TMA 1997

THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST’S LIFE

1.       The Mysteries of Christ's Life

·        Creed speaks only of mysteries of Incarnation (conception and birth), and Paschal mystery (passion, crucifixion, death, burial, descent to the dead, resurrection and ascen­sion)

·        Creed says nothing explicitly about the mysteries of Jesus' hidden or public life. They are to be seen in the light of the mysteries of Christmas and Easter.

2.       Christ's Whole Life is a Mystery

·        Many things about Jesus do not figure in the Gospels. Almost nothing is said about his hidden life at Nazareth.

·        The Gospels were written by men who were first to have faith and wanted to share it with others.

·        Christ's whole earthly life - his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking - is Revelation of the Father.

·        Christ's whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life - from Incarna­tion (poverty), hidden life (submission, obedience), word (purifies), healings and exorcisms (carrying), resurrection (justifies).

·        Christ's whole life is a mystery of recapitulation. All Jesus did, said and suffered had for its aim restoring fallen man to his original vocation.

3. The Mysteries of Jesus' Infancy and Hidden Life

·        The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immens­ity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries (through the prophets)

·        St John the Baptist, precursor, forerunner

·        Liturgy of Advent - makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah (and his second coming)

·        The Christmas Mystery - humble stable, poor family, simple shepherds

·        The mysteries of Jesus' Infancy - circumcision (submission to Law), Epiphany (manifestation as Messiah), presentation in the temple (light, glory, and sign), flight into Egypt (opposition, liberator)

·        The mysteries of Jesus' Hidden Life - ordinariness: daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor. Life of obedience. Life of ordinary events: silence, family life, work.

·        Finding in the Temple - a glimpse of the mystery of total consecration and mission.

4. The Mysteries of Jesus' Public Life

·        The Baptism of Jesus - manifestation as Son of God, accept­ance and inauguration of mission as suffering Servant

·        Temptation - faithfulness against temptation (lent)

·        The Kingdom is at Hand - inauguration, gathering of disci­ples into a family of God

·        Proclamation of the Kingdom - all called to the kingdom, the kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, the sinners, using pa­rables

·        The Signs of the Kingdom - words accompanied by wonders and signs (for some, wonders, for others, magic)

·        Keys of the Kingdom - the Twelve, Simon Peter

·        Foretaste of the Kingdom: Transfiguration - (Passion)

·        Ascent to Jerusalem - decision

For any inquiries or comment, you may contact the WEBMASTER
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 08:20:52 PM