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• The word "Gospel" means good news or good tidings, referring to the coming of Jesus
• Jesus' name comes from the Hebrew name Joshua or Yehoshua, which means "God saves"
• The gospels are not biographies of Jesus but faith-accounts of his life, events, and words that formed the foundation of his disciples' faith
• Jesus was born in Palestine almost twenty centuries ago and spent most of his life in Nazareth
• Jesus began preaching and traveling throughout the land at around thirty years old and was crucified outside Jerusalem about three years later
• Jesus understood the strengths and weaknesses of his people, their injustices, divisions, worldly ambitions, and suffering
• Jesus' mission was to change the community and bring God to man and man to God
• Palestine was a province of the Roman Empire during Jesus' earthly life
• The Jews despised the Romans but were more tolerant of them than other conquered people
• The Jews had to pay taxes to the Romans, which they saw as unfaithfulness to God
• Herod the Great promised to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem and was a cruel ruler hated by the Jews
• After Herod the Great's death, Palestine was divided, with Herod Antipas ruling Galilee and Archelaus ruling Judea
• The political situation during Jesus' earthly life was tense and explosive, with the Jews desiring the restoration of the kingdom of God but disagreeing on the type of Messiah needed
• The religious community during Jesus' time was divided into various groups or sects, including the Zealots and the Essenes who considered armed rebellion against the Romans
• The Pharisees separated themselves from society, strictly followed the letter of the law, and opposed the Roman occupation through passive resistance
• The Scribes were learned men who explained the law to their disciples and applied the letter of the law to various situations
• The Sadducees were mainly composed of the wealthy upper class, rejected later teachings, and believed in solving problems without relying on God's providence
• Formalism and hypocrisy eroded true religion, turning the law into an instrument of oppression and leading to a need for religious reformation
• The social situation in Palestine during Jesus' time was characterized by many poor and oppressed people who had no voice in political and religious matters
• The poor suffered from dispossession of material things and loss of human dignity, including the sick and disabled, widows and orphans, and unskilled day laborers
• The poor were taken care of by the temple treasury, but their situation worsened in times of economic distress and war
• Sinners, including those with unclean professions like tax collectors and shepherds, were treated as outcasts in society
• There was practically no way for sinners to be accepted back into society, leading to guilt feelings and various mental or functional disorders
• The poor and sinners shared a miserable lot, with little joy and hope in life, and were denied the consolation of God's love and mercy by their leaders
• 1st Reading


  This reading is always taken from the different books of the Old Testament or from the New Testament excepts the gospel
• The Creed


  A profession of faith, recited on Sundays and special occasions
• Passover


  A great feast of the Jews where they commemorate their freedom from slavery
• When Jesus was arrested he was brought to the high council for trial called Sanhedrin
• Gospel


  A reading where we listen to God's special message for the day
• Consecration


  The most important part of the eucharist, where the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ
• Sanhedrin


  The highest council of the elders but has no power for capital punishment
• The disciples that Jesus brought up with him in Mt. Tabor

  • James, Peter, John
• Tabernacle


  The place where the consecrated body of Christ is kept for the distribution to the sick and dying
• Homily


  Part of the mass where the priest explains the words of God, he brings out the relevance of God's words
• Transubstantiation


  The bread and wine are changed into the holy body and blood of Christ
• Transfiguration


  The change of Jesus in Mt. Tabor is the confirmation of his divinity
• Judas was the disciple that betrayed Jesus by making an arrangement with the high priest
• Jesus was sold by his disciples for 30 silver coins
• Easter Proclamation


  It states the facts of the resurrection
• Easter Narratives


  It gives more details of the disciples' experience of the risen Lord