Paschal Mystery

• What led to the Crucifixion?

  • Law
  • Temple
  • Israel's faith
• Paschal - the term paschal comes from the Hebrew word "Pasch" which means Passover.
• Mystery - refers to something knowable but beyond our full comprehension
• Passion of Jesus

  • Agony in the Garden
  • Hematidrosis
  • Scourging at the Pillar
  • Crowning with Thorns
  • Crucifixion
• Agony in the Garden - the intensity of fear and anxiety about the suffering that was before Him caused Jesus to sweat blood
• Hematidrosis - the excretion of blood or blood pigment through the skin, caused by intense levels of stress
• Scourging at the Pillar - This was one of the fiercest forms of torture
• Crowning with Thorns - was to mock Jesus who was condemned for being the "King of the Jews", Local plants and the Shroud suggest that it was a 'Cap of Thorns' with 1-2 inch thorns.
• Crucifixion - most humiliating and shameful death possible.
• Sheol - the abode of all who died before Christ
• Jesus went down to the just souls in hell who were awaiting their Redeemer.
• Resurrection - crowning truth of our faith

  - both a historical and mystical event
• Historical - The apostles witnessed to it with signs and even to death

  - He was visually seen

  - Empty tomb
• Mystical - Glorified body - Christ's body entered the divine life of God which is above time and history
• Ascension - after forty days which Jesus showed Himself to the apostles with ordinary human features which veiled His glory, Christ ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father. It marks the entrance of humanity into the glory of Go. He is the Lord who now reigns even in His humanity, and he constantly intercedes for us before the Father.