1. God Comes to Save His People
The Incarnation

2. 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: (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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 -

7. 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

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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