Lesson 1 Prophesies are Fulfilled Annunciation (Announcement/declaration of birth of Jesus) In Nazareth Angel Gabriel Mary engaged to Joseph from the tribe of David The birth of Jesus Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census. Bethlehem is the city of David. The shepherds and the angels The visit of the Wise Men AD or Year of the Lord Anno Domini BC Before Christ First season of the liturgical year Annunciation Nativity period. Also called Subara in Syriac. 25 days of abstinence is observed before Christmas in SyroMalabar church. Christmas is the feast of Jesus s birth. Lesson 2 The Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sins of the World What did John the Baptist say when he saw Jesus coming towards him on the banks of River Jordan? Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. What happened on the bank of River Jordan when Jesus came out of the water after he received baptism from John the Baptist? Heavens opened. Holy spirit descended in the form of a dove. Voice from the heaven This is my son, the beloved with whom I am well pleased. Page 1 of 8
How did God reveal to us the mystery of the Holy Trinity during the baptism of Jesus? God the son was baptised. God the Father declared him as be the beloved son. Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and remained with the Son. The word Christ means anointed. Deneha is celebrated on January 6 to commemorate the baptism of Jesus. Meaning of the word Deneha is sunrise or revelation. Another name for Deneha is Epipheny. In SyroMalabar church, Deneha is also called Pindikutthipperunaal and Raakkulipperunnaal. Lesson 3: Jesus Who Overcame Temptations Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus s replies to Satan who came to tempt: Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. It is also written that you shall not tempt the Lord your God. Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone. 5 seasons of abstinence observed in the Syro Malabar Church: Fifty days in preparation for Easter. Twenty five days in preparation for Christmas. Fifteen days in preparation for the birth of Our Lady. Eight days in preparation for the birthday of Our Lady. Three days before the start of Lent. Explain why Upavaasam/fasting is observed in the Syro Malabar Church? Malayalam word upavaasam means to live together, and the idea is to spend the day with God. Fasting and abstinence helps us to overcome temptations. Ash applied on our forehead on the first day of Lent reminding us to repent our sins. The last week of Lent is the Holy week. Page 2 of 8
On Palm Sunday, we commemorate the festive entry of Jesus into the City of Jerusalem Sacred bread (Kurisappam) used in evening of Maundy Thursday when we remember the institution of the Holy Eucharist. We remember the passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Lesson 4: Jesus Who Proclaims the Good News of the Kingdom of God The five important aspects of Jesus mission in Earth: 1. Proclaim the Good News to the poor. 2. Liberation of those in bondage to sin. 3. Give sight to the blind. (both physical and moral blindness) 4. Freedom to the oppressed. 5. To declare a year acceptable to God. During the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus said Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Poor in spirit refers to those who depend completely on the mercy of God without depending on wealth or worldly power. Kingdom of God refers to a state where we live in total love with God and our neighbours. Gospels - the common name of the first four books of the New Testament. Authors of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Lesson 5: Jesus who Revealed the Glory of God Miracles where Jesus revealed the glory of God. 1. Turing water into wine at the wedding in Canna. 2. Calming the storm. Think about what you can learn from the miracle of Jesus calming the storm. 3. Healing the blind man. 4. Raising of Lazarus. Page 3 of 8
The place where Lazarus lived with his sisters - Bethany Lazarus' sisters Martha and Mary The miracle of raising Lazarus can only be found in the Gospel by John. Lesson 6: Jesus Who Came in Search of Sinners Three parables Jesus used to describe the mercy and love of God to sinners who repent: Parable of the Prodigal son. Parable of the lost sheep. Parable of the lost coin. An incident in Jesus life where he showed God s infinite mercy and love towards sinners Forgiving the sinful woman. Jesus told those who were planning to stone a woman to death, Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Think about what you can learn from what Jesus said. Lesson 7: Jesus Who Took Upon Himself Our Wounds Jesus fulfils prophet Isaiah s prophesy about the suffering servant through his crucifixion and death. Jesus used incident when Moses asked the Israelites to look at the bronze statue of a serpent as an allegory to explain the saving power of his passion and death. Lesson 8: Jesus Who Died for Us Jesus s prayer to Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. - Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: yet, not my will, but yours be done. Jesus s request to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. - Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Three accusations against Jesus when he was brought before Pilate. 1. Perverting our nation 2. He prevented us from pay taxes to the emperor 3. He claimed to be a Messiah, a king. Page 4 of 8
Peter remembered this when he heard the cock crow. Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times. Demand from the crowd when Pilate asked, Shall I set free the king of the Jews? Free Barabas and crucify Jesus. Jesus s reply when Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. While washing his hands in front of people, Pilate said; I am innocent of this mans blood. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. The person who helped Jesus to carry his cross to Calvary - Simon of Cyrene 5 Good Friday ceremonies: 1. Reading of the passion narrative. 2. Veneration of cross. 3. Drinking the bitter juice. 4. The way of the cross. 5. Procession of penance. Lesson 9: Jesus Who Taught Us Forgiveness Jesus s new teaching Love your enemies and pray for those who torment you. Jesus reply when Peter asked Master, how many times should we forgive? Not seven, but seventy times seven. (forgiveness without limits) Think about what Jesus is asking us to do through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. Jesus teaches us his new teachings on forgiveness through his life and actions by praying for his persecutors. Page 5 of 8
Jesus asks us to resolve our conflicts and remove any hatred towards others before we start the Holy Mass in Matthew 5:23-24. Lesson 10: Jesus Who Triumphed Over Death Jesus s prophesies about his resurrection: 1. The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 2. Destroy this temple; I shall rebuild it in three days. 3. Sign of Jonah. Like Jonah, Jesus will also reappear after 3 days. Easter Season lasts from Easter to the feast of Pentecost First Sunday after Easter is also called New Sunday or Puthu Njayar. This is the day when those who received baptism on Easter participate in the new Christian life fully. It is also called St Thomas Sunday because we remember the appearance of risen Jesus to St Thomas on this day. Lesson 11: The Emmaus Experience The disciples recognised the stranger as Jesus when he took the bread, blessed it and gave it to them. Jesus then explained the scriptures to them which removed the feelings of loss and confusion in their hearts. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28:20 I shall be with you till the end of the world. Jesus is fulfilling this promise through Holy Eucharist. Lesson 12: My Lord and My God St Thomas response when other disciples said We saw the Lord (John 20:25) Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hands in his side, I will not believe. Jesus then helped St Thomas to believe by appearing before him and ask him to feel his wounds. Jesus also said Do not doubt, but believe. Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed When we greet peace be with you, we imply the wish May Jesus, who is peace, be with us all. Page 6 of 8
Lesson 13: Ascension and the Mission of Evangelization Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after the resurrection from a village outside Jerusalem called Bethany. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he gave his disciples a very important task, a task which we all have to continue to carry out as the church. (Matthew 28:18-20) You must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end. Pentecost is celebrated 10 days after the ascension of Jesus. Pentecost is considered as the birthday of the Church. Sleehakkalam or the Season of Apostles is the sixth season of the liturgical year and starts on the day of Pentecost. We reflect of journeys of apostles around the world to spread the message of the gospels during this season. The first friday of the Sleehakkalam (Season of Apostles) is called the Golden Friday. We remember St Peter healing a lame man in the name of Jesus on this day. St Paul is considered as the most zealous (enthusiastic and eager) of all the evangelist. There are 21 letters or epistles in the New Testament. Acts of Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament. It describes the founding of the Church by Apostles after being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is also called the gospel of the Holy Spirit. Lesson 14: Pentecost and the Proclamation of Faith Events on the day of Pentecost The disciples were praying with Mother Mary in Jerusalem. Sudden sound like the rush of a violent wind. Tongues of fire stayed appeared over the apostles. Disciples started speaking in different languages. Page 7 of 8
Peter explained to the people of Jerusalem that Jesus was the son of God. About 3000 people joined the community of apostles and the church was formed. In AD 52, Apostle Thomas, also called Didimus arrived in Kerala. He landed in a port called Musiris or Kodungalloor. On 21 November, we celebrate the arrival of St Thomas in Kerala. He established Christian communities in 7 places in Kerala. They are: 1. Niranam 2. Kollam 3. Palayoor 4. Nilackel 5. Koackamangalam 6. Kottackavu 7. Kodungalloor In AD72, Apostle Thomas was martyred in Chinna mala of Mylapore near Chennai in India. On July 3 rd, we celebrate the feast of St Thomas to commemorate his martyrdom. It is also called Dukrana. St Thomas is the apostle of India. The liturgical season which starts seven weeks after Pentecost is the Kaithakkalam or Summer Season. During Kaithakkalam, we remember the growth of the church. Kaitha means summer. Lesson 15: Christ the King Last liturgical season Season of Elijah, Holy Cross and Moses. During this season we reflect on the second coming of Christ. The symbol of throne of God Alter; The symbol of Heaven - Sanctuary The prophet who appeared with Jesus in transfiguration and who represented the law Moses The prophet who appeared with Jesus in transfiguration and who represented the prophets Elijah Last book of the New Testament Revelation Author of the book of Revelation - St John Page 8 of 8