incarnation

• St Irenaeus teachings on incarnation

  - Jesus meeting point between man and God

  - Jesus gives us a better understanding of God's nature "revealed God to man and presented man to God"
• sacred heart of Jesus

  - expression of peace and love

  - flames= burning love

  - hole in heart = reminder of the torture

  - crown of thorns = crown that was placed on his head

  reminder of total love of Jesus
• Jesus's moral teaching

  - fulfilled the law

  - more important to focus on attitudes

  - shown in beatitudes

  - "blessed are the poor in heart for they will see God".

  - shown in parable of sheep and goat caring for others as we seek God.

  -"I was hungry and you gave me food".

  - "encourages love for others and to help those who suffer.
• Jesus as fully human and fully God

  - Jesus both fully man and God

  - when focused to much on humanity = Jesus wasn't really God.

  - when focus on his divinity = Jesus wasn't fully human

  - have to find a balance
• Dei verbum 4

  - God is revealed and speaks through Jesus brings salvation

  "the word made flesh was sent as man to men"
• verbum domini 12

  word God limited himself to human form so humans can understand God. "the eternal word became so small, small enough to fit into a manger"
• human form of Jesus

  - God understands our experience shown on the cross "why have you forsaken me" and sacred heart of Jesus
• Divine form of Jesus

  otherwise just a teacher who performs miracles otherwise not saviour, statue of Rio
• what is Grace?

  - love that unites 3 persons of the trinity

  - strength to do what God wants

  - unconditional gift

  sacrament - outwards sign of inward grace

  - world is a sign of God's love Jesus gift of love
• sacraments

  - baptism = child of God

  - confirmation = power holy spirit renewed

  - eucharist = receives life of Christ

  - marriage = love God active in their lives

  - ordination = commits to God and church

  - reconciliation = relationships restored

  - sacrament of the sick = strength and forgiveness.
• imago dei and abortion

  - human life begins at moment of conception shown by Elizabeth "the child in my womb leapt for joy".

  - sanctity of life all life is a gift

  - image of God = life shouldn't be harmed

  - support organisations that help women
• Matthews account on annunciation

  - Josephs role

  - thought Mary was pregnant before marriage

  - angel visited Joseph in a dream.

  - child conceived through holy spirit.

  - calls Jesus Emmanuel = God is with us

  "do not be afraid"
• Luke's account of the annunciation

  - Mary's role

  - Gabriel visited Mary, Jesus conceived through power of the Holy spirit.

  - free will gave Mary a choice "let it be with me according to your word".

  - God fulfils promise of love

  "he will be great and called son of the most high"
• Key beliefs about the annunciation

  - Mary virgin

  - God works through humans

  - conceived by the Holy spirit
• what was Jesus sent to do

  - guide people

  - share God's love

  - "the word became flesh and lived amongst us"

  Jesus shares in Gods divinity "are you the Messiah the son of the blessed one?" Jesus replied i am.
• Jesus as the son of Man

  - Jesus was fully human

  - had full human experiences experienced loss and suffering through the crucifixion.
• AGAINST: Religious art

  - isn't possible to portray God accurately

  - infinite God can not be presented by finite means

  - against commandment "do not make idols"

  - gives people wrong ideas about God.
• FOR: religious art

  - inspire people and focus people aspects of Gods work

  - art is fine as Jesus was human

  - Jesus fully human - acceptable to show human form

  - Jesus fully God - God revealed himself on earth

  - Jesus died to save all humanity - shown by any ethnicity.
• what does the Ichtus show?

  declaration of faith during persecution
• alpha and omega

  eternal beginning and end
• Chi Rho

  The first 2 letters of the Greek word for Christ