MIDTERM

• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim a year of acceptance to the Lord: '(Lk4:18-19)'
• Jesus' mission


  To bring people to fullness of life, which means restoring them to the wholeness of their being
• The provided passage is from the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Bible, where Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth
• This passage is often referred to as Jesus' mission statement or manifesto, as it encapsulates the essence of his purpose and mission on Earth
• Jesus is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit


  • His actions and teachings are divinely inspired and in alignment with God's will
• Jesus is anointed or chosen by God to bring good news


  • Particularly to the poor and marginalized, which encompasses spiritual poverty, oppression, and any form of deprivation
• Jesus is proclaiming that through his ministry, people will experience a time of divine acceptance, forgiveness, and restoration of their relationship with God


  • This refers to the concept of the "Year of Jubilee" outlined in the Old Testament (Leviticus 25)
• This mission statement reflects Jesus' mission to bring about spiritual liberation, healing, and restoration to humanity
• It emphasizes God's concern for the marginalized and oppressed, and it calls for a radical transformation of society rooted in justice, compassion, and love
• It sets the tone for Jesus' ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and ultimately, sacrificing himself for the redemption of humanity
• The Beatitudes


  A synthesis of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, they introduce and summarize it, and are a set of values to cherish and attitudes to cultivate as Christians
• Matthew's Version of the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-9)


  • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
  • Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted
  • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land
  • Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
  • Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God
  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God
  • Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• Luke's Version of the Beatitudes (Lk 6:20-26)

  • Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours
  • Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied
  • Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh
  • Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way
  • Woe to you who are rich, for you have received consolation
  • Woe to you who are filled now for you will be hungry
  • Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep
  • Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way
• Merits of participating in or living the Beatitudes of Jesus

  It means that God congratulates his followers, dedicates the Kingdom of God to them, and invites them to follow Him along the path of the road less traveled
• Living out the Beatitudes


  • Involves embodying the values and virtues they represent, such as humility, mercy, peacemaking, and righteousness. God acknowledges and dedicates His Kingdom to those who exemplify these qualities, indicating a recognition of their faithfulness and alignment with divine principles
• By living the Beatitudes


  • Individuals are invited to follow Jesus along the path that he walked, often described as the "road less traveled." This path entails embracing values that may be contrary to those of the world, such as prioritizing the needs of others over self-interest and seeking justice and righteousness even in the face of adversity
• Merits of following the Beatitudes

  Experiencing fortune, happiness, and joy, as the Beatitudes are recognized as Jesus' path to genuine happiness and the discovery of true meaning in life
• Following the Beatitudes


  • Leads to a sense of fortune and happiness, not necessarily in terms of material wealth or external success, but in the richness of spiritual fulfillment and alignment with God's will
• Embracing the Beatitudes


  • Leads to a deeper sense of joy and meaning in life, stemming from living in harmony with God's purposes and experiencing the transformative power of love, mercy, and righteousness in one's own life and in the lives of others
• This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand. Reform your lives and believe in the Gospel: '(Mk1:14-15; Mt4:17)'
• Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom

  Telling people that a special time had arrived, where God's way of doing things was becoming real in their lives. He urged them to change their ways and believe in the good news he was spreading
• Jesus proclaimed the coming of a new Kingdom of God


  • God's kingdom requires metanoia (change of heart and mind)
  • God's Kingdom is the rule or reign of God's love in every heart and life of people
  • God's Kingdom is not a new philosophy but a new plan of social reform and new social order based on unconditional love for one another
  • God's Kingdom was personally proclaimed and established by Jesus Himself, not as a political and military reign or geographical state/nation
  • God's Kingdom is a new age of peace, joy, freedom, justice, and love
• Jesus claimed


  • He had a special role in the establishment and manifestation of God's kingdom
  • He had certainty, authority, and power over what He taught
• Jesus' Teachings and Life Practice

  • He practiced what He taught. His life itself was His teaching
  • His teachings were unique and unheard of during his time
  • His teachings focused on establishing a connection with the whole person
  • His teachings on love were exemplified by commands like 'Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors' (Mt 5:44)
  • He used parables, miracles, signs, and wonders to guide people towards deeper truths and decision-making
• Parables


  Stories constructed from a literary device called simile, where one thing is compared to another thing of a different kind to illustrate a point
• Why did Jesus use Parables

  • To get His message across without antagonizing His audience
  • To preserve the mystery of the Kingdom
  • To involve his audience
• The King of the Kingdom (Parables)


  • The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:4-7)
  • The Parable of the Lost Coin (Lk 15:8-32)
  • The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
  • The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16)
• Man's Response to the Kingdom of God (Parables)


  • The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)
  • The Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:16-21)
  • The Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30)
• The Future Coming of the Kingdom of God (Parables)


  • The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Mt 22:1-14)
  • The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Mt. 25:1-13)
  • The Parable of the Weeds and Wheat (Mt 13:24-30)
• Relationship with Neighbors (Parables)


  • The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt 18:23-25)
  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
• Miracle


  An event caused by a special divine power that does not follow the normal laws of nature but that which carries a religious message for people now and later
• Miracles of Jesus


  • They were for imitation (to show and tell)
  • They were signs of the Father's compassion
  • They were signs of the Kingdom
  • They were a summons to faith
• Categories of Jesus' miracles

  • Power Over Death
  • Nature Miracles: Power Over Nature
  • Healing Miracles: Curing of Diseases
  • Exorcism; Chasing/ Casting Out of Evil Spirits
• The call and formation of the disciples is part of God's plan of salvation
• The story of Jesus in the company of the disciples is one of the most touching and revealing features of the Gospel
• The 12 Apostles of Jesus

  • PETER - known as Cephas, "the rock" and the leader of the 12 apostles
  • JAMES - the Younger/less, son of Alpheus
  • JAMES - the Elder/ Great, son of Zebedee and the brother of John the Evangelist
  • SIMON - the Zealot
  • JUDE THADDEUS - son of James in the Gospel of Luke
  • PHILIP - the one who brought and introduced Nathaniel to Jesus
  • JOHN - the Beloved Apostle, the brother of James the Elder
  • MATTHEW - the tax collector
  • BARTHOLOMEW - also known as Nathaniel
  • ANDREW - the brother of Peter
  • THOMAS - known as the Doubter because he doubted Jesus' resurrection
  • JUDAS ISCARIOT - the one who betrayed Jesus
• Relationship between Jesus and his disciples

  • Jesus chose and called his disciples
  • Jesus called his disciples to a personal and lasting relationship with Him
  • Jesus called his disciples to share in his mission including its hardship and suffering
• Jesus does not call the qualified, but He qualifies those who were called
• The Israelites at one time consisted of 12 tribes, each descending from one of the sons of Jacob
• Jesus and the Church recognized that the 12 Apostles would be the foundation of the new community of faith, a "new Israel," what we recognize today as the Church