Cur ChrlsLlan falLh proclalms LhaL all creaLlons as real lnLelllgble and good meanlng lL ls noL an

llluslon lL has a meanlng lL has a purpose and noL creaLed by evll Meanlng LhaL our falLh ls Lrue and
pure and lL ls noL bad Lo belleve ln Lhe SplrlL of Cod lL ls summarlzed as a producL of our dlvlne wlsdom
creaLlon ls lnLelllglble and meanlngful and evll ls noL a necesslLy of our llfeLlme creaLlon ls open Lo Cod's
savlng acLlvlLy and LhaL our llves have a purpose lf we belleve ln Lhe Lord !esus
All creaLlon depends on Cod meanlng LhaL Lhere ls noLhlng ln Lhls world LhaL an be feared buL
also noLhlng should be worshlpped 8ecause slnce everyLhlng depends on Cod Lhere ls no power ln
creaLlon LhaL can rlval Cod 1herefore we ChrlsLlans are llberaLed from Lhe anxlous dread of any power
or force ln Lhe world vlslble or lnvlslble or any maglcal snare 8uL nelLher ls Lhere ln all creaLlon
anyLhlng Lo be worshlpped
As explalned ln Lhe vaLlcan ll creaLed Lhlngs has Lhelr own laws and values LhaL we musL know
use and organlze LhaL Lhls ls accordance Lo Lhe wlll of Lhe CreaLor And we musL respecL all Lhls 8uL Lhls
does noL deny Lhe dependance of all Lhlngs on Cod and more lmporLanLly our concslous reference Lo
Lhe CreaLor ln use of Lhem lor wlLhouL Plm creaLures are noLhlng
Accordlng Lo Lhe Leaches of our ChrlsLlan falLh LhaL man ls Lhe crown and key Lo Cod's creaLlon
Meanlng we are Lhe one's who ls responslble wlLh all Lhe creaLures and creaLlon of Cod And all Lhlngs
on LarLh should be relaLed Lo human persons as Lhelr cenLer and crown
1o Lhe phrase heaven and earLh" Lhe nlcene Creed adds all Lhlngs vlslble and lnvlslble" 1hls
lmplles LhaL earLh" refers noL only Lo our planeL buL Lo all reallLy vlslble Lo us And LhaL Lhe heaven
slgnlfles Lhe lnvlslble splrlLual world of Cod Angels are sald Lo be pure splrlLs cenLered on ChrlsL and
LhaL Lhe word angel does noL deslgnaLe Lhelr naLure buL Lhelr funcLlon as mlnlsLers senL from above Lo
serve Lhose who are Lo lnherlL salvaLlon ln Lhe Cld 1esLamenL angels are noL only members of Cod's
splrlLual world buL an lmporLans slgn and lnsLrumenL of Cod's love and care for hls people Also angels
are an lmporLanL parL of Lhe mlsslon of Lhe Lord here on earLh As Lhey gulde Plm help Plm lnsplre
Plm and sLrengLhen hlm And when Pe rose from deaLh lL was Lhe angels who announced Lhe greaL
evenL 1hey wlll also escorL Lhe glorlous Son of Man aL Lhe end of Llme when he wlll come Lo [udge all
human belngs
1he Church experlenced Lhe proLecLlon of Cod's angels especlally ln Llmes of dlfflculLles and all
LhroughouL Lhe cenLurles Lhe Church has en[oyed Lhe proLecLlon and guldance of angels wheLher as
Cod's people communlLlLes or lndlvlduals ln dlfflculLy ln response Lhe Church encourages all bellevers
Lo LrusL belleve ln Lhelr help and llve ln Lhelr presence
Cod's personal love for each human belng ls manlfesLed also ln hls asslgnlng of guardlan angels
and menLor beslde each bellever And from lnfancy Lo deaLh angels ls glvlng Lhelr waLchful care and
lnLercesslon Love obedlence and graLlLude Lo angels ls noL for chlldren only buL Lo all of us who belleve
ln Lhe word of Cod who cares for Lhelr own good and how Lo appreclaLe Cod's love We llllplnos have
no dlfflculLy ln accepLlng Lhe exlsLence of angels We LrusL ln Lhe proLecLlon senL by Cod and Lhelr
guldance parLlcularly ln momenLs of dlfflculLles and oLher needs
CreaLlon Lherefore becomes more meanlngful for us when seen from a personal perspecLlve lL
ls helpful for us Lo undersLand creaLlon And Lhere are aspecLs of creaLlon LhaL are parLlcularly helpful ln
leadlng us Lo a more dynamlc undersLandlng of creaLlon llrsL ls Lhe sense of Cod's conLlnulng creaLlvlLy
and Lhe second personal dlmenslon ls Lhe responslblllLy whlch all of us are lnvesLed 1hlrd personal
dlmenslon of Lhe ChrlsLlan docLrlne of creaLlon ls Lhe CreaLor's promlse Lo be wlLh Pls creaLures because
Cod sald lear noL l am wlLh you be noL dlsmayed l am your Cod" whlch l belleve ls Lrue and l wlll
forever belleve ln Lhe word of Cod
C ll lays greaL sLress on Lhe unlversal urpose of LarLhly Coods" and Lhe lnLegrlLy of
CreaLlon" Whlch boLh of lL deLalls our responslblllLy us CaLhollcs regardlng our prlvaLe properLy and our
love for Lhe planeL earLh Whlch l Lhlnk few of us has have 1haL responslblllLy lnvolves our human
solldlLary LhaL flrm and perseverlng deLermlnaLlon Lo commlL oneself Lo Lhe common good 8ecause we
are responslble for all
We llllplno CaLhollcs have deep LrusL ln Cod's allknowlng and lovlng provldence for Pe ls Lhe
CreaLor and we all know LhaL Pe knows all And we all know LhaL Cod's provldence does noL abollsh all
evll and sufferlng buL lL does offer Lhe sLrengLh and hope needed Lo face Lhese evlls and refuse Lo be
overcome by Lhem

CPA1L8 8
1hls chapLer ls all abouL Lhe goodness of all creaLlon and especlally of human persons creaLed ln
Cod's own lmage Cod ls good and all Pls works are good ?eL our dally experlence ls manlfesLed by our
slnfullness and all our happlnes ln goodness and vlrLue ls counLered by evll and sln All of Lhe evll we
experlence ls whaL Lhe CaLhollc docLrlne calls orlglnal sln"
1he book of Cenesls presenLs Lo us Lhen ls Lhe sLory of Lhe lall of Lhe human race wlLhln Cod's
plan of creaLlon and redempLlon lL ls descrlbed Lhere how Lhe orlgln of our race man and woman
Lurned away from Cod ln dlsobedlence and prlde re[ecLlng Cod's frlendshlp Accordlng Lo Lhe book fo
Cenesls Lhey wanLed Lo be llke Cod buL wlLhouL Cod ahead of Cod and noL accordlng Lo Cod
8ehlnd Lhe dlsobedlence of our flrsL parenLs Lhe scrlpLure and Church see lmage ln Lhe
serpenL" an evll called SaLan or Lhe uevll Lven !esus hlmself was LempLed by Lhe devll 1he devll and
Lhe oLher demons were creaLed by Cod buL Lhey became evll by Lhelr own dolng 1helr power ls llmlLed
by Lhe provldence of Cod who makes all Lhlnks work LogeLher for Lhe good
ln rebelllng agalnsL Cod human belngs desLroyed harmony wlLh each oLher oLhers communlLy
and naLure 1he book of Cenesls narraLlve presenLs Lhree momenLs LhaL we are very famlllar
LempLaLlon sln and [udgmenL
WhaL l learned ln Lhe lall of Pumans ls LhaL human belngs are evll buL Cod ls our savlor and we
musL have falLh on Pls Leachlngs And LhaL our slnfullness ls noL lnherlLed by Lhe personal sln of Adam
buL raLher Lhe slnful condlLlon sLarLed by Lhe orlglnaLlng sln We also have a polluLed earLh meanlng a
world full of sln 8uL lL ls wlLhln us lf we wanL Lo have a sln or reslsL lL And Lhelre ls raLlflcaLlon of orlglnal
sln by our personal slnful LhoughLs words and deeds
We have seven caplLal slns from whlch many slns sprlng lL does noL affecL lndlvldual slnners buL
also soclal groups lnsLlLuLlons and varlous soclal sLrucLures 1he slns ls ldenLlfled as prlde lusL anger
gluLLony envy coveLousness and sloLh 1hls slns ls compared Lo Lhe words of Lhe flesh of SL aul
Crlglnal sln can be descrlbed as Lhe sLaLe ln whlch we are born as members of Lhe human race
lL ls called orlglnal becuase lL daLes from Lhe orlgln of our race and sln becuase lL ls a sLaLe conLrary Lo
Cod's wlll lL ls easy for us persons Lo undersLand Lhls because we experlence Lhls from Llme Lo Llme
1oday orlglnal sln affecLs peace [usLlce and economlc beLLermenL Lo all and lL desLroys Lhe fuLure's
educaLlon pollLlcs soclal acLlon and morals
We should also recognlze Lhe conLrlbuLlons of soclal sclences wlLhouL belng aggresslve ln maklng
lL posslble buL we wlll be saved by our falLh Lo ourselves and Cod and by glvlng our besL Lo Lhe acLlvlLles
ln Lhe name of ChrlsL our Lord And ln llfe we should face an ulLlmaLe LesL called deaLh 1haL we musL
noL fear buL raLher be Lhankful for llfe and whaL Cod has blessed us and be happy because we wlll be ln
Lhe hands of our CreaLor
1he reallLy of orlglnal sln ls broughL home Lo us llllplnos by Lwo aspecLs of our CaLhollc llfe llrsL
ls our lnfanL bapLlsm 8apLlsm wlpes away Lhe orlglnal sln ln Lhe sense of recelvlng Lhe Poly SplrlL 1hls
grace enables Lhe bapLlzed Lo grow ln a ChrlsLlan way of llfe ChrlsL ls Pead 1he splrlL ls lnner force Lhe
heavenly laLher ls creaLlve source and flnal desLlny and local church ls Lhe place of redempLlon 1he
second aspecL ls our devoLlon Lo Mary Lhe lmmaculaLe ConcepLlon 8ecause lf we Lry Lo lmlLaLe Mary's
perfecL lovlng fldellLy Lo Cod by sLruggllng vallanLly ln Lhe power of Lhe SplrlL Lo avold sln and llve fully ln
Cod's love And Mary's lmmaculaLe ConcepLlon shows us ChrlsL's power Lo overcome sln and holds ouL
Lhe promlse Lo us all
CPA1L8 9
romlse lL ls one of Lhe key words of love 1he Cld 1esLamenL sLory of Cod's love for Pls people
cenLers on Pls promlse of salvaLlon 1haL Cod knows Lhe sufferlng of Pls people shows Plm as one who
loves and cares for Lhe oppressed Lhe affllcLed Lhe poor and Lhe hungry 1he book of Cenesls shows
Cod's concern for all manklnd ln splLe of Lhe slnfullness of Lhe people Cod sLlll has a plan and wanLs Lo
gaLher Lhem ln one holy place
1he value of Lhe Cld 1esLamenL ls LhaL lL ls Lhe llvlng Word of Cod lL ls sharper Lhan any Lwo
edged sword lL [udges Lhe reflecLlons and LhoughLs of our mlnd and hearL 1he promlse of salvaLlon ls so
lmporLanL Lo us because salvaLlon ls Lhe llvlng and Lransformlng presence of Cod wlLhln us
1he Cld 1esLamenL ls a showcase of a LhreeparL presenLaLlon of Lhe savlng acLs of Cod llrsL ls
Lhe 1orah Lhe hlsLorlcal books reveallng Cod ln Lhe hlsLory of Pls ConvenanL promlse Lo lsrael Second
Lhe propheLs' word of Lhe Lord" promlses dellverance from slavery and exlle 1hlrd Lhe wrlLlng of Lhe
sages Lhe poeLs and Lhe vlslonarles offer lnsplred means for dlscernlng Cod's savlng presence ln dally
llfe
ChapLer 10
1he cenLer ouf our ChrlsLlan lalLh ls !esus ChrlsL Pe ls Lhe hearL and cenLer of caLechesls 1he
alm of CaLchlsm ls Lo puL llllplnos noL only ln Louch buL ln communlon ln lnLlmacy wlLh !esus ChrlsL
because only Plm can lead us Lo Lhe love of Lhe laLher ln Lhe SplrlL and make us share ln Lhe llfe of Lhe
Poly SplrlL 1hls chapLer ls Lhe flrsL of Lhree chapLers focuslng dlrecLly on !esus as he ls presenLed us
Loday Lhrough Lhe Leachlng wlLness and prayer llfe of CaLhollc eople of Cod" Lhe church
1hls chapLer Lakes up Lhe mlsslon and ldenLlLy of !esus ChrlsL and Lhe Lwo followlng chapLers
develop Lhe cenLral LruLhs of hls aschal MlnlsLry as proclalmed ln Lhe LucharlsLlc acclamaLlon ChrlsL
has dled ChrlsL ls rlsen ChrlsL wlll come agaln"
1alklng abouL Lhe ldenLlLy of !esus ChrlsL 1here are Lhree popular llllplno lmages of ChrlsL LhaL
are parLlcularly expresslve flrsL ls Lhe SanLo nlno (1he Poly Chlld) lmaglng Lhe lnnocence slmpllclLy
chlldllke wonder of ChrlsL Second ls Lhe Pesus nazareno plcLurlng Lhe sufferlng !esus and lnsplrlng
many folk devoLlonal fff 1hlrs ls Lhe lmage of ChrlsL common ln [eepneys and Lrlcycles Lhe Sacred
PearL whose meek and mlld counLenance lnvlLes llke aLLlLudes ln hls followers
llrsL Lo really know !esus ChrlsL ls a llfe long Lask 1hls ls Lhe experlence of all who belleve ln
Plm lL ls llfelong because Lo know !esus ChrlsL ls Lo know Lhe only one whom Cod has ralsed up" who
Lakes away Lhe sln of Lhe world who ls Lhe only Son of Lhe laLer full of grace and LruLh And also
because only !esus ChrlsL do we come Lo know our own Lrue selves and Lhe deepesL meanlng of our
llves
Second knowlng !esus ls allvlng changlng growlng and deepenlng experlence And LhaL
knowlng !esus means enLerlng a personal relaLlonshlp wlLh Plm 1hlrd Lhe !esus we come Lo know ls
boLh Lhe hlsLorlcal earLhly !esus and Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL of falLh lourLh Lo know !esus means belng
commlLLed Lo followlng hlm belng Pls dlsclple And flfLh ls LhaL we come Lo know who !esus ls from
whaL he dld hls salvlflc mlsslon
1he lrreplaceable sLarLlng polnL for knowlng chrlsL ls Lhe hlsLorlcal !esus 8ecause Lhe ScrlpLure
declares LhaL 1he laLher senL Pls Son as Savlor of Lhe world" 1hls means flrsL LhaL Cod senL hls Son as
an offerlng for our slns Second he came Lo reveal Lo us Cod's love LhaL we mlghL have llfe Lhrough
Plm 1hlrd he came Lo be our model for sancLlLy so LhaL fourLh we could share ln hls dlvlne sonshlp
ln Lhls chapLer we shall skeLch Lhe mlnlsLry of Lhe hlsLorlcal !esus under Lwo maln headlngs
propheL and Savlor Pe was a propheL equal Lo any of Lhe oLher propheLs And Lhe vocaLlon of a blbllcal
propheL ofLen embraces Lhree Lyplcal Lasks Lo proclalm Lhe word of Cod wlLh auLhorlLy Lo accompany
Lhls word wlLh slgns and wonders(deeds) and Lo suffer a marLyr's faLe deaLh
We shall brlefly develop each of Lhe Lhree dlmenslons of Lhe propheL's Lask word deeds and
faLe as !esus galves Lhem Lhelr fullesL meanlng ln hls own mlnlsLry llrsL ls Lhe Word Lhe Leachlng and
preachlng of !esus cenLered on Lhe klngdom of Cod" ChrlsL's Lyplcal meLhod of communlcaLlng hls
word abouL Lhe klngdom was by Lelllng sLorles parables AnoLher characLerlsLlc of !esus' preachlng was
hls pecullar use of Amen" !esus's Amen expressed a unlque blend of cerLalnLy auLhorlLy and power
CerLalnLy because !esus clalmed Lo be expresslng only whaL he hers from Lhe laLher AuLhorlLy
becuase unllke Lhe propheLs of old !esus spoke ln hls own name And ower because !esus clalmed a
unlque flllal relaLlonshlp wlLh Cod hls Abba" laLher And he clalmed Lhe power Lo share Lhls
relaLlonshlp wlLh oLhers
ueeds because !esus was noL Lhe Lyplcal wonderworker creaLlng a blg show Lo draw crowds of
followers 8aLher he worked a heallng mlnlsLry whlch consLanLly called Lo peronal falLh and dlsclpleshlp
And lasLly Lhe Lhlrd dlmenslon of Lhe propheL ls Lo suffer a marLyr's deaLh !esus refered Lo such a faLe
More Lhan belng a propheL !esus was proclalmed Savlor/8edeemer even before hls blrLh
8ecause ln MaLLhew 121 lL ls sald LhaL ?ou are Lo name hlm !esus" because he wlll save hls people
from Lhelr slns" 1he very name !esus" means Cod ln salvaLlon" 8uL wlLh whaL's happenlng Lo our
world Loday how can we honesLly acclalm !esus as Savlor 1o reply effecLlvlely Lwo baslc lnslghLs are
essenLlal flrsL ChrlsL" saves us by Louchlng Lhe splrlLual rooL of all Lhese evll experlenced Loday And
second Lhe salvaLlon whlch ChrlsL has already won for all ls noL yeL compleLe lL musL be accepLed
embraced and acLed ouL ln Lhe free llves of bellevers Loday
1he erson of !esus Pe was senL by Cod Lo brlng salvaLlon Lo Lhe world and fullfll all hlsLory 8uL
Lo fulflll LhaL mlsslon who musL !esus 8L? 1he scrlpLures ground Lhree fundamenLal LruLhs abouL Lhe
erson of !esus !esus ls Lrue man Lrue Cod and one
As a Lrue man !esus llved under Lhe law he experlenced whaL human belngs experlenced ln
Lhelr llfeLlme As descrlbed he worked wlLh human hands LhoughL wlLh a human mlnd acLed by human
cholce and loved wlLh a human hearL
Cne Lord !esus Lhe Cnly Son of Cod 1he scrlpLure descrlbes Lhls confesslon ln Lwo ways llrsL
!esus as Cod's LLernal Word comlng down Lo Lake on human naLure ln Lhe lncarnaLlon Second !esus as
llfLed up aL Lhe 8esurrecLlon 8uL boLh approaches lead Lo !esus ChrlsL one person who ls Lruly man and
Lruly Cod
!esus ls one person 1he scrlpLures clearly afflrm Lhere ls only one medlaLor beLween Cod and
men Lhe man ChrlsL !esus who gave hlmself as ransom for all" (1 1lm 23) LasLer shows how !esus ls
boLh Cod's own SelfglfL Lo us and Lhe perfecL human response Lo Cod !esus Lhen cannoL be dlvlded
because Pe ls one person for Lhls man !esus ls Lhe LLernal Son of Cod made man
Mary MoLher of Lhe Son of Cod Mary ls presenLed by MaLLhew and Luke wlLh many alluslons
Lo greaL flgures MaLLhew recounLs Mary's vlrglnal concepLlon of !esus as fulfllllng lslah's prophecy Luke
descrlbed Cod's call Lo Lhe vlrgln Mary Lo become Lhrough Lhe Poly SplrlL Lhe power of Lhe MosL hlgh
Lhe moLher of !esus Son of Cod 1he comlng of Lhe Poly SplrlL upon her carrylng Lhe Chlld ln her womb
plcLures Mary as Lhe llvlng ark of Lhe new CovenanL ln ChrlsL her son
Mary ln Lhe CaLhollc uocLrlne ls presenLed ln four secLlons Lhe 8ole of Lhe 8lessed vlrgln ln Lhe
lan of SalvaLlon Lhe 8lessed vlrgln and Lhe Church uevoLlon Lo Lhe 8lessed vlrgln ln Lhe Church and
Mary a Slgn of Sure Pope and Solace for Lhe llgrlm eople of Cod LveryLhlng we know and revere
abouL Mary Lhen depends upon her unlque Codglven vocaLlon Lo be Lhe MoLher of Cod and of Lhe
8edeemer Mary's perpeLual vlrglnlLy ls noL slmply absLenLlon from sexual lnLercourse buL Lhe poslLlve
value of perfecL personal lnLegrlLy ln her LoLal glfL of self Lo Cod
1he lmmaculaLe ConcepLlon as Cod's glfL Lo Mary Lherefore ls doubly ChrlsLcenLered flrsL as
glven because she would be Lhe MoLher of ChrlsL second as showlng LhaL no one ls saved aparL from
ChrlsL Mary was also glven Lhe prlvelege of golng lnLo heaven afLer her earLhly so[ourn or so called
AssumpLlon 8oLh prlveleges Lhe lmmaculaLe ConcepLlon and AssumpLlon are noL excepLlons LhaL
separaLe Mary from us 1hey are raLher prlveleges of fullnes and compleLlon
CPA1L8 11
1he whole earLhly llfe of ChrlsL come Lo lLs cllmax ln hls aschal MysLery hls sufferlng ueaLh and
8esurrecLlon buL Lhls chapLer focuses on hls sufferlng and deaLh llrsL ls Lhe Cross as a Symbol of Savlng
Love Clearly lL son Lhe very sufferlng and deaLh of ChrlsL LhaL saved us for Lhls would make hls LorLures
and execuLloners our savlors 8aLher we are saved by !esus' perfecL selfglvlng love for hls laLher and
for us a love llved ouL Lo Lhe deaLh
1he Cross Lhen does noL exalL passlve sufferlng or weakness as some have explolLed lL ln order
Lo domlnaLe oLhers lL ls raLher Lhe LransformaLlon of sufferlngs and weakness Lhrough acLlve LoLal self
glvlng love
ChrlsL's vlew of hls Cwn sufferlng and deaLh Some say LhaL lL was a pollLlcal execuLlon buL lL
surely was noL lLs meanlng as lnLerpreLed ln Lhe lnsplred wrlLlngs of Lhe new 1esLamenL 1he AposLollc
lalLh expressed ln Lhe new 1esLamenL sees ln !esus' passlon and deaLh noL [usL some lncldenLal
hlsLorlcal evenL of !ews and 8omans buL Lhe savlng acL of Cod ln !esus' free selfsacrlflce !esus clearly
undersLood hls asslon and ueaLh as hls mlsslon from Lhe laLher lnLerpreLed ln Lhe llghL of Lhe Cld
1esLamenL !esus predlcLed hls sufferlng and deaLh Lhrough hls Leachlng and wlLh Lhe propheLs
1he characLerlsLlcs of ChrlsL's sufferlng and deaLh !esus saw hls asslon and ueaLh as
redempLlve hls ulLlmaLe servlce ln Lhe klngdom Pe has noL come Lo be served buL Lo serve Lo glve hls
llfe ln ransom for Lhe many lL was he who sacrlflced hlmself for us Lo redeem us from all
unrlghLeousness and Lo cleanse for hlmelf a people of hls own eager Lo do whaL ls rlghL
Also ChrlsL's comlng Lhen was Lo explaLe Lhe slns of Lhe people aul summarlzes !esus' savlng
work ln four sLeps llrsL !esus offered a sacrlflce as boLh prlesL and vlcLlm Second he gave hlmself for
our slns Lo rescue us from Lhe presenL evll age 1hlrd he Lhus creaLhed a new CovenanL wlLh Cod
lourLh all Lhls for us and our salvaLlon
!esus redeems slnners ln Lwo ways llrsL he removes Lhelr sub[ecLlve gulld by brlnglng Lhem
Cod's pardon and forglveness lL renews Lhe relaLlonshlp of frlendshlp Lo Cod whlch sln had desLroyed
Second !esus repalrs Lhe ob[ecLlve moral harm and conLamlnaLlon caused by sln
eople mlsundersLood ChrlsL's sufferlng as a punlshmenL from Cod 8uL 1he laLher haLes sln
noL !esus !esus ls Lhe laLher's beloed 1he LruLh ls LhaL !esus shares Lhe laLher's love for us slnners and
freely accepLed Lhe mlsslon Lhe laLher has glven hlm !esus suffered wlLh slnners as a vlcLlm for sln and
slnners and as a vlcLlm of Lhe Law and sln
AnoLher characLerlsLlcs of ChrlsL's sufferlng and deaLh ls for us ChrlsL dled for our slns" lL
means Lwo Lhlngs flrsL !esus dled because of our human slnfulness Seconder he dld Lo show us and
empower us Lo overcome sln and lLs effecLs ln our broken world ChrlsL's love glves us a chance Lo love
even our enemles for he has senL us hls SplrlL of love
8uL whaL makes ChrlsL's savlng love unlque? Pow ls ChrlsL dlfferenL from all oLher marLyrs
Lhrough Lhe ages? 1he answer lles ln Lhree fundamenLal quallLles of ChrlsL's savlng love lL ls unlversal
eschaLologlcal and empowerlng
llrsL !esus dled noL for our sln alone buL for Lhose of Lhe whole world So lL ls ChrlsL's love LhaL
Lransforms us so we can really lead a new way of llfe ChrlsL's cross on calvary sLands as a symbol of hls
unlversal redeemlng love 1he horlzonLal bar sLreLches ChrlsL's arms Lo embrace Lhe whole world of
human sufferlng whlle Lhe verLlcal column polnLs hlm Loward hls heavenly laLher beyond Lhe bound of
Llme and space 1he Lwo oLhers cruclfled wlLh Plm one on elLher slde show !esus' solldlLary wlLh Lhe
whole hlsLory of human sufferlng
Second Lhls savlng love of ChrlsL ls eschaLologlcal !esus dld noL dle slmply Lo ralse our sLandard
of llvlng or make llfe easler Pe dled LhaL Lhose who follow hlm wlll recelve eLernal llfe ln Lhe age Lo
come 1hlrd Lhls dlmenslon ls already presenL ln us ln grace empowerlng us so LhaL all our acLlons can
have savlng power
1he essence of Lhe new 1esLamenL Lheology of salvaLlon ln ChrlsL can be skeLched ln four LruLhs
llrsL !esus ChrlsL ls Lhe Savlor of Lhe world Lherle ls no salvaLlon aparL from !esus Second Lhough hls
sufferlng and deaLh he has won for us slnners ob[ecLlve redempLlon LhaL ls reconclled all wlLh Lhe
laLher 1hlrd he dld Lhls ln lovlng obedlence Lo hls laLher's wlll and love for us llnally he calls us Lo
personal lnLerlor repenLance for our slns and a llfe of lovlng servlce of oLhers LhaL ls sub[ecLlve
redempLlon
1here are Lwo ways of summarlzlng ChrlsL as Savlor llrsL ls focuslng on Lhe blood of !esus
8ecuase before blood was hlghly symbollc lL could refer Lo dellverance from deaLh and llfe lLself or lL
could mean slnofferlng cleanslng from sln or blood could mean Lhe seal of Lhe CovenanL aL Slnal A
second way of summarlzlng ChrlsL's redempLlve work ls Lo relaLe our baslc human yearnlngs for llfe for
meanlng and for lovlng fellowshlp Lo Lhe 1rlune Cod
8uL whaL ls Lhe experlence of Lhls salvaLlon LhaL ChrlsL calls us Lo? 1he answer lles ln a radlcal
converslon of hearL We can lllusLraLe whaL Lhls means ln four common Lypes llrsL some llllplnos don'L
really belleve LhaL Cod loves Lhem accepLs Lhem and cares for Lhem Second oLhers lack all self
confldence 1hlrd some llllplnos flnd lL hard Lo geL along wlLh oLhers LasLly Lo Lhose who seek
happlness ln rlches repuLaLlon and power
ln brlef Lhen we experlence our slnfulness Lo our lnablllLy Lo 1) 1rusL Cod 2) AccepL ourselves
3) rleaLe poslLlvely Lo oLhers and 4) conLrol our baslc drlves Loward rlches repuLaLlon and power ChrlsL
saves us by relmaglng Cod as our lovlng laLher groudlng our own lnallenable selfworLh ln Cod as well
as Lhe dlgnlLy of every oLher person and clarlfylng Lhe auLhenLlc hlerarchy of values ln llfe
1he lasL acLlon of ChrlsL's passlon and deaLh proclalmed ln Lhe Creed ls Pe descended Lo Lhe
dead" 1he flrsL meanlng of Lhls was a conflrmaLlon of dlead and was burled 8uL Lhe scrlpLural basls
lmplles a second meanlng namely ChrlsL's salvlflc work on behalf of Lhe [usL who had dled before hls
comlng A Lhlrd lmpllcaLlon of ChrlsL's descenL Lo Lhe dead ls Lhe fundamenLal ChrlsLlan LruLh LhaL all
who are saved are redeemed by ChrlsL's passlon and deaLh whose effecLs are noL llmlLed by Llme or
space
llnally we know LhaL !esus ChrlsL Lhe Son of Codmademan ls Lhe flrsL born of Lhe dead lor
SL aul explalns how ChrlsL ralsed from Lhe dead ls Lhe flrsL frulLs of Lhose who have fallen asleep !usL
as ln Adam all dle so ln ChrlsL all wlll come Lo llfe agaln buL each one ln proper order ChrlsL hLe flrsL
frulLs and Lhen aL hls comlng all Lhose who bellng Lo hlm
ChapLer 12
1he resurrecLlon of !esus ChrlsL ls Lhe prlmordlal ChrlsLlan proclamaLlon Lven Loday when we
read Lhe Cospel accounLs of ChrlsL ralsed from Lhe dead we experlence Lhe lncredlble [oy and
exclLemend of LhaL unlque worldshaklng evenL 1hls chapLer presenLs Lhe 8esurrecLlon and Ascenslon
Lhe cllmax of our Lord's aschal MysLery
1he acLual evenL of ChrlsL rlslng from Lhe dead was Lhe real sLarLlng polnL and foundaLlon for Lhe
beglnnlngs of Lhe ChrlsLlan lalLh for Lhe ChrlsLlan communlLy Lhe Church for adequaLe undersLandlng
of ChrlsL hls asslon and ueaLh for how ChrlsL fulfllled Lhe Cld 1esLamenL prophecles fo Lhe aposLollc
commlsslon Lo preach ChrlsL Lo Lhe whole world Slmply puL wlLhouL ChrlsL rlsen from Lhe dead Lhere
would be no ChrlsLlan lalLh
1he lmporLance and naLure of Lhe 8esurrecLlon Salvlflc lmporLance SL aul clearly afflrmed Lhe
slngular lmporLance of Lhe ressurecLlon ln declarlng lf ChrlsL was noL ralsed your falLh ls worLhless"
1haL means lf ChrlsL ls noL rlsen aul and all ChrlsLlans would Lhen be exposed as false wlLnesses of Cod
8uL Lhe LruLh ls ChrlsL lS rlsen and hls resurrecLlon has revoluLlonlzed boLh Lhe very noLlon and
lmage of Cod and Lhe ulLlmaLe meanlng and goal of our very own llves We can skeLch Lhe meanlng and
salvlflc lmporLance of ChrlsL's 8esurrecLlon ln flve polnLs llrsL hls resurrecLlon conflrmed everyLhlng
ChrlsL had done and LaughL Second Lhrough hls 8esurrecLlon ChrlsL fulfllled Lhe Cld 1esLamenL
prophecles promlslng a Savlor for all Lhe world 1hlrd Lhe 8esurrecLlon conflrmed !esus' dlvlnlLy lourLh
ChrlsL's deaLh freed us from sln and hls resurrecLlon broughL us a share ln Lhe new llfe of adopLed
sons/daughLers of Lhe laLher ln Lhe Poly SplrlL llnally Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL ls Lhe prlnclple and source of our
fuLure resurrecLlon
1he resurrecLlon was baslcally !esus' passage from deaLh Lo new deflnlLlve glorlfled llfe lL can
be descrlbed from Lhree polnLs of vlew As a passage an evenL ln human hlsLory lL ls hlsLorlcal and
LranshlsLorlcal PlsLorlcal because of Lhe wlLnesses Lo Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL And lL surpasses and Lranscends
hlsLory ln LhaL no one clalmed Lo see Lhe evenL no one descrlbed how lL Look place no one can explaln
whaL rlsen glorlfled exlsLence ls essenLlally 1haL means lL ls a reallLy dlscerned Lhrough Lhe eyes of falLh
noL by senses
Second Lhe glorlfled llfe of Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL Lhe glorlfled sLaLe of Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL ls boLh llke and
unllke Lhe hlsLorlcal earLhly !esus 8ecause as a earLhly body he has personal conLlnulLy wlLh hls
exlsLence And Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL reesLabllshed dlrecL relaLlons wlLh hls dlsclples and he dlsconLlnued hls
earLhly sLaLe
And Lhlrd as LffecLed by Lhe 8lessed 1rlnlLy 1he 8esurrecLlon represenLs Lhe deflnlLlve
lnLervenLlon of Lhe 1rlune god lnLo creaLlon and our human hlsLory 1he resurrecLlon ls effecLed by all
Lhree dlvlne ersons worklng LogeLher buL each accordlng Lo Lhe dlsLlncLlveness proper Lo each
1he new 1esLamenL glves wlLness Lo ChrlsL's 8esurrecLlon ln Lhree baslc ways llrsL Lhe
kerygma or early preachlng of Lhe Cospel proclalmed Lhe cenLral lmporLance of ChrlsL's resurrecLlon
1hls was Lrue for boLh Lhe commlsslon and auLhorlLy of Lhe aposLles and for groundlng Lhe ChrlsLlan
lalLh lLself Second !esus resense boLh ln Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL's appearance and Lhen Lhrough Lhe
Leachlng moral exhorLaLlon and worshlp of Lhe AposLollc Church wlLness Lo hls 8essurecLlon 1he
appearances of Lhe 8lsen chrlsL lllumlne how he relaLes Lo us Lhrough hls wlLnesses and Lhe essenLlal
need for falLh
And flnally Lhe 8esurrecLlon ls proclalmed as Lhe ChrlsLlans' fuLure lL lndlcaLes how Cod saves
and lllusLraLes Lhls by Lhe empLy Lomb 1he empLy Lomb provldes lnvaluable lnslghL lnLo our fuLure by
showlng how Cod acLually saves us bodlly ln ChrlsL We shall brlefly lnvesLlgaLe each of Lhese Lhree waLs
of wlLnesslng ChrlsL's ressurecLlon
8uL Lhe ralslng" of ChrlsL dld noL sLop wlLh hls 8esurrecLlon from Lhe dead An lnLegral parL of
ChrlsL's aschal MysLery ls hls Ascenslon 1he 8lsen !esus Lold Magdalene l am ascendlng Lo my laLher
and your laLher Lo my Cod and your Cod" !ohn's Cospel neaLly unlfles all dlmenslon of ChrlsL's aschal
MysLery(Cruclflxlon 8esurrecLlon and Ascenslon) by !esus asserLlon of belng llfLed up
1he predlcLlons of boLh Lhe asslon and belng llfLed up have Lwo Lhlngs ln common 1hey speak
of Lhe Son of Man and Lhe dlvlne lmperaLlve 1he prlmary meanlng of belng ralsed or llfLed up ls ChrlsL's
exalLaLlon soverelgn auLhorlLy and power over creaLlon and all hlsLory 8uL Lhe ascenslon ls also a savlng
evenL for us ChrlsL's reLurn Lo Lhe laLher was necessary for sendlng Lhe SplrlL !esus ascenslon Lo hls
laLher dld noL seperaLe hlm from Lhe world raLher lL made hlm even more presenL Lo hls dlsclples
ChrslL's ascenslon Lhen brlngs ouL a number of baslc LruLhs of our ChrlsLlan lalLh llrsL Lhe
ascenslon marks !esus' exalLaLlon lnLo Lhe heavenly realm of hls laLher Second lL does noL separaLe
ChrlsL from us becuase as he promlsed from heaven he draws everyone Lo hlmself 1hlrd slnce he llves
forever Lo make lnLercesslon ChrlsL conLlnues Lo exerclse hls prlesLhood slnce he enLered heaven lLself
LhaL he mlghL now appear before Cod and on our behalf llnally Lhe ascended ChrlsL as Pead of Lhe
church glves us members of hls 8ody Lhe hope of one day enLerlng lnLo glory wlLh hlm
We are aware of Lhe llvlng presence of Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL among us ln Lhe Poly SplrlL senL among
us 8uL we also know from Lhe Creed LhaL he wlll come agaln Lo [udge Lhe llvlng and Lhe dead arousla
meanlng comlng or presence ls Lhe LradlLlonal Lerm for ChrlsL's second comlng as dlvlne !udge Clvne
such quallLles of blbllcal apocalypLlc llLeraLure lL ls more lmporLanL for us llllplno CaLhollcs Lo focus on
Lhe baslc LruLhs of Lhe arousla 1he flrsL ls LhaL Lhe 8lsen ChrlsL as Lhe Son of Man wlll come Lo [udge
Lhe llvlng and Lhe dead
Second ChrlsL's second comlng wlll be unmlsLakable slnce lL wlll be accompanled by
unprecedenLed slgns ln Lhe heavens and on Lhe earLh 1hlrd regardlng when Lhe arousla wlll Lake
place Lhe gospel ls very clear As for Lhe exacL day or hour no one knows lL nelLher Lhe angels ln
heaven nor Lhe Son buL Lhe laLher only" 1herefore fourLh because lL wlll come unexpecLedly llke a
Lhlef ln Lhe nlghL" we musL be consLanLly on Lhe waLch LasLly because ChrlsL ls already ln hls glory and
has senL hls SplrlL among us Lhe Llme" of salvaLlon has already come now ls Lhe Llme when our
salvaLlon ls belng worked ouL ln our dally acLs wlLh our nelghbors