Module 23-24 Announcement of John’s Birth

Chapter 9: Reflecting on Who the Announcement of Jesus’ Birth

Risen Lord Is: The Infancy Visitation
Canticle of Mary
Narratives
Birth of John
Canticle of Zechariah
ADVENT SEASON
Birth of Jesus
- Preparation for Christmas in which
Visit of the Shepherds
we remember the first coming of
Jesus.
Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
- 4 weeks
Presentation in the Temple
3 Violet - Repentance & Royalty
Return to Nazareth
1 Pink - The candle of joy
Jesus in the Temple
1 White - Paschal Candle(Thursday)
- Violet (repentance and royalty) and
GENEALOGY OF JESUS (Mt. 1:17; Lk
pink
3:23-38)
(candle of Joy) Gaudete Sunday

● This account is meant to trace the

1st week - Violet | CHRISTMAS
lineage of Jesus to David and
2nd - Violet | Birth of Jesus
Abraham which was prophesied in
3rd - Pink | Welcoming Jesus
the Old Testament.
4th - Violet | Dec 24 - Jan 14
● It is meant to show that the
Messiah is coming from the line of
WELCOMING JESUS AS OUR PERSONAL
David as what God promised.
SAVIOR
● Jesus must also be an Israelite
As we begin this look back on Jesus’ life, let us
coming from the line of Abraham.
take a look at his genealogy.

● There are 14 generations in total

Matthew
● 7 under Abraham
Genealogy of Jesus
● 7 under David.
Birth of Jesus
SEVEN is a symbolic number of fulfillment
Visit of the Magi
for Jews.
Flight to Egypt
Massacre of the Infants
Matthew stresses the identity of Jesus as
Return from Egypt
Messiah promised by Yahweh.

Luke
Luke presents Jesus as Savior of all
people, both Gentiles and Jews.
The bottom line is that both the gospels
present Jesus as both human and divine.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
BIRTH OF JESUS (Mt.1:18-25; Lk
1:26-28)
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS
In Matthew
- It was made to Joseph
- This gospel focused on Joseph to
defend the legitimacy of Jewish
law of Mary giving birth to Jesus.
- It happened in a dream.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS
In Luke
- Mary was the recipient of the
Annunciation.
- Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary
and made the announcement.
- This gospel gave prominence to
Mary
- Signifies that even women are
important and they are part of the
saving plan of God.
THE FIRST VISITORS OF JESUS
Also known as Three Kings
In Matthew
- It was narrated that they travelled
from east to visit Jesus.
- Emphasizes Jesus as King
deserving of loyalty and worship.
- Uses the MAGI (popularly called
THREE KINGS) who were Gentiles,
signifying that they embraced Jesus
as Messiah. They are probably
refers to astrologers from Persia,
Babylon or Arabian Desert.
(Melchior, Caspar, Balthazar)
GIFTS of the MAGI to Jesus
GOLD means worthy of a king
FRANKINCENSE it is used in offering to
God
MYRRH used to prepare a body for burial
In Luke
- They are shepherds to whom the
angels proclaimed the good news.
- The good news is that the “savior
has been born for you.”
- Shepherds who were not observant
of the Jewish law and considered
outcast and unclean in the Jewish
society.
The gospel of Luke wanted to show how
compassionate Jesus was to the poor,
outcast and sinners in the society.
UNIQUE DETAILS IN THE INFANCY
NARRATIVES IN MATTHEW
1. The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt which is
parallel to Old Testament’s account on
Moses and Exodus.
2. Moses being saved from Egyptian
slaughter during the time of Pharaoh is
parallel with Jesus being saved from
slaughter of innocent during Herod’s time.
3. Moses became the liberator of God’s
chosen people and Jesus became the savior
of the world.
UNIQUE DETAILS IN THE INFANCY
NARRATIVES IN LUKE
1. The visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
in only found in Luke which is a symbol of
being of service to the needy.
2. The circumcision of Jesus was also
original in Luke. It was during this event
that Jesus was named JESUS which means
“God saves.”
3. The presentation of Jesus in the temple is
also unique in Luke. The prophet Simeon
took Jesus into his arms and blessed God
Lk 2:25-32. Anna, the prophetess also met
Jesus and spread the news that God had
begun the deliverance of Jerusalem. The
prayers of Anna and Simeon marked the
end of the Old Covenant and begun the
New Covenant Era.
COMMON ELEMENTS ON INFANCY
NARRATIVES IN MATTHEW AND
LUKE
1. JESUS WAS BORN OF THE
VIRGIN
- mystery of Incarnation of Jesus
(Latin word, en carne which means
“in flesh.”)
2. JESUS WAS BORN IN THE TIME
OF KING HEROD THE GREAT
- Both Jesus and John the Baptist
were born during the Time of KIng
Herod.
- Jesus’ birth coincided with the great
census that Augustus Ceasar
decreed, wherein Quirinius was the
Governor of Syria.
3. ANGELS BROUGHT THE GOOD
NEWS
- Presence of angels signifies the
sacredness of an event or place that
indicates God’s presence.
LAST ACCOUNTS OF JESUS’ INFANCY
- FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
- According to Luke, Jesus was 12
years old when Jesus was found in
the Temple, as being brought up
observing Jewish practices
- At this age, Jesus already knew of
His special relationship with God
Father when he said, “did you know
that I must be in my Father’s
house?”
- But it is still implying of the
obedience of Jesus to His parents by
returning to Nazareth with Mary and
Joseph and remaining obedient to
them.
 - LK 2:51-52
- “And he went down with them, and
came to Nazareth, and was subject
to them. And Jesus advance in age
and wisdom and favor before God
and man.”
HIDDEN YEARS OF JESUS
HIDDEN YEARS or HIDDEN LIFE
- Refers to years between Jesus’
being lost in the Temple and His
baptism in the Jordan River by John
the Baptist.
- These are 18 long years of nothing
was revealed but can be
comprehended as Jesus’ silent
works before his public ministry.
- It is only his obedience to his
parents which was made clear in
Luke. This clearly makes Jesus as
our model of obedience to His Mary
and Joseph, which is commanded
under the Fourth commandment,
“honor your father and mother.”
- This obedience of Jesus is a work of
restoration for the disobedience of
Adam to God, which was destroyed.
MESSAGE OF THE HIDDEN YEARS
OF JESUS
1. SILENCE
- Silence offers opportunities for self-
reflection and daydreaming, which
activates multiple parts of the brain.
It gives us time to turn down the
inner noise and increase awareness
of what matters most. And it
cultivates mindfulness which is
recognition and appreciation of the
present moment.
2. FAMILY LIFE
- As what St. Pope John Paul II says
in Familiaris Consortio, “Family is
the center and the civilization of
love.”
- Family life that Nazareth teaches us
is a life within the family that is a
communion of love.
- God is teaching us that our family
must come first which can be
achieved through obeying the
Fourth Commandment. It reminds us
that love in the family is genuinely
achieved when we know how to
obey our parents and parents know
how to respect their children in
return.
3. WORK
- Being a son of a carpenter, Jesus
most probably helped his father,
Joseph, in his carpentry works.
- As a carpenter, Jesus needed to be
persistent in accomplishing his
works.
- He must be patient, so that he can
work with the best version of the
wood He is cutting.
- He must be just when it comes to
asking for payment for his labor and
materials, ability to listen, cooperate
or lead when with fellow workers.
Module 17-19
UNIT III: LIVE THE PASCHAL
PATTERN LESSON 7:
REMEMBERING JESUS’ LAST DAYS
GROWING OPPOSITION AGAINST JESUS
JESUS PUBLIC MINISTRY
❖ Began at the age of 30 in Nazareth.
❖ A proclamation about the Kingdom of
God despite much opposition.
❖ Put Jesus’ identity and authority to
question.
❖ Put Jesus under surveillance and
suspicion by the Jewish authorities.
❖ Made Jesus considered a threat to
Jewish religious authorities making His
words and deeds signs of contradictions
Jesus was considered:
❑ Impostor
❑ False prophet
❑ Evil one
❑ Blasphemer
❑ Glutton
❑ drunkard
CONDEMNED ACTIONS OF JESUS
1. ate and drank with tax collectors who are
sinners
2. was friendly with everybody
3. cured people during Sabbath which is
unlawful for them
4. the Apostles did not observe rituals of
washing hands before meals
5. attacked lifestyle of leaders
6. reached out to Gentiles and pagans
7. attracted great number of followers.
8. He cleanse Temples
9. Raised Lazarus
10. Drove out money changers in the
temple
Jesus preached about:
⮚ God
⮚ Human dignity
⮚ Morality
⮚ Prayer
JESUS’ PREDICTION OF HIS PASSION
Three occasions when Jesus predicted His
own PASSION, DEATH and
RESURRECTION.
All of these predictions explained that the
Son of Man needed to suffer and die to
realize the Saving Act of God making Him
the SUFFERING-SERVANT MESSIAH as
portrayed in the Gospel of Mark.
JESUS’ PREDICTION OF HIS PASSION
1. FIRST PREDICTION Mk 8:31-33
● simply announced his suffering,
death and resurrection on the third
day.
● No details were given that is why
the apostles did not understand.
● Peter was rebuked because he was
against the will of the Father.
2. SECOND PREDICTION Mk 9:30-32
● It was a more intense prediction in
terms of mood.
● There was already hint of betrayal
by using “handed over to men.”
 ● No apostle reacted and they were
just quiet.
3. THIRD PREDICTION Mk 10:32-34
● Specific details were included
about His suffering: mocking and
scourging
● Walking ahead symbolizes his
willingness to fulfill His mission.
● Apostles did not understand but
they followed Jesus.
KEEPING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS’ LAST
SUPPER
● also called Lord’s Supper is the
final meal shared by Jesus and his
disciples in an upper room in
Jerusalem
● Institution of the Eucharist
● early Christians believed that this
institution included a mandate to
continue the celebration as an
anticipation in this life of the joys of
the banquet that was to come in the
kingdom of God.
● commemorated and reenacted by
the Catholic Church every Maundy
Thursday
● CONSECRATION
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE LAST
SUPPER
1. WASHING OF THE FEET ( Jn 13: 1-11)
✔ custom for the Jews to wash the feet of
their guests upon entering the house.
✔ traditionally being done by the lowest
servant in the house
✔ Jars of water were put on the entrance of
Rich Jewish houses so that the slaves will
wash the feet of the visitors of the master.
✔ Even students or the disciples are not
washing the feet of their teachers or rabbis.
✔ It symbolizes giving service to one’s
whose feet are being washed.
✔ It emphasizes the importance of
humility.
2. INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST ( Lk
22: 14-20)
● when Jesus established, initiated,
inaugurated or started the
Eucharistic Sacrament of His Body
and Blood.
● It is the re enactment of the
Passover Meal in the Old Testament
● The event when Jesus took the
Traditional Jewish Passover meal
and created the New Passover with
His own Body and Blood.
● Jesus became the New Paschal
Lamb, the Sacrifice of the New
Covenant which is the fullest
realization of God’s saving act.
FOUR IMPORTANT ACTS THAT ARE
MADE PRESENT IN MASS
1. Took enacted at the presentation of Gifts
2. Blessed during Eucharistic Prayer
3. Broke enacted during the Breaking of
Bread
4. Gave seen during communion.
ESSENTIAL TEACHINGS OF CHURCH IN
CONSTITUTION ON SACRED LITURGY 47
● The Eucharist has its origin in Jesus
● The Eucharist was entrusted by
Christ to the Church
● The Eucharist is the memorial of
Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross
● The Eucharist is a sacrament of
love, a total gift of Himself
● The Eucharist made frequent
reference to the second and
Glorious coming of Christ at the
end of time. (Anamnesis)
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE LAST
SUPPER
3. DECLARATION OF THE NEW
COMMANDMENT OF LOVE
“Love one another. As I have loved
you, so you also should love one
another” (John 13:34).
● teaches that the moral life can be
summed up in terms of love of God,
self, and neighbor.
● Jesus set himself as the new
standard of loving His disciples by
His own concrete act of
self-sacrifice and death.
UNITED IN JESUS IN HIS PASSION
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
AGONY IN THE GARDEN
● The cup - refers to Jesus’ terrifying
death and suffering. Also known as
Cup of New Covenant.
● Death on the Cross - ultimate
sacrifice of Jesus accepting His
Father’s will.
● Prayer - is at the heart of his Agony
in the
Betrayal of Judas and the Arrest of Jesus
(Mt. 26:47-56; Jn 18:1-14)
● Judas Iscariot - is one of Jesus’
chosen apostles who turned to be
traitor and became spy and on the
lead when Jesus was arrested by
kissing Him.
● Malchus - is one of the high priest’s
servants whose right ear was cut by
3. Trial of Jesus
Mockery Trial- is the kind of trial done to
Jesus. High Priests- Jesus was examined by
the them five times.
Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod and Pilate.
Caiaphas- was the one who said that it’s
better that Jesus alone will die instead of
the entire nation. Jn 11:50
Pilate – is one of the high priests who
believed that Jesus was innocent but was
fearful to other leaders.
4. Death of Jesus on the Cross (Mt.
27:32-54)
Crucifixion
- was the most painful and embarrassing
form of death
- Only for slaves, foreign traitors to state
and criminal of worst kinds
Way of the Cross/STATIONS OF THE
CROSS/VIA DOLOROSA Jerusalem to
Golgotha - is just a few meters but it
seems to become long and endless.
Simon of Cyrene - a pilgrim to Jerusalem
who helped Him carry the Cross.
INRI- is the inscription given to Jesus’ Cross
ordered by Pilate. It is a Latin word Iesus
Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum which
translated as “Jesus the Nazarene, King of
the Jews.”
Joseph of Arimathea - is the one who
asked for the Body of Jesus after His death
on the Cross. He wrapped it with linen
shroud and buried it in a new garden tomb.
The 14 Stations of the Cross
1. Pilate condemns Jesus to death;
2. Jesus takes up his Cross;
3. He falls the first time;
4. Jesus meets his sorrowful mother Mary;
5. Simon helps carry the cross;
6. Veronica cleans his face;
7. He falls the second time;
8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem;
9. He falls the third time;
10.Jesus is stripped of his garments;
11.Jesus is nailed to the cross;
12.Jesus Christ dies on the cross;
13.He is taken down from the cross;
14.Christ is laid in the tomb.
5 Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony in the Garden
2. Scourging at the Pillar
3. Crowning with Thorns
4. Carrying of the Cross
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
7 Last Words
1. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they do." Luke 23:34
2. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me
in Paradise." Luke 23:43
3. "Woman, this is your son." "This is your
mother.” John 19:26-27
4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?" Matthew 27:46 /Mark 15:34
5. "I am thirsty." John 19:28
6. "It is finished.” John 19:29-30
7. "Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit." Luke 23:46
The 10 Commandments
1. You shall not have other God beside me.
2. You shall not put the name of the lord in
vain.
3. Remember to keep holy lord’s day.
4. Honor youfather and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery,
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbor.
 9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife to redeem Israel, His death on the
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s cross shattered their messianic
goods hopes.
- AC
- It was a total devastation of their
Chapter 8: Sharing in faith in Jesus.
- They felt a terrible loss and
Christ’s Death and heartbreak making them feel empty.

Resurrection - Jesus’ death seemed to be the end

of their thrilling experiences and
expectation of Savior who would
IMPLICATIONS/MEANING OF JESUS DEATH
come.
ON PEOPLE IN HIS TIME
4. Jesus Himself
- It is the crowning of His earthly
1. Local Romans
ministry and fulfillment of God’s
- For these local Romans, it is just an
promise of salvation for all.
ordinary or customary way of
- It is a sign of Accomplishment of the
dealing with sinners. It is another
mission that the Father gave to Him.
routine of execution for trouble
- It is the start of the fulfillment of
makers.
making people See the work of God
- Since they do not really care about
through his Son Jesus manifesting
Jesus, who is a problem in their
the divinity of Jesus evident by His
community, it is just ordinary way of
glorious Resurrection.
life among them.
5. To the present-day disciples
2. Jewish Leaders
- For us now, we see Jesus as ransom
- The Jewish leaders who are fearful
for our sinfulness.
to be overpowered by Jesus saw His
- He made us realize how we can
death as something that will end
fight and overcome sinfulness and
their fear.
its effects.
- They thought that everything
- His death on the cross gave us new
happened only according to how
life and conquered evil. As what one
they planned it, without realizing
of the liturgical songs says: “Dying
that it is also triumphant Glory for
you destroyed our death, rising you
the plan of God. He was able to
restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in
achieve victory over evil and all its
glory.” It changes us in such a way
power.
that it reminds us what we should
3. Jesus’ Followers
do in order to become worthy of his
- Since they believed that Jesus is
kingdom.
powerful and he would be The One

RESURRECTION
- It is the rising from the dead of a
divine or human being who still
retains his own personhood, or
individuality, though the body may
or may not be changed.
Resurrection of the body is usually
associated with Christianity,
because of the doctrine of the
Resurrection of Christ
- It talks about Jesus, after suffering
and dying on the cross, coming back
to life on the third day.
- The Resurrection of Jesus is the
crowning truth of our faith in Christ,
a faith believed and lived as the
central truth by the first Christian
community; handed on as
fundamental by Tradition;
established by the documents of the
New Testament; and preached as an
essential part of the Paschal
mystery along with the cross: CCC
638
- In his risen body, Christ passes from
the state of death to another life
beyond time and space. At Jesus'
Resurrection his body is filled with
the power of the Holy Spirit: he
shares the divine life in his glorious
state, so that St. Paul can say that
Christ is "the man of heaven". CCC
646
SENSING THE RISEN LORD IN THE
RESURRECTION NARRATIVES
The Event of Resurrection itself had no
witnesses. Our Belief in the Resurrection of
Christ lies on the tomb that was found
empty and the many encounters of the
Risen Christ by the people during that time.
Theses testimonies, narrations and
proclamations are what our Christian faith
narrates as Resurrection Narratives.
1. The Risen Lord and the Women at the
Tomb Mt. 28:1-10
This narrative is seen in three synoptic
Gospels. They may vary on the way that
they were written due to different authors,
but they definitely agree on these details.
a. The women went to anoint Jesus’ Body
on Easter Sunday
- Since they believe in Jesus, one way
for them to show their loyalty to
Him is visit Him in His tomb and
anoint Him with oil.
b. They found out that the stone on the
entrance of the Tomb was rolled away.
- For them to be able to anoint Jesus
they needed to remove the stone
sealing the tomb that serve as door.
But to their surprise, this stone was
rolled away.
c. The body of Jesus was gone
- Upon entering the tomb, the
women were surprised because the
 Body of Jesus that they were
supposed to anoint was not there.
d. A message has been given that Jesus
had risen
- All of these three synoptic gospels
expresses in their accounts that the
missing body of Jesus was due to
Him rising from the dead. Finding
the tomb empty was not equal to
automatically say that he was raised
or he has resurrected. It was the
different appearances account that
confirmed the Resurrection of
Christ. (CFC 674)
2. The Risen Lord Appears to Mary
Magdalene (Jn 20:11-18)
Mary Magdalene was one of the women
who followed Jesus. She was originally
from Magdala, a village on the western
shore of the Sea of Galilee. Three Gospels
describe her as a first witness to the
resurrection.
- Upon learning that Jesus body was
not in the tomb, Mary Magdalene
stood outside it weeping.
- When Jesus appeared to her, she
mistook Jesus for a gardener. After
Jesus called her name out that she
recognized the Risen Christ and
exclaimed “Rabboni” which means
“teacher.”
- If Mary was Jesus disciple, why did
she fail to recognize Jesus? It is
perhaps because there is already
transformation in the Risen Christ
wherein His risen body is now
glorified. It is also because Mary
Magdalene’s faith to Jesus was
immature.
- When Jesus called her name is the
time that Mary’s eyes were opened
and the Word of God penetrated her
that she recognized Jesus.
- Like Mary Magdalene. Ur FAITH in
God is our way to have a deeper
relationship with our God. It is a gift
and grace which enables us to
respond to the calling of God. This
faith is not compulsory but gives
you the freedom to freely respond
to it.
3. The Risen Lord Appear Before the
Apostles Lk 24:36-43
- The Apostles who were very dear
with Jesus were fearful after His
suffering and death on the Cross.
Their fear of the Jews made them
hide in the Cenacle room where
they felt safe.
- When Jesus appeared to them and
greeted them “Peace be with you,”
they thought that they were seeing
a ghost.
- Jesus ended up showing His
apostles his hands and feet to prove
them that He was their master who
was nailed on the cross. In addition
to that, He asked them for
something to eat. When they gave
Him a fish, Jesus ate it in their
presence making them believe that
 it is indeed Jesus, their Teacher who
is with them.
- One of the Apostles of Jesus was
not in the room where Jesus
appeared to the rest of them. It was
Thomas. When they told Him of
what happened and what they have
just experienced, Thomas doubted
that only when Jesus appeared to
Him and showed his hands to Him
that he started to believe and
exclaimed “my Lord, my God.” Jesus
showing the mark of nails in his
hand beautifully links Jesus of
Nazareth and The Risen Jesus
Christ. It is through these marks of
Jesus’ wounds that his identity as
Resurrected Christ and Jesus of
Nazareth were made known.
4. Peter Encounters the Risen Christ at
the Shores of the Sea of Galilee (Jn
21:15-19)
Peter was particularly asked by Jesus in this
narrative if he loves Him for three
times. Here are the answers of Peter to the
questions of Jesus and what Jesus told
him to do.
- The first encounter manifests mercy
and compassion for Him. No
scolding or rebuking that happened
even though Peter betrayed Him.
- The three questions were intended
to redeem him from his three
denials of Jesus.
- Jesus asked Peter to shepherd his
lambs and sheep making him serve
others even at the expense of death.
This event that happened to Peter was
necessary for the next role that he will be
performing Becoming the leader and the
Head of the Church which will cause his
death on the cross (upside down.) By this
event, Peter was forgiven, converted and
was totally changed by Jesus.
The Resurrection of Jesus evident by these
appearances narratives is one of the
turning points in the belief of people that
Jesus is truly man and Truly God. His
divinity and humanity were proven. The
Resurrected Christ is alive and cannot die
again. He is in His Glorified State.
BRINGING OUT PIECES OF EVIDENCES
FOR THE RESURRECTION
According to CFC 629, Christ Resurrection,
as an event, is both historical and
transhistorical. It is historical in terms of the
testimonies of the witnesses of the Risen
Christ and the empty tomb. But it surpasses
and transcends beyond history because
the Resurrection of Jesus is leaving the
historical conditions of time and space. No
one claimed to have seen the event and no
one described how it took place. No one
can in fact explain what “risen glorified
existence” is essentially. This session is
focused on the historical evidences of the
faith of the early Church in the
Resurrection.
What are the effects of the conviction of the
apostles and historical witnesses on the
Resurrection of Christ?
1. Change their lives completely
- From the terrified, dispersed and
fearful followers who deserted
Christ during his lowest point and
suffering, they became bold
witnesses and went out to proclaim
about Jesus even they knew that
they might be martyred by this.
- They started to act in a way that
they will be able to make others
believe in Christ.
2. Beginning of the Church
- The firm conviction that Christ is
risen is the very foundation and core
of Christian faith.
- The Church was founded by this
conviction and belief in the
resurrection of Christ made up by
those who believe in the
proclamation of the apostles and
disciples and witnesses.
3. Inspiration for the Writing of the New
Testament
- Without Resurrection, there will be
no Gospels.
- All four Gospels and books of the
New Testament are completely
dependent on the Lord’s
Resurrection and the belief that the
Risen Christ is with us today.
- As what CFC 627says, resurrection
in not merely a proof of the Gospel,
it the core message itself.
4. Institution of Sunday as Lord’s Day
- The traditional day of Jewish
Worship day is Sabbath which was
changed into Lord’s Day or Sunday
because of the Belief that
Resurrection happened on Sunday.
- “We keep the Lord’s Day with
joyfulness, the day also on which
the Lord rose from the dead.”-
Barnabas
PONDERING THE MYSTERY OF
RESURRECTION
Catechism for Filipino Catholics outlines the
meaning and significance of Resurrection in
terms of our Salvation. They are the
following:
1. It confirms everything that Christ has
done and taught.
2. It fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies
of a promised Savior for the world.
3. It confirmed that Jesus is divine.
4. It brought us a share in the new life.
5. It is the principle and source of our future
resurrection.

COMPLETING AND GLORIFYING JESUS’
EARTHLY LIFE: THE ASCENSION (LK
24:50-53)
“Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them. As he
blessed them he parted from them and was
taken up to heaven. They did him homage and
then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and
they were continually in the temple praising
God. ”
ASCENSION
● Ascension, in Christian belief, the
ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven
on the 40th day after his
Resurrection that happened in
Bethany.
● Jesus was taken up in their presence
and was then hidden from them by
a cloud, a frequent biblical image
signifying the presence of God.
● The meaning of the Ascension for
Christians is derived from their
belief in the glorification and
exaltation of Jesus following his
death and Resurrection, as well as
from the theme of his return to God
the Father.
● The Gospel According to John uses
both the sayings of Jesus and his
post- Resurrection appearances to
indicate a new relationship between
Jesus and his Father and between
him and his followers, rather than a
simple physical relocation from
earth to heaven. o This final stage
stays closely linked to the first, that
is, to his descent from heaven in the
Incarnation. Only the one who
"came from the Father" can return to
the Father: Christ esus.537 "No one
has ascended into heaven but he
who descended from heaven, the
Son of man."538 Left to its own
natural powers humanity does not
have access to the "Father's house",
to God's life and happiness.539
Only Christ can open to man such
access that we, his members, might
have confidence that we too shall
go where he, our Head and our
Source, has preceded us. (CCC 661)
The Ascension of Christ is an integral part of
Christ’s Paschal Mystery. It is a prat of the
saving plan of God since Christ’s return to the
Father was necessary for the third person in the
Triune God to complete its work. “It is better for
you that I go; if I go, I will send the Advocate to
you.” (Jn 16:7)
BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT OUR CHRISTIAN
FAITH
1. Ascension marks the exaltation of Christ
into the heavenly realm of His Father.
2. It does not separate us from Christ
because as promised He “draws everyone
to Himself.”
3. Christ continues to exercise His
priesthood by appearance to the Father on
our behalf.
4. He gives us the hope into entering into
glory with Him as the Head of the Church
which is His body.

LIVING THE PASCHAL PATTERN
Paschal Mystery comprises the Passion,
Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
Paschal signifies “passing over from and
through death to new life.”
Here are other examples of Paschal Pattern
that we encounter in our lives:
If Paschal mystery happened to Jesus who
is divine, can we also encounter or
experience it? How do we experience
Paschal mystery in our life? Yes, we can
encounter paschal mystery in our life
nowadays. It is just basically the process of
dying and rising of death into a new life.
We have our own experience when we die,
though we are still living and then rising
when we are able to overcome that death
we experience.
Let us take a look at the following examples.
1. A student studying hard and not
cheating and foregoes laziness and leisure
during exam is rewarded with good grades.
2. An athlete who never go against rules
and abide disciplines in chosen sports can
win medal as champion.
3. A seed that we sow and did every toiling
so that it will grow into a fruit or vegetable
can give up food later on.
4. When even at the point of having broken
family, you still manage to do god and
succeeded in life later on.
5. When after rebelling against your
parents, you are able to realize your sin and
ask for forgiven and you were forgiven.
REMEBERING JESUS’ PASCHAL
MYSTERY IN THE SUNDAY LITURGY
In what way can we make present the
Paschal Mystery of Jesus? It is through the
Holy Eucharist that we enter fully into the
Paschal pattern of Jesus. We are blessed as
Filipinos that there are many churches that
we can go to and attend mass. Per Parish,
the celebration of the Mass every Sunday
or Saturday is not just limited to once but
others celebrate it twice or thrice with
different languages. In going to the Mass
we remember how Jesus and his paschal
mystery and his calling for us to do it in His
memory as what Lk 22: 19 says during
the institution of the Eucharist, “Do this in
memory of me.” What does it mean?
REMEMBRANCE or REMEMBERING
- It is not primarily looking backward
to recall a past event. It is a
memorial or making present the
great acts of the past that God had
worked.
This remembrance is done whenever we
attend Eucharistic Celebrations. Eucharist is
the sacrifice of the Cross perpetuated down
in the Mass. Everything that Christ did for
us are being remembered and made
present in the Eucharist so that we might
be able to feel God present with us.
- AC