TOPIC 11

RESURRECTION, ASCENSION,
AND SECOND COMING

Part 1 – The Resurrection

 THE MYSTERY OF THE
RESURRECTION

Central Event An Historical Event

Foundational Mystery
of God’s Redemptive Work that surpasses History
of our Faith

What took place How did the Resurrection become the Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: The Anointing of Jesus
in the Resurrection? saving event consummation and encapsulation of is made communicable
for all men? in the Paschal Mystery
His entire life
 Central event
of our Redemption

“If Christ has not been raised,

our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,
and you are still in your sins.”
1 Cor 15:14-18

◦ A historical event (not a myth)

CCC 639-644

◦ but not limited to a particular time and place:

it draws to itself all of creation to itself,
from the beginning until the end of time
CCC 645-647

◦ the redemptive event for all men

(eternal salvation  sharing in the life of the Resurrection)
CCC 651-655
 Central mystery
of our faith
It is the center of what we believe in, what we live by and
hope for, what we love above all

◦ “I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Jn 11:25-26

◦ “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

Gal 2: 20

◦ “Jesus Christ is the same,

yesterday, now, and forever!”
Heb 13:8
 An historical event
that surpasses history
“When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself”
Jn 12:32
 a new mode of human existence

 beyond the capacity of the eyes of our flesh to see

 can only be apprehended with the eyes of faith enlived by love

 The encounter with the Risen Christ: a supernatural gift of God’s grace

 man can only dispose himself for this encounter

with the help of grace
 encountering the Risen Christ and living in Him:
one single mystery.
 What took place
in the Resurrection?
By the power of the Spirit,
the dead body of Jesus
was reunited with His human soul

◦ but a resurrection different from

◦ that of Lazarus,
◦ of the only son of the widow of Naim,
◦ of the daughter of Jairus.

◦ the Sacred Humanity of Jesus rose to eternal life,

glorious and immortal

◦ radiating the fullness of divine life

that with which Jesus had been anointed at the Incarnation

◦ becoming the eternal fount of the living water

of the Spirit for all men. Jn 19:19-22

◦ “Receive the Holy Spirit” (cf Jn 7:38-39).

 How did the Resurrection
become the saving event for
all men?
Through the Incarnation,
Jesus assumed everything human except sin.

◦ he took upon himself all the punishment

and negativity that came as a consequence
of men’s sins

◦ He lived his life in the context of family, religious, professional

and civic relationships common to all men
◦ giving divine meaning
to all human events and circumstances

◦ turning all of them into prayer

◦ translating into human language his eternal filial relationship with

the Father in the Spirit: human life lived in a divine way
 Jesus’ Death and Resurrection:
the consummation and encapsulation
of His entire life

The entire life of Jesus was lived

in loving obedience to the Father…

◦ “....bearing witness to the truth” (Jn 18:37)

◦ Revealing the love of God for men to the end (cf. Jn 3:16)

◦ “....being found in human form he humbled himself

and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross”
Phil 2:8-9

◦ Through his Passion and Death, Christ made atonement

for the pride and disobedience of Adam

◦ and brought to a climax the translation

of Life in the Spirit to human language
 The Anointing of Jesus
is made communicable
in the Paschal Mystery
The Resurrection of Jesus reveals that His Death….

 was a victory over sin, death and the devil

 sin is now atoned for with the outpouring

of the Holy Spirit in men’s minds and hearts

 Life on earth, with all its pain and suffering, now has divine, eternal meaning

 the dominion of the devil over men’s minds and hearts has been ended

 “Peace be to you... “
“Touch My Wounds...”
“Receive the Holy Spirit”
(cf Jn 20:19-23)
 TOPIC 11
RESURRECTION, ASCENSION,
AND SECOND COMING

Part 1 – The Resurrection