Incarnation

• Symbol


  A simple design that represents something more complex
• Christians value symbols as a simple way of expressing deep religious beliefs
• Ichthus (fish)


  Religious significance: ichthus means fish in Greek and early Christians used this word as a type of acronym where the letters represent in Greek the words: Jesus Christ, Son of God Saviour. It also used to be a secret symbol during times of persecution that would indicate if someone was a Christian
• Alpha and Omega


  Alpha is at the start of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last letter. They are used to indicate that God and Jesus are involved in everything from beginning to end. The symbol is used in many places in churches, religious art and the Paschal candle used at the Easter vig
• Chi-Rho


  A symbol to represent Jesus made up of the first two letters of his name in Greek. The letter Chi-X and Rho-P. It reminds Christians that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity through his death and can be worn as an alternative to the crucifix as an expression of faith
• In some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, it is an offence to show God in any form. Because God showed himself on earth as human in Incarnation, the Catholic Church believes it is acceptable to use human images to depict God
• Reasons against religious art


  • An infinite God is impossible to draw accurately and art may mislead people about what God is like or lead them to worship the images themselves
  • Some Christians believe it goes against the 2nd commandment: "You shall not make for yourself an idol" Exodus 20:4
• Catholic attitudes towards religious art

  • Jesus was fully human so it should be acceptable to draw him in human form to show this. He was also fully God meaning it is fine to depict God as human
  • Jesus died to save all of humanity so he can be shown as a member of any ethnicity, because all people are affected by his death and resurrection
• Christ the Redeemer statue


  • The outstretched arms are a reminder of the cross on which Jesus accepted death and a symbol of Jesus' love and obedience to God the Father
  • His arms also show that Jesus' love takes in all people; there is nobody excluded from the love of God in Jesus Christ
• Different Christian views about sculptures, statues or images of Jesus

  • Catholics and many other Christians approve of art that shows Jesus as it helps reflect aspects of his teachings and life and can help people to focus during prayer
  • Other Christians are against depicting Jesus in art as nobody knows what he looked like and showing him as human may ignore the belief that he is also fully God
• The Beatitudes

  At the start of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus' teachings found in Matthew 5-7) Jesus gives a series of blessings called the beatitudes where he focuses on what people's attitudes should be and their rewards
• The parable of the Sheep and the Goats

  In the parable found in Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus tells his followers that in caring for those in need they are serving God. This is one of Jesus' most important teachings. By showing love and kindness to others, Christians will be judged favourably by God and will be rewarded in heaven
• Sacrament

  An outward and visible sign of an invisible and spiritual grace
• The seven sacraments

  • Baptism
  • Eucharist
  • Confirmation
  • Reconciliation
  • Sacrament of the Sick
  • Marriage
  • Ordination
• Imago Dei


  Catholics believe that, because humans are made in the Image of God, as stated in Genesis 1:27, and that all life is holy and should be protected
• Catholics believe that the whole person is present from the moment of conception, as shown in the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth in Luke 1:44 where the child in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy
• Because of the beliefs in Imago Dei and the presence of the whole person from conception, the Catholic Church is against abortion
• Incarnation


  The belief that God took on human form in the person of Jesus
• Annunciation


  The story in the Gospel of Luke (1.26-38) where the angel Gabriel asked Mary to accept the role of the mother of the Son of God
• Emmanuel


  Means 'God is with us' in Hebrew, a name used for Jesus
• Jesus as the "Son of Man"


  Jesus referred to himself as the "Son of Man" which emphasizes that he is a normal human being who suffers
• Jesus as the "Son of God"


  When Jesus is arrested and brought before the Jewish Council, the high priest asked Jesus if he was "the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" and he replied by saying "I am", declaring that he is the Son of God
• Irenaeus' teachings about Jesus


  • Jesus, as both fully God and fully human, is the meeting point between God and humanity. The incarnation brings God and humanity closer together
  • Jesus, as the perfect human being, sets the example for all Christians to follow. They can be fully alive following how he lived
• Different understandings of the incarnation


  • Beliefs that suggest Jesus is not both fully human and fully God are called heresies
  • Del Verbum 4 emphasizes Jesus' divinity. Jesus is as an enlightener, teaching us about God and defeating sin and death
  • Verbum Domini 12 emphasizes Jesus' humanity. It teaches that the Word of God really limited himself to a human form, "the eternal word became small-small enough to fit into a manger"
• Grace


  The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it
• Sacramental nature of reality


  The belief that, as God is present in the whole of his creation, the whole of reality is a sacrament-a sign of God's grace