CATECHESIS (cat·e·che·sis ) to transmit the Gospel
Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission with these words to His apostles, Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of time. Matthew 28:18-20
OPENING PRAYER (WELCOME GOD INTO OUR STUDY)
Heavenly Father, in your mercy, bless us through the intercession of Holy Mary who conceived your only begotten Son, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, we pray.
CATECHESIS (STUDY THE FAITH)
REFERENCES FROM CATECHISM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH 2ND EDITION
CCC 456 – 463 The Incarnation
CCC 464 – 478 True God-True Man
CCC 484 – 486 “By the Power of the Holy Spirit”
CCC 487 – 507 “Born of the Virgin”
In Bethlehem we encounter a most astonishing mystery, God becoming man. How much love does that take? God to empty himself, taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men. Phillipians 2:7
In Jesus Christ, God shows us a human face. In Jesus Christ, a human face shows us the face of God. As son of God, Jesus is Divine. As son of Mary, Jesus is human.
At the Annunciation, the whole universe, heaven and earth, waited for Mary’s reply. Adam and Eve begged her to say yes. So also did Abraham, Moses, and David from Sheol, the realm of the dead. Isiah 38:10
In that silence Mary gathered up her whole soul filled with the fullness of grace. The answer came from the depths of her very being, in union with God, “May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
HAIL FULL OF GRACE
God the Father blessed Mary from the foundations of the world, chose her to be holy and blameless. Through the merits of her Son’s passion and death, Mary remained free of any personal sin her whole life long.
The Annunciation inaugurates the fullness of time of God’s promise and preparations. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life is sent by the Father to sanctify Mary’s womb…. the Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit The Angelus
The angel coming to her, said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus…..
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Luke 1:28-35
Why did the Word become Flesh? “For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit; he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made Flesh.” Nicene Creed
Jesus Christ is True God and True Man in nature. He is one Divine person, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Son. Jesus has a human intellect and human will and a divine intellect and divine will.
As the God-Man, Jesus could increase in “human wisdom and human stature in favor with God.” Luke 2:52 Jesus did learn from human experience. i.e. improved carpentry skills
In his Divine Person, Christ enjoyed the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal and accomplish. There was never a time He did not know and understand His Divine mission. i.e. Jesus 12 years of age in temple, “I must be in my Father’s house.” Luke 2:49
In his human will, Christ submitted in obedience to his Father’s will for the salvation of the world. Christ’s human will does not resist or oppose the divine will of the Father. In obedience, Jesus submits to the will of the Father.
CLOSING PRAYER (PRAY THE FAITH)
Lord Jesus Christ, we believe that you are True God and True man. You are God’s only begotten Son and Son of Mary. In you there is the fullness of divinity. You are the divine Word of God made man. May we give you glory now and forever and share in your divine life as you have shared in ours. Amen.
LIFE APPLICATION (LIVE THE FAITH)
- By becoming man, Jesus proved His love for me. How can I love Jesus in return?
2. Reflect on the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord. What stands out?
3. Mary is our model of obedience of faith. Where Eve failed, Mary, the new Eve succeeded. How am I when it comes to choosing God’s will over my own will?
This made me wonder if Jesus was always part human. “…As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be…”
Patricia, Jesus did not take on humanity unti the Word became flesh at the Annunciation that is when God the Son took on humanity as well as His Divine Nature, Two Natures, One Person
Tom, these reflection questions are excellent. Thank you for including them.
RE: Your post on June 29th:
JESUS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT-BORN OF A VIRGIN
At the end you asked in #2: to reflect on the Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel, and I had to tell you about my experience praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. A thought, or vision, came to me of God asking the other Angels to go get Gabriel, that the time had come Gabriel to visit Mary, as he had probably already visited Elizabeth six months earlier.
I hope you enjoy this thought.