ontological Gap:
The very thing we use to hurt Jesus (suffering and death), he uses to brings us back
The cross is the moment when Jesus is perfectly configured to charity

11. The Ontological Gap:
Perfect charity (agape) collapses the distance between human beings and God - even the greatest distance (death)
Does not get rid of sin (free will), but conquers sin’s ability to isolate and destroy

12. Warm-Up: What causes human beings to isolate themselves from God?
In your own words, explain:
What causes human beings to isolate themselves from God?
How does Christ’s death and resurrection bridge the distance between humanity and God?

14. Old Testament roots of the Paschal Mystery

15. Passover
Jewish feast day commemorating the final plague and the Israelites’ escape from Egypt

16. Paschal Lamb
The lamb sacrificed for the Israelite’s salvation on the night of Passover

17. Atonement

18. Suffering Servant - Isaiah 53
On your own, read Isaiah 53. As you read, answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: (in complete sentences!)
What does the suffering servant look like?
How do others treat him?
What does he do for the Kingdom of Israel?
What is his death like?
Where is he buried?
What does the death of the servant do for Israel?

19. Isaiah 53:2-6 2 He grew up like a sapling before him,
like a shoot from the parched earth;
He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye,
no beauty to draw us to him.
3 He was spurned and avoided by men,
a man of suffering, knowing pain,
Like one from whom you turn your face,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
4 Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God and afflicted,
5 But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.
6 We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way; But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all.

20. Christ as Paschal Lamb and Suffering Servant
Jesus, once and for all people, “atones” for the whole of humanity’s sin
Key Difference - Christ freely chooses to sacrifice himself
“The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” - John 1:29

21. Wrap-Up: (3-4 sentences in your warm-ups!)
Apply the idea of salvation to events of the Paschal Mystery:
How is the idea of the bridging of the gap between God and humanity reflected in the act of sacrificing the Paschal Lamb?
…. in the prophecy of the suffering servant?
…. in the suffering and death of Jesus?

22. “The glory of God is the human being fully alive.” - St. Irenaeus

23. Resurrection + Ascension

24. Resurrection and Ascension
If the story ends on the cross, this is a tragedy and Jesus is no more than a good example for us to follow
The key to understanding the Paschal mystery as something to be celebrated is the Resurrection and Ascension

26. Luke 24:35-53 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples
What is Jesus’ appearance after the Resurrection?
What does he instruct the Apostles to do? WHY?!
What does he promise the Apostles?
What is the Ascension? How do the Apostles respond?

27. The Ascension

29. Ascension Jesus goes away… and they’re happy?
Going away so as to be more near
More intimate even than physical presence
“Seated at the right hand of the Father” - Jesus intercedes for us
Draws us into the Body of Christ
Sends the Holy Spirit

30. From Death to New Life
“The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.” - CCC 654
How do we take on this new life ourselves?
-> The Church and the Sacraments