RECAP OF SYMBOLON Lunatic, Liar, Lord Jesus is the source of our true happiness Incarnation: God becoming flesh Hypostatic Union: Being fully God, and fully man not half and half! Proof of divinity: miracles, raises self, reads hearts and minds, knows our past, tells us He is God. Proof of humanity: thoughts, emotions, desires
HOW CAN I ENCOUNTER JESUS? Read the Gospels. Then, read what the Church has said about the Gospels. Each Gospels gives us new insight on who Jesus is. Jesus teaches us who he is through his actions: miracles and parables. Ultimate teaching: taking on human form to die for our sins
JESUS TAKES THE PLACE OF ALL SINNERS IN SALVATION HISTORY New Adam: his obedience and humility make up for Adam s disobedience and pride New Moses: freed from slavery, free from sin Line of David: he is the King that will make the Israelites everlasting kingdom He is the Prophet of Prophets we know how we can be saved and the gates of heaven are opened for us.
WHO IS JESUS? Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, but not do what I command? Luke 6:46
If a poll was taken, asking people what Jesus commands, what do you think the majority of people would say?
LOVE ONE ANOTHER: JOHN 13:34-35 I give you a new commandment: * love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Not a mushy sentiment Jesus teaches us what it truly means to love. If you love, do you allow that person to do harmful things to themselves?
SIN NO MORE, JOHN 8:11 In the story of woman who was almost stoned to death for adultery. Jesus says, He who is without sin cast the first stone. Many people site this as a reason not to judge. But fail to read what Jesus then says to the woman: Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.
EAT MY FLESH, JOHN 6:56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. Jesus repeats this statement 6 times. Everyone (but the 12) take him literally (as they should) and walks out saying this teaching was too hard. Jesus does nothing to stop those who choose to leave and not follow his difficult teaching.
REPENT, AND BELIEVE, MARK 1:15 At the beginning of Jesus public ministry, his very first words of preaching are: Repent, and believe in the gospel. Acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness is our first command from Jesus. This implies that there are such things as sins and that we are required to make reparation for them. Not a Jesus will forgive me attitude that would be an abuse of his love.
FORGIVE, LUKE 6:37 Forgive and you will be forgiven. Numerous parables and miracles show Jesus not only forgiving, but requiring us to do the same. The Lord s Prayer: Forgive us AS WE FORGIVE For example: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Matthew 18:21-35
MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTIZE: MATT 28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. We are responsible for evangelizing to others, and bringing them the truth about Jesus Christ.
TELL HIM HIS FAULT: MATTHEW 18: 15-17 If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Difference between judgment and
(TO ST. PETER) BUILD MY CHURCH: MATT 16 Jesus said to him in reply, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
HELP THE POOR, OR HELL: MATTHEW 25 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me. Then they will answer and say, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? He will answer them, Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the
CONSEQUENCES As you can see these commands of Jesus are meant to lead us to goodness. Violations of these commands, Jesus knows, will bring negative consequences into our lives and world. He gives these commands out of LOVE. Just as a parent wants the best for their child, some commands are easier, and don t feel like commands at all, while others are meant to protect and teach the child so they may not suffer negative consequences for their actions.
THE JEWS Who were the Jews expecting? Do we fail to follow Jesus because He is not what we expected, or he did not fall into our expectations?
IN SUMMARY If we truly follow Christ, you follow his Church and his commands. Nothing you will learn here will be contrary to what Christ taught. We cannot pick and choose the parts we like. We cannot say we must follow Christ and then change or ignore his words, saying if we are to love we would ignore or tolerate the sins of others or ourselves.
IN SUMMARY, CONT D Jesus wants us to be with him in Heaven. Jesus taught that being a disciple means: putting aside personal desires to follow the Father s will accepting suffering, even to the point of death serving others loving others, even one s enemies
ANIMA CHRISTI BY ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malignant enemy, defend me. In the hour of my death, call me. And bid me come to Thee. That with Thy saints I may praise Thee. Forever and ever. Amen.