The document provides an overview of the origins and establishment of the early Christian church. It begins with Jesus and his ministry, calling the twelve apostles to be his disciples. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the gospel and establishing the church. The church grew as a community of disciples continuing Christ's mission. Key events included Jesus choosing the twelve apostles, Peter being selected as the rock to build the church, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, marking the birth of the church.
Original Description:
Jesus' message and mission and the coming of spirit
The document provides an overview of the origins and establishment of the early Christian church. It begins with Jesus and his ministry, calling the twelve apostles to be his disciples. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the gospel and establishing the church. The church grew as a community of disciples continuing Christ's mission. Key events included Jesus choosing the twelve apostles, Peter being selected as the rock to build the church, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, marking the birth of the church.
The document provides an overview of the origins and establishment of the early Christian church. It begins with Jesus and his ministry, calling the twelve apostles to be his disciples. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the gospel and establishing the church. The church grew as a community of disciples continuing Christ's mission. Key events included Jesus choosing the twelve apostles, Peter being selected as the rock to build the church, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, marking the birth of the church.
It all began with Jesus! Right from the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, the Church was already taking shape. Intimately linked with Jesus and his saving mission was the community of disciples that would continue that mission until the present time. Jesus Christ From the time on, Jesus began to proclaim this theme: “Reform your lives! The kingdom of heaven is at hand…” He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom and cured the people of every disease and illness… The great crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Ten Cities, Jerusalem and Judea and from across the Jordan. (Mt. 4:17,23,25) Jesus’ Message and Mission A. The Kingdom of God is at hand – the rule of a Father is rich in mercy and love. - He called on people to change their ways (metanoia) - He spoke in parables to tell His audience that God’s rule would mean fullness of life (plentiful harvest), an undeserved gift which asked for receptivity and joyful commitment (wheat, pearl of great price, treasure in the field), it will surely grow beyond what we could imagine (wheat growing secretly, mustard seed) and that God’s transforming power would surely make things happen in the midst of human life (leaven in the dough) B. Jesus told his hearers to ask for forgiveness, to pray without ceasing, addressing God as “Abba, Father!” with the trust the He would answer their prayers. - He told them to share and serve – God’s rule is a rule of love where no one is found wanting. - He spoke of the Kingdom as God’s desire to make everyone His children enjoying fully His love. C. Jesus’ deeds prove the truth of His preaching. - His healing miracles reveal a God of love and compassion. - The good news of God’s reign come upon the poor and needy. God is serious indeed in restoring life and wholeness to His children. D. Jesus lived a humble life. - Jesus led a lifestyle that pointed to the passing value of wealth, fame and worldly power. As he was born poor, so did he live and die poor. - His total devotion to God’s will was shown in his prayer, his was a life that sought first the kingdom of God and all other things besides. E. People were attracted and willing to follow Jesus. - The Kingdom of God that Jesus preached started to show itself in a gathered and renewed people. - Communities began to allow God to rule their lives. Jesus Calls the Twelve
• The 12 Apostles were chosen by Jesus to be His
disciples – they became eye-and-ear witnesses to His words and deeds. • Their number corresponds to the 12 Tribes of Israel, a number that meant total or universal. The Twelve 1. Simon (Peter) 7. Matthew 2. James 8. Thomas 3. John 9. James, son of Alphaeus 4. Andrew 10. Jude Thaddeus 5. Philip 11. Simon the Cananean 6. Bartholomew 12. Judas Iscariot PETER Peter was handpicked by Jesus to be his “brothers’ strength”, the “rock” upon which Christ was “to build his Church” (Mt. 16:18) The Church • The disciples were to be the nucleus, the seed from which the Church would grow. • The Church is a community called together by God – a community of love whose source is the Father who sent Christ to be our Redeemer in the unity of the Holy Spirit. • Church – Banal na Iglesya (Filipino), Iglesia (Spanish), Ekklesia (Greek) – meaning “a people called together”. • Greek– kyriake; Hebrew – kuriakon = that pertains to/belongs to the Lord. The mystery of the holy Church is manifest in its very foundation. The Lord Jesus set it on its course by preaching the Good News, that is, the coming of the Kingdom of God, which, for centuries, had been promised in the Scriptures: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand“. In the words of Christ, in his works and in his presence this Kingdom reveals itself to men and women. The Church as a Community
• The Church is a community of disciples that came
as a natural result of Jesus’ mission to proclaim the good news. • Her reason for being is to continue the mission of Christ. • Indeed, a community of peoples (disciples and apostles) who are called and sent. Pentecost: The Birth of the Church • In the Upper Room on the eve of Pentecost, the Apostles must have been praying their hearts out! Though tense, confused, and fearful for their very lives, they followed Jesus’ instructions and waited prayerfully (Cf. Acts 1:12) • They experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit who transformed them into courageous prophets and witnesses to the Good News of salvation in Jesus. The crowd that attended the feast became a community made even more united by constant proclamation of the Word, celebration of worship, and witness to Christ’s service. • What images and experiences are often associated with the Holy Spirit? • What do you think do those images say about how the Holy Spirit works in the life of an individual and of communities? The Coming of the Spirit Read Acts 2: 1-13 • Seven weeks after the Passover is the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which is known as Pentecost, meaning the fiftieth day after the Passover. This was a Jewish harvest time festival, one of the annual feasts in Israel. The Feat of Pentecost is a Christian adaptation of the fiftieth day feast celebrating Moses’ reception of the Law on Mt. Sinai. As Moses ascended and returned with the gift of the Law, Jesus ascended and sent the gift of the Holy Spirit. • The gift of the Spirit on Pentecost signaled the beginning of the Church’s mission. It marked the beginning of a new stage in salvation history. • Luke presented the Holy Spirit as the driving force in the proclamation of the message that Christ had died and had risen. • The Pentecost Spirit is the prime mover of the mission of the Church to the whole world. The Spirit enables the Good News to be preached to all regardless of nationality, race and language. • The Pentecost Spirit of God is the source of the strength to endure persecution. He remains to be the force in the missionary efforts to spread the Gospel. He forms the followers of Jesus into enthusiastic bearers of salvation as the new People of God • With the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, the apostles were emboldened to proclaim the message of salvation as they were fully converted to faith in Christ. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. So powerful was his witness and proclamation that many accepted the faith and were baptized. The Pentecost event opened the door to the Church’s mission to the whole world. • The Church proclaims that with the sending of the Holy Spirit, the apostolic Church was born. As both sign and instrument of salvation , the Church is the principal agent of evangelization. She continues to bring the work of Christ to completion. Church Teaching: CFC no. 1349 • 1349. The first great “living” work of the Holy Spirit, the “Giver of Life,” is the Church. The word “Church” means “that which pertains to the Lord.” Therefore, the best way to introduce the Church’s nature and mission is to focus on Christ. “Christ is the light of all nations, and it is by proclaiming his Gospel to every creature that the light of Christ, which shines out visibly from the Church, may be brought to all men” (LG 1). Church Teaching: CFC no. 1349 • For the Church is none other than that community of men and women “who, united in Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit, press onwards towards the Kingdom of the Father and are bearers of a message of salvation intended for all men” (GS 1). Church Teaching: CFC no. 1272 • How to Discern the Holy Spirit? – First Step • Where do we look for the Holy Spirit? – The “within”, we experience the Holy Spirit in our own thoughts and feelings. – The interpersonal experiences we have with family and friends. – Our work and our social life in the community and in the parish. Church Teaching: CFC no. 1273 • How to Discern the Holy Spirit? – First Step • What is the Spirit doing? • He animates “what we do” in following Christ the Son. • He inspires our living according to “who we are” as sons and daughters of our Father. • The Spirit unites us with the Risen Christ and with one another in Christ’s Church. Church Teaching: CFC no. 1276 • How to Discern the Holy Spirit? – Second Step • Difficulties in recognizing the Holy Spirit. –Due to the Spirit Himself, because He has no shape or form. Church Teaching: CFC no. 1276 • How to Discern the Holy Spirit? – Second Step • Difficulties in recognizing the Holy Spirit. –Comes from our human limitations. Church Teaching: CFC no. 1277 • First, in thinking about the Spirit. Unlike Christ and the Father, the Spirit is not something objective, “in front of us” as it were, but rather within our subjective experience. • It is more like becoming conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the deepest level of our hearts, our loob. • Christ promised his disciples at the Last Supper the Spirit of truth whom “you can recognize because He remains with you and will be within you” (Jn 14:17). Church Teaching: CFC no. 1278 • A second “limitation” which impedes recognizing the Spirit is our self-centered tendency to seek extraordinary spiritual gifts. • We Filipinos seem especially attracted to ecstasies, miracles, visions, and prophecies. This fascination can lead to many distorted notions of the Spirit. It also obscures the more important “ordinary gifts” of the Spirit, especially the highest gift, divine Love (cf. Gal 5:22; 1 Cor 13). Church Teaching: CFC no. 1279 • How to Discern the Holy Spirit? – Third Step • Overcoming the difficulties • Where, then, can we be sure of recognizing the Holy Spirit? – in the Sacred Scriptures, which “make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and apostles” (DV 21). – in the Sacred Tradition, which is handed down in the Church’s ordinary teaching. – particularly in prayer. – Christian witnessing Church Teaching: CFC no. 1279 • Guidelines on how can we discover the actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives • The Holy Spirit always leads to faith in Jesus Christ whom he glorifies; • The Holy Spirit acts always in keeping with Scripture and Tradition showing unity, continuity and consistency; • The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to individuals for the service of the community: to build up the Christian community and fellowship, and work toward overcoming dissensions and factions (cf. 1 Cor 1:10; 3:3); Church Teaching: CFC no. 1279 • Guidelines on how can we discover the actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives • The Holy Spirit is known by his fruits which St.Paul lists as “love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity” (Gal 5:22); • The Holy Spirit is authoritatively discerned, and the proper use of his Gifts is judged by “those who preside over the Church whose office is not indeed to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to what is good” (LG 12). • The Holy Spirit is found in humility: “God resists the proud, but bestows His favor on the lowly” (Jas 4:6). Points for Reflection • What truth about Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Church in the lesson struck you as inspiring and meaningful?
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