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Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do you say

Chapter 10 that I am?”


(Mt 16:15) This same question is posed to
Jesus Christ: each and every Christian Filipino today. Its

Mission and Person unique


importance is that our own self-identity and
“And you,” he said to them, “who do you say life-meaning as persons, Filipinos and
that I am?” Catholics, rests on
Simon Peter answered, “You are the our personal response. To truly know
Messiah, the Son of ourselves and the ultimate meaning of our
the living God!” lives “we need to
(Mt 16:15-16) contemplate the face and the heart of
Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” Christ” (PCP II 36).
(Jn 20:28)
This chapter takes up the mission and
OPENING identity of Jesus Christ. The two following
464. The center of our Christian Faith is chapters develop the
Jesus Christ. Hence, he is the heart and central truths of his Paschal Mystery as
center of proclaimed in the Eucharistic acclamation:
catechesis (cf. PCP II 157-9; CCC 426-29). “Christ has died,
Thus, the chief aim of this Catechism is to Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”
put Filipinos 466. As the only “Christian nation” of
“not only in touch but in communion, in Southeast Asia, we Filipinos can be proud
intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can of our faith in Jesus
lead us to the love Christ. Chapter 1 pictured the Catholic
of the Father in the Spirit and make us Filipino in terms of five images of Christ: as
share in the life of the Holy Trinity” (CT 5). Son of God and
Like PCP II, this Son of Man, as Eucharist, as Suffering
Catechism intends to be a venue for Servant, as King, and as “Miracle worker,”
“meeting with Christ.” It is directed “toward a within a Mary inspired approach. Here we
New wish to focus on how to come to a deeper,
Evangelization based on the preaching of truer understanding of what
Christ Crucified to today’s Filipinos and Jesus Christ does and who he is. This tells
Asians. . . To us something of both the real Jesus Christ
proclaim the wonderful redemptive acts of living today, and
Christ our Lord, from Aparri to Jolo. To re- of our deep-felt values and needs as
animate our life Filipinos, our kalooban, as redeemed
in Christ Jesus; to unite all things in him” (cf. “disciples of Christ” (PCP
Message of the Council; PCP II 7). II 34).
This is the first of three chapters focusing 467. Three popular Filipino images of Christ
directly on Jesus as he is presented to us are particularly expressive. First is the
today Santo Niño (the
through the teaching, witness and prayer life Holy Child) imaging the innocence,
of the Catholic “People of God,” the Church. simplicity, child-like wonder of Christ. While
465. At a critical point in his public ministry, responding to the
Filipino’s natural love for children, the child II does not hesitate
image of Christ can sometimes foster a one- to admit that “the Church has failed in many
sided focus ways to satisfy the spiritual hunger of many
which neglects the mature, adult Christ and of the
the demands of responsible discipleship. faithful. This we must correct” (PCP II 223).
A second common image is Hesus On the other hand, the continuing violence
Nazareno, picturing the suffering Jesus and in armed conflicts and kidnapping manifests
inspiring many the
folk devotional panata. This image of Jesus’ deep-set cry of so many Filipinos today for
suffering love is very consoling to social liberation. They are seeking a way to
numberless Filipinos break out of
in dire poverty and hardships. Yet, unless it the injustices and oppressive structures that
is balanced by the image of the Risen exploit them. It is in this concrete Philippine
Christ, the Victor context that
over sin and death itself, it can foster a Jesus Christ must be approached today. As
certain self-centered, passive fatalistic “Church of the Poor,” we Filipino Catholics
attitude that impedes must be
free, creative response to everyday “willing to follow Jesus Christ through
challenges. poverty and oppression in order to carry out
468. A third popular image of Christ, the work of
common in jeepneys and tricycles, is the salvation” (PCP II 135).
Sacred Heart, whose EXPOSITION
meek and mild countenance invites like
I. PRESUPPOSITIONS
attitudes in his followers. Traditional Filipino
470. First, we must recognize that to really
courtesy and
know Jesus Christ is a life-long task. This is
patience in the face of suffering are thus
the
religiously grounded. But this serene image
experience of all who believe in him. It is
needs to be
life-long because to know Jesus is to know
related to Christ the Liberator, inspired by
the only one
his mission to “light a fire on the earth” (Lk
whom “God has raised up” (Acts 2:32), who
12:49). It is
“takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29),
this image of Christ, liberating us both within
who is the
our personal lives and social structures, that
“only Son of the Father, full of grace and
has
truth” (Jn 1:14). It is life-long, too, because
captured the special attention of many
only in Jesus
Filipinos today.
Christ do we come to know our own true
469. Two realities dominate the present
selves, and the deepest meaning and
Philippine context of preaching Christ. On
destiny of our lives (cf.
the one hand, the
GS 22; PCP II 34).
startling growth of “Born Again” and
471. Second, knowing Jesus is a living,
Fundamentalist groups indicates a
changing, growing and deepening
widespread yearning among
experience. It is not like
Filipinos for a closer, more personal,
knowing some fact of information, or
intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. PCP
knowing how to do something, some skill.
Rather, knowing our lives. It must accompany loving
Jesus means entering into a personal service of others in living faith (cf. Jas 2:17).
relationship with him. As PCP II declares, Otherwise it is knowledge that “puffs up,”
“the believer lives in rather than “builds up” (1 Cor 8:1).
Jesus and Jesus lives in him” (PCP II 66). PCP II declares: “expressing our faith
“Knowing him” animates and liberates us in through deeds of justice and love is
a way like no particularly urgent in the
other relationship could possibly do. Philippines” (PCP II 80).
Concretely, most Filipino Catholics learn of 474. From this practical necessity of
Jesus when taught their prayers as young following Jesus in order to know him
children. adequately flows a fifth
We learn about Jesus, born of the Virgin basic principle: that we come to know who
Mary, his mother, and recite the Hail Mary. Jesus is from what he did, his salvific
Our parents take mission. This is
us to Sunday Mass where we learn to listen exemplified by one Eucharistic acclamation
to Christ’s teaching and his works of power which proclaims: “Lord, by your Cross and
by hearing the Resurrection
proclamation of the Gospel’s Good News. you have set us free. You are the Savior of
We pray the Creed together with the whole the world!” John’s Gospel was written
congregation. according to the
472. Third, the Jesus we come to know is same principle: “Jesus performed many
both the historical earthly Jesus and the other signs as well. . . . But these have been
Risen Christ of recorded to help
faith. One cannot be separated from the you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the
other. St. Paul exemplifies this in his Son of God, so that through this faith you
description of the may have life in
Gospel: his name” (Jn 20:30-31). So we turn to the
the gospel concerning His Son, who was Gospels, which “faithfully hand on what
descended from David according to the flesh but Jesus, the Son of
was made Son of God in power God, while he lived among us, really did and
according to the spirit of holiness, by his taught for our eternal salvation” (DV 19).
resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our
Lord
II. MINISTRY OF THE HISTORICAL
(Rom 1:3-4). JESUS
473. Fourth, to know Jesus means being 475. The irreplaceable starting point for
committed to following him, being his knowing Christ is the historical Jesus. So it
disciple (cf. PCP II was with the
34, 44). As expressed in a popular song a first disciples of Christ, whose Easter
few years ago, “to see” Christ more clearly proclamation asserted that “the God of our
involves “loving fathers has glorified
him more dearly” and “following him more his Servant Jesus, whom you handed over
nearly.” There is no authentic “knowing and disowned in Pilate’s presence” (Acts
Jesus Christ” outside of personal 3:13). So it is with
commitment to his teaching and way of life. us Filipino Catholics today: we come to
Knowing Jesus must make a difference in personal faith through the Christian
community’s witness to Jesus Christ speaks the words of God (cf. Jn
Jesus’ historical life, interpreted with the 3:34), and accomplishes the saving work which
help of the inspired Scriptures and of the the Father
continued gave him to do. . . . He did this by the total fact
of his presence and self-manifestation __ by
inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the living
words and
Tradition of the Church. The life and work of
works, signs and miracles, but above all by this
the historical death and resurrection from the dead, and finally
Jesus alone provides the basic ground for by
confessing Jesus as Christ the Lord. sending the Spirit of truth (DV 4).
476. Why the Historical Jesus? We proclaim 478. Following Vatican II, PCP II described
in the Creed that the Son of God came Christ as prophet, priest and king (cf. LG
down from 10-13; PCP II
heaven “for us and our salvation.” Scripture 57-61). In this chapter we shall sketch the
likewise declares: “The Father sent His Son ministry of the historical Jesus under two
as main headings:
Savior of the world” (1 Jn 4:14). This means prophet and Savior. The exposition of
first, that God sent His Son as an offering Jesus as King will be developed in terms of
for our Christ our Moral
sins (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). Second, he came to Norm in Chap. 15. Jesus as Priest is
reveal to us God’s love, that we might have explained in the section of Chapter 28
life through him entitled “Jesus Christ, the
(cf. Jn 3:16). Third, he came to be our One Mediator/Priest.”
model for sanctity, so that, fourth, we could A. Jesus as Prophet
share in his divine 479. The vocation of a biblical prophet often
sonship (cf. 2 Pt 1:4; CCC 456-60). embraces three typical tasks: 1) to proclaim
At Christmas St. Augustine preached: “He the word
who was the Son of God, for you has of God with authority; 2) to accompany this
become the word with signs and wonders (deeds); and
Son of man, so that you who were children 3) to suffer a
of men, might become the children of God. martyr’s fate, death. This is the pattern of
That he might Jesus’ ministry that we find in the Gospel of
give us of his good things, he shared with Mark. Jesus is
us our infirmities.” “a prophet equal to any of the prophets” (Mk
477. After situating its work in the “Lights 6:15). His ministry incited the Pharisees to
and Shadows” of the Philippines, PCP II ask for signs
chose to present (cf. Mk 8:11), and he was put to death for
its Message with “The Way of Jesus,” being a false prophet (cf. Mk 14:65).
followed by “The Call of Jesus Today,” to 480. Jesus himself spoke of his own
ground our Christian experience in terms of a prophet’s rejection
life of “Discipleship in Community __ The by his own people
Church” (PCP II 37-144). The actual work or (cf. Mk 6:4) and compared his own fate to a
ministry of prophet’s death in Jerusalem (cf. Lk 13:33).
Jesus was summed up by Vatican II in the But most of
following description: all, Jesus lived a prophetic mission by
reason of his possession of the Spirit. In the For Filipino Christians today, PCP II
synagogue of sketches the essentials of the Kingdom as a
Nazareth, Jesus calmly appropriates to “gift of God,”
himself the text of Isaiah: “The spirit of the made present in Jesus, as a “Task” and as
Lord is upon me; a “Promise” (cf. PCP II 39-43).
therefore He has anointed me. He has sent 482. Christ’s typical method of
me to bring good tidings to the poor . . .” (Lk communicating his word about the Kingdom
4:18). When was by telling stories,
asked by John the Baptist’s disciples “Are parables. In them he focused on the
you ‘He who is to come’? ” Jesus responds common life of his listeners, and drew them
by citing his into recognizing
works of the Spirit: God’s presence therein. Jesus taught the
“Go back and report to John what you hear and people that God was their Father, not in
see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, competition with them.
lepers are That He was not calling them out of their
cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, own humanity, but rather making their own
and the poor have the good news preached to
creative human efforts
them” (Mt
possible by His divine presence.
11:4-5).
We shall briefly develop each of the three 483. Another characteristic of Jesus’
dimensions of the prophet’s task __ word, preaching was his peculiar use
deeds, and of “Amen.” While “Amen” was customary in
fate __ as Jesus gives them their fullest responding to another’s assertion, Jesus
meaning in his own ministry. used it rather to
Word introduce his own message. Jesus’ Amen
481. The teaching and preaching of Jesus expressed a unique blend of certainty,
centered on the “Kingdom of God,” a authority and power.
dynamic symbol of Certainty, because Jesus claimed to be
God’s active presence among His people. expressing only what he hears from the
For Christ, this Kingdom, was grounded in Father. “I do nothing by myself. I say only
the Old what the Father has taught me” (Jn 8:26-
Testament hope for Yahweh’s presence (cf. 28).
Ps 91:1, 96:10; 97:1; 99:1 etc). This hope Authority, because unlike the prophets of
was old, Jesus spoke in his own name: “I
eschatological, that is, something already solemnly assure
present but not yet fully (cf. Mk 1:14f; Mt you . . .” (cf. Jn 3:3,11; 5:19,24, etc.) Jesus
4:17). Without puts his word above Moses and the Law.
ever defining precisely what the Kingdom of “You have heard
God is, Jesus uses it to embrace all the the commandment imposed on your
blessings of forefathers . . . What I say to you is. . .” (Mt
salvation, a salvation of God’s active 5:21-48).
presence within people’s daily life, liberating Power, because Jesus claimed a unique
them from the filial relationship with God his “Abba,”
enslaving power of evil, for loving service of Father. And he
their fellowmen. claimed the power to share this relationship
with others: home town of Nazareth, Jesus could work
“Everything has been given over to me by my no miracle, “so
Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, much did their lack of faith distress him” (Mk
and no one 6:5-6).
knows the Father but the Son, and anyone to 486. The faith which Jesus praised
whom the Son wishes to reveal Him” (Mt 11:27).
throughout his ministry was not the self-
Deeds
righteous, legalistic faith
484. Peter’s Pentecost discourse began
of the Scribes and Pharisees. Rather, for
with: “Men of Israel, listen to me! Jesus the
those who knew their own helplessness, it
Nazorean was a
was the open
man whom God sent to you with miracles,
acceptance of God’s free gift of loving,
wonders, and signs as his credentials.
healing presence among them in Christ.
These God worked
“Believing” meant
through him in your midst, as you well
reaching out beyond themselves and their
know” (Acts 2:22). But Jesus was not the
need to embrace the free gift of Christ’s life-
typical “wonderworker” creating a big show
giving and
to draw crowds of followers. Rather he
healing love. This is the faith that “saves”
worked a healing ministry which
because it shares in the very power of God,
constantly called to personal faith and
active within
discipleship (cf. PCP II 84).
our daily lives.
485. The direct connection between faith
487. But beyond open acceptance, this faith
and healing works is clearly affirmed by
which Jesus praises also involves
Christ in many of
discipleship: an
his signs. For instance:
implicit commitment. Each is called to live
• when he cured the paralytic (cf. Mk 2:1-
out the gift of life freely given, in all the
12), and the woman with the issue of blood
concrete
(cf. Mk
circumstances of one’s daily life, by
5:25-34);
following Jesus’ way. This is what coming to
• when he gave sight to the blind
know Jesus Christ
Bartimaeus (cf. Mk 10:46-52), and restored
demands of every believer. Each has a
to life Jairus’ daughter (cf. Mk
mission as Christ himself had, from the
5:21-24,35-43);
Father. To personally
• when he cured the centurion’s servant boy
know Christ, then, is to understand the
at Capernaum (cf. Mt 8:5-13), and the
meaning of one’s own concrete life in view
daughter
of the larger
of the persistent Canaanite woman (cf. Mt
perspective of the Kingdom of God: of our
15:21-28);
graced union with God (cf. PCP II
• when he cleansed the ten lepers, of whom
62,67,79,85).
only the one Samaritan returned to give
488. Besides his healing, Christ’s ministry
thanks
was noted for his celebration of the
(cf. Lk 17:11-19).
Kingdom in tablefellowship. He not only
In all these cases, Christ’s message was
forgave sinners and associated with tax
the same: “Your faith has been your
collectors and outcasts (cf. Mk 2:15-
salvation. Go in
17); he even scandalized his pious
peace” (Lk 7:50). In contrast, in his own
contemporaries by dining with them. Such Jewish religious authorities. This was
table-fellowship because he
symbolized Christ’s whole mission and overturned the priorities of their religious
message of drawing all into his Father’s practice, especially in regard to the Sabbath
Kingdom. “I have Law and the
come to call sinners, not the self-righteous” Temple. He claimed authority over the
(Mk 2:17). It prefigures the eternal banquet Sabbath Law (cf. Mk 2:28; Lk 6:5), and
in the challenged the
Kingdom of God in which “many will come legalistic approach to its observance (cf. Lk
from the east and the west and will find a 13:10-17; 14:1-6). Likewise, by his symbolic
place, while the cleansing of
natural heirs will be driven out into the dark” the Temple, he exercised a similar
(Mt 8:11-12). command over it (cf. Jn 2:13-22).
489. The importance of this table-fellowship B. Jesus as Savior/Redeemer
in Jesus’ ministry is confirmed by two 491. More than being a “prophet,” Jesus
things. The first was proclaimed Savior/Redeemer even
is the special importance among the early before his birth.
disciples of the “breaking of bread” (Lk “You are to name him “Jesus” because he
24:35; Acts 2:46). will save his people from their sins” (Mt
This must have come from Jesus’ own 1:21). The very
mannerism. The second is the Lord’s prayer name “Jesus” means “God is salvation.”
which Christ Today many Filipinos are strongly attracted
taught his disciples. It summarizes the to Jesus as their
ministry of Christ in terms of “Abba” personal Savior “who gave himself up for
(Father), the Kingdom, me” (Gal 2:20). In one Eucharistic
bread, forgiveness and the final test. All of acclamation we
these refer in one way or another to table- proclaim: “Lord, by your Cross and
fellowship and Resurrection you have set us free. You are
more. Not just voluntary “coming together” the Savior of the
but the koinonia, the transforming world!” Thus both Scripture and the liturgy
communion we have in invite us to see Christ our Lord in terms of
the Eucharistic celebration as members of his saving
Christ’s Body. work.
Fate 492. But with all the injustice, violence and
490. Finally we come to the third dimension senseless suffering rampant throughout the
of the prophet, to suffer a martyr’s death. world today, how
Jesus referred to such a fate (cf. can we honestly acclaim Jesus as Savior?
Lk 13:33-34). Moreover, he had the What does Christ save us from? To reply
example of John the Baptist before him. effectively, two basic insights are
Jesus himself was accused of blasphemy essential. First, Christ “saves” by touching
because he proclaimed the forgiveness of the spiritual root of all these evils
sins, and of casting out devils by the power experienced today, namely, SIN __ people’s
of Beelzebub (cf. Mk 3:22). proud, self-seeking moral attitudes and acts
Jesus was constantly under attack by the before God and with one another.
Selfishness enslaves. “Everyone who lives God gave you new life in company with Christ.
in He cancelled the bond that stood against us with
sin is the slave of sin. . . . That is why, if the all its
Son frees you, you will really be free” (Jn claims, snatching it up and nailing it to the cross.
Thus did God disarm the principalities and
8:34-36).
powers. He
493. Second, the salvation which Christ has
made a public show of them, and leading them
already won for all is not yet complete. It off captive, triumphed in the person of Christ
must be (Col 2:14-
accepted, embraced and acted out in the 15).
free lives of believers today. Yet the fight versus evil spirits continues as
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and St. Peter warns us:
do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. . . . Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is
For you prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone
were called for freedom __ but not a freedom that to
gives free rein to the flesh; rather, serve one devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith . . .
another The God of all grace who called you to his
through love (Gal 5:1,13; cf. 1 Pt 5:6-10). everlasting glory
494. Christ’s saving work in his Paschal in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
Mystery is taken up in detail in the two strengthen, and establish those who have
following chapters. suffered for a little while
Here we only sketch briefly the work of (1 Pt 5:8-10).
Jesus as Savior by indicating three basic Saving from Socio-Political Oppression
dimensions of 496. The Exodus liberation of the Old
Christian salvation as presented in Testament is the background for Jesus’
Scripture. As throughout salvation history, saving work as the
Filipinos today seek new Moses. He teaches a new hierarchy of
salvation: 1) from the cosmic demonic values that undermined the oppressive
powers of evil; 2) from enslaving, social structures of
oppressive forces in the his day (cf. Lk 16:14-15). But how did Jesus
economic, socio-political areas; and 3) from actually liberate? First, he exposed the
the absurdity and meaninglessness of enslaving,
personal life. In corrupting power of riches. Jesus showed
each area Christ has worked his unique that giving was better than taking, sharing
salvation. more liberating
Saving from Cosmic Evil than hoarding (cf. Lk 6:29-30; 14:13-14;
495. In his public ministry Jesus was noted Acts 20:35).
for casting out evil spirits. “What do you For Jesus, the key to economic liberation
want of us, was twofold: 1) to free human hearts from
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to their greed
destroy us? I know who you are __ the Holy and self-seeking; and 2) to inspire them with
One of God!” (Mk respect for others, sensitivity and
1:24) “To be saved” here means to be a compassion for the
“new creation” in Christ. “If anyone is in needy, and a generous, outgoing love for
Christ, he is a new those in want.
creation” (2 Cor 5:17). 497. Second, Jesus taught that any power
not rooted in mutual service was enslaving follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness;
and oppressive. no, he shall posses the light of life” (Jn
“Whoever wants to rank first among you 8:12). “I have
must serve the needs of all” (Mk 10:42-45). come into the world as its light, to keep
Love is anyone who believes in me from remaining
ultimately the only power that sets people in the dark” (Jn
free. 12:46).
Third, Jesus liberated his followers from the III. THE PERSON OF JESUS
common social prejudices that bound them. 500. From this biblical sketch of Jesus as
These Prophet and Savior, what can we answer to
were the customary ways of honoring the Jesus’ own
wise and the rich while discriminating question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk
against foreigners, 8:29). We could begin by answering with
women, public sinners and outcasts. He Peter: “You are
taught concern for “the little ones” of the the Christ.” We thus affirm that the
Kingdom (cf. Mt historical Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah,
18:10). foretold by the
498. Finally, Jesus freed his contemporaries prophets (cf. Acts 2:29-32), anointed by the
from mere external, lega1istic religious Holy Spirit as prophet, priest and king. (cf.
obedience to the Acts 10:38).
Law by interiorizing and prioritizing its He was sent by God to bring salvation to the
obligations. world and fulfill all history (cf. CCC 436-40).
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you But to fulfill that mission, who must Jesus
hypocrites! You pay tithes on mint and herbs BE? From what he has done, can we
and seeds, while discover who he
neglecting the weight, matters of the law: justice
IS? The Scriptures ground three
and mercy and good faith. It is these you should
fundamental truths about the Person of
have
practiced, without neglecting the others. Blind Jesus: Jesus is true man, true
guides, you strain out the gnat and swallow the God, and one. (cf. CCC 480; NCDP 189).
camel! (Mt A. Jesus Our Brother: True Man
23:23f) 501. The Scriptures and constant teaching
Saving from Life’s Meaninglessness of the Church are one in asserting that
499. Christ saved by being the revelation Jesus is truly a
of the Father. To his followers Jesus man. So the Creed proclaims: “He was
promised: “If you conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
live according to my teaching, you are truly and born of the Virgin Mary”
my disciples; then you will know the truth, (cf. CCC 484-87). To be our Savior, Jesus
and the truth “had to become like his brothers in every
will set you free” (Jn 8:31f). His teachings way, that he might be a merciful and
set us free because they offer meaning and faithful high priest before God on their
purpose in life, behalf, to expiate the sins of the people”
dispelling the darkness of ignorance and (Heb 2:17). “Born of a woman, born
despair. Jesus taught: “I am the light of the under the law” (Gal 4:4). Jesus “progressed
world. No steadily in wisdom and age and grace
before God and the Father,
men” (Lk 2:52). He experienced hunger (cf. filled with enduring love” (Jn 1:14; cf. CCC
Lk 4:2), thirst (cf. Jn 4:7), temptation (cf. Mt 461-63).
4:1-11), Second, Jesus as “lifted up” at the
deep emotions (cf. Jn 11:33), and great pity Resurrection. “This is the Jesus God has
for the people (cf. Mt 15:32). In brief, raised up, and we
Scripture presents are his witnesses. Exalted at God’s right
Jesus as fully human. hand, . . . know beyond any doubt that God
502. In a memorable passage, Vatican II has made both
has stressed Christ’s humanity: Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you
He who is ‘the image of the invisible God’ is crucified” (Acts 2:32f,36).
himself the perfect man . . . For by his But both approaches lead to Jesus Christ,
incarnation, the Son one person who is truly man and truly
of God has united himself in some fashion with God.
every man. He worked with human hands, he
505. Two great hymns of the New
thought
Testament proclaim Christ’s divinity for all
with a human mind, acted by human choice, and
loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin time. The first is in Paul’s Letter to the
Mary, he Philippians, where he quotes a Baptismal
has truly been made one of us, like us in all hymn already in use in the early Church.
things, except sin (GS 22). The hymn covers three states of Jesus.
503. There can be no doubt, therefore, First, his prior heavenly existence: “Though
about the Catholic Faith’s insistence on he was in the form of God, he did not deem
Jesus’ true humanity. equality with God something
But for many Filipinos, Jesus as truly human to be grasped at” (Phil 2:6).
is not a familiar image (cf. NCDP 182). The Second, his earthly status: “He emptied
actual himself and took the form of a slave, being
problem is not with the truth of Jesus as born in the likeness of men, . . .
man, but with translating this truth into an he humbled himself, becoming obedient to
ever-deepening death, even death on a cross!” (Phil 2: 7-8)
personal relation with Jesus, in our thinking, And third, his exaltation: “Because of this,
doing and praying. God highly exalted him and bestowed on
B. “One Lord, Jesus, the Only Son of him the
God” name above every other name, that at the
504. The Christian Faith stands or falls on name of Jesus, every knee should bend, in
the confession of Jesus as the only Son of the heavens, on
God, our Lord the earth, and under the earth, and every
(cf. CCC 441-50). Scripture grounds this tongue confess, to the glory of God the
confession in two ways. First, Jesus as Father, that JESUS
God’s Eternal Word CHRIST IS LORD!” (Phil 2:9-11).
coming down to take on human nature in 506. The second hymn (Col 1:15-20)
the Incarnation. “The Word became flesh, synthesizes the growing awareness in New
and made his Testament times of
dwelling among us, and we have seen his the Person of Christ. First, He is the “new
glory, the glory of an only Son coming from Adam”, “the image of the invisible God, the
first born of all regarding Christ
creatures” (Col 1:15). Second, he is divine, appeared. An orthodox consensus was
“For in him everything in heaven and on finally reached at the Council of Chalcedon
earth was created (451) which
. . . all were created through him and for defined the person of Christ as:
him. He is before all else that is. In him One and the same Son, our Lord Jesus
everything continues Christ, . . . the same truly God and truly man, . . .
in being” (Col 1:16-17). Third, Christ the same one in
possesses the primacy and fullness: “It being with the Father as to the divinity and one
in being with us as to the humanity, like us in all
pleased God to make
things
absolute fullness reside in him and, by
but sin. The same begotten from the Father
means of him, to reconcile everything in his before the ages as to the divinity, and in the
person, both on latter days for us
earth and in the heavens” (Col 1:19-20). and our salvation was born as to his humanity
507. This New Testament assertion of from Mary, the Virgin Mother of God (ND 614).
Christ’s divinity underwent a turbulent C. Jesus Is One Person
history in postapostolic times. Through the 510. The Scriptures clearly affirm “there is
centuries the Church gradually came to only one mediator between God and men,
greater clarity and precision in the man, Christ
proclaiming the divinity of Christ, and Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all”
created the Creeds which we use to the (1 Tim 2:5). Easter shows how Jesus is both
present day. The God’s own
Council of Nicea (325) rejected the heresy Self-gift to us, and the perfect human
of Arius and proclaimed faith in “one Lord response to God. For it is precisely Jesus
Jesus Christ, the Crucified one who
the Son of God, the only begotten is risen (cf. Mt 28:5-6). Paul writes of the
generated from the Father, God from God, wonderful exchange: “You are well
Light from Light, true acquainted with the
God from true God, begotten, not made, favor shown you by our Lord Jesus Christ:
one in being with the Father” (ND 7). how for your sake he made himself poor,
508. St. Augustine comments on the Nicean though he was rich, so that you might
Creed’s “Light from Light”: become rich by his poverty” (2 Cor 8:9).
Just as the Father is ageless, so the Son does 511. The basic reasoning here is
not grow; the Father has not grown old, nor has straightforward:
the Son increased. Rather Equal begot
• Unless Jesus was truly man, he could not
Equal; the Eternal begot the Eternal. Like a
save us. “He had to become like his
temporal flame generates temporal light: the
flame which generates the light is
brothers in
coterminous with the light which it generates. every way, that he might. . . expiate the sins
From the moment the flame begins, there is of the people” (Heb 2:17).
light. Show me a flame without • Unless he was God, he could not redeem
light, and I will show you the Father without the us, for only an all holy, immortal God can:
Son (Tracts on the Gospel of John, 20:8). 1) free the whole human race from sin and
509. But controversies continued through death, and
the following century as various heresies 2) give us a share in the fullness of divine
life. God’s call to the Virgin Mary to become,
512. Jesus, then, cannot be divided. He is through the Holy Spirit, the power of the
one Person, for this man Jesus is the Most High, the mother of Jesus, Son of
Eternal Son of God God (cf. Lk 1:26-38; CCC 487, 495). The
made man. This is the “Good News” which angel’s greeting to Mary relates her to the
the Catholic Faith proclaims. This man “Daughter of Zion” (Zep 3:14-17).
Jesus is the Son of The coming of the Holy Spirit upon her, and
God who knows us and loves us. We can her carrying the Child in her womb, pictures
adore the man Jesus, and promote devotion Mary as the
to his Sacred living Ark of the New Covenant in Christ
Heart, precisely because he is not her Son.
separated from God. Before him with 515. Luke’s account inspired the Fathers to
Thomas we pray: “My Lord compare Mary with Eve. As Eve accepted
and my God!” (Jn 20:28). the word of
IV. MARY, MOTHER OF THE SON OF the serpent and gave birth to disobedience
GOD and death, the Virgin Mary, the New Eve,
513. For many Filipino Catholics, Jesus obediently received the word
Christ has become a real Person in their of the angel, and through the power of the
lives through their Holy Spirit gave birth to the living salvation
devotion to Mary his mother, who knows of all through the Son of God (cf. LG
him best. Chapter 1 described how we 56; CCC 411,726; AMB 55). Mary’s faith in
Filipinos approach accepting her virginal conception of Jesus
Christ with and through our devotion to the relates her to
Blessed Virgin Mary, Ang Mahal na Birhen. Abraham, our father in faith, and the birth of
Recently, our his son Isaac, the child of the promise (cf.
Catholic devotion to Mary has come under CCC 165).
increasing attack. We are therefore called Luke confirms this by relating Mary to the
upon to deepen perfect disciple who hears the word of God
our understanding of the solid biblical, and keeps it
doctrinal and liturgical foundations which (cf. Lk 8:21; 11:27-28).
ground our 516. Early in John’s Gospel, Mary is
traditional Marian piety (cf. AMB 78). Here described as “the Mother of Jesus.” Her
we shall briefly take up Mary as presented: request prompted the
in Scripture, first of the ‘Signs’ of Jesus and the
and in the doctrinal teaching of the Church, “manifestation of his glory” so that his
regarding her relation to Christ. disciples “believed in him”
A. Mary in Scripture (cf. Jn 2:1-11). Jesus replied, addressing
514. Both Matthew and Luke present Mary her as ‘Woman’, that his “Hour” had not yet
with many allusions to great figures in the come. But
Old Testament. Mary, in great faith, already assumed her
Matthew recounts Mary’s virginal future role as sharing in her Son’s saving
conception of Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah’s mission. She asked
prophecy (cf. Mt 1:23; Is 7:14). Luke for a sign of the messianic benefits, at that
describes “wedding feast.” Jesus complied.
Late in John’s Gospel, Jesus’ “Hour” had chapter 24, devotion to Mary and source of
come. Mary, standing at the foot of the hope for the
Cross, is pilgrim Church.
again addressed as ‘Woman,’ and given as Mother of God
“Mother to the beloved disciple” by the 519. The title of Vatican II’s exposition of
crucified Jesus (cf. Mary is: “The Role of the Blessed Virgin
Jn 19:25-27). Mary, Mother
517. Thus Mary, the physical mother of of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the
Jesus our Savior, becomes the spiritual Church” (LG Chap. 8). It begins with
mother in the order of perhaps the oldest
grace of all, particularly of the disciples of Biblical testimony: “when the designated
Christ (LG 54, 61). “She is clearly the time had come, God sent forth His Son,
mother of the born of a woman . . . that we might
members of Christ . . . since she cooperated receive our status as adopted sons” (Gal
out of love so that there might be born in the 4:4-5; LG 52). The most basic truth and the
Church the essential core of
faithful who are members of Christ their Mary’s unique dignity and role in God’s
Head” (LG 53, quoting St. Augustine; cf. salvific plan is sharply etched:
CCC 963). The Virgin Mary is acknowledged and honored
The conclusion of this brief Scriptural as being truly the Mother of God and of the
overview of Mary is that there is solid Redeemer.
biblical Redeemed in a more exalted fashion, by reason
of the merits of her Son and united to him by a
foundation for our traditional Catholic
close and
Marian piety.
indissoluble tie, she is endowed with the high
B. Mary in Catholic Doctrine office and dignity of the Mother of the Son of
518. Our Filipino Marian piety is also solidly God, and
grounded on the doctrinal teaching of the therefore she is also the beloved daughter of the
Church. Vatican II presents the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit (LG 53).
Blessed Virgin Mary in the final chapter of 520. Everything we know and revere about
its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Mary, then, depends upon her unique, God-
(Lumen Gentium). The Church’s given
teaching on Mary is presented in four vocation to be the “Mother of God and of
sections: the Redeemer.” This doctrine is expressed
• the Role of the Blessed Virgin in the Plan everytime we
of Salvation; pray the Hail Mary: “Holy Mary, Mother of
• the Blessed Virgin and the Church; God” (cf. CCC 495). This asserts not that
• Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the Mary is a
Church; and “goddess,” but that her Son is truly God.
• Mary, a Sign of Sure Hope and Solace for Mary gives Jesus what any human mother
the Pilgrim People of God. gives her baby.
Here we shall briefly develop only Mary’s Through her, Jesus is truly man. “The Son
role with Christ in God’s Plan of Salvation. of Mary and the Son of God IS one and the
Chapter same person,
23 will take up her role in the Church, and Emmanuel” (AMB 52).
What is unique here is God’s action: the intervention, nor is it merely a human
Eternal Son of God united to His Person the construct to insist on Jesus “divinity. ”
baby conceived in Mary’s Rather, it is simply the
womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. The way God in fact chose to send His Son
baby born of Mary was the God-man, into the world when the fullness of time
Jesus. “Thus the holy had come (Gal 4:4).
Fathers have unhesitatingly called the holy We Filipino Catholics believe this both from
Virgin ‘Mother of God’ (Theotokos, ‘God- Scripture and from the constant and
bearer’)” (Council of Ephesus; ND consistent teaching
605). of the Church.
Blessed Virgin The Immaculate Conception
521. Mary, Virgin and Mother, manifests 523. Mary, therefore, had the unique
God’s perfectly free initiative in the mission from God to be Mother of His Son-
Incarnation (God’s made-man, the
Word/Son becoming enfleshed, Jn 1:14). Redeemer. She thus shares in a special
Mary’s perpetual virginity is not simply way Jesus’ salvific mission. From this
abstention from mission flows her
sexual intercourse, but the positive value of singular grace and privilege of the
perfect personal integrity in her total gift Immaculate Conception (cf. CCC 490).
of self to God. This signifies that Mary
Mary’s virginity flowered into maternity not was, “from the first moment of her
only for Jesus, the first-born of all creation conception, in view of the merits of Christ
(cf. Rom Jesus the Savior of the
8:29; Col 1:15,18), but also for all who human race, preserved immune from all
would be born again to new life in him (cf. stain of original sin” (ND 709).
Jn 3:3; 1 Jn 5:11; The “Immaculate Conception” as God’s gift
LG 57; CCC 499-501). to Mary, therefore, is doubly Christ-
The Virgin Birth, then, is not a privilege centered: first,
affecting only Jesus and Mary, but a as given because she would be Mother of
positive sign of Christ; second, as showing that no one is
the Father’s gracious saving love which saved apart from
adopts us all in sending His Son, and the Christ, even those who lived centuries
Spirit’s building a before him. “In view of the merits of Christ”
new People of God, the Body of Christ, the means Mary was
Church. made holy by her immediate relationship to
522. Against current attacks and doubts Christ, the source of grace, for whom and
both within and without the Church, about towards whom
Mary’s virginal all things are created (cf. Col 1:15-17).
conception and motherhood, a Catholic The Assumption
profession of faith could calmly respond that 524. Moreover, thus “preserved free from all
Mary’s virginal guilt of original sin, the Immaculate Virgin
conception is not just a symbolic description was taken
or literary device of Matthew and Luke to up body and soul into heavenly glory
describe God’s [Assumption] upon the completion of her
earthly sojourn” (LG ways both by sacred ministers and by all the
59; cf. ND 715; CCC 966). With her baptized. Hence,
Assumption to join her Son, the Risen in like manner, the unique mediation of
Christ, in the fullness of Christ is shared by all, since God calls all to
her personality, Mary reveals the fullness cooperate, in
of God’s redeeming work for all of us, “a manifold human ways, in Christ’s
sign of certain redemptive mission (cf. LG 62). Catholics
hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of see in Mary a special
God” (LG 68). cooperation due to her God-given role
525. Both privileges of Mary, her within His saving work through Christ and
Immaculate Conception and her the Spirit.
Assumption, are not exceptions INTEGRATION
that separate Mary from us. They are 527. Every Sunday during the Eucharistic
rather privileges of fullness and celebration, Filipino Catholics proclaim their
completion. Mary’s grace is faith in Jesus
universally shared; her privilege is that of Christ, the only Son, our Lord. The doctrine
fullness. Both privileges are constituted by of the mission and identity of Jesus Christ is
the Spirit’s the core of
presence, in whom we are all called to every Christian Creed. To affirm “Jesus is
share. Thus they put Mary at the inmost Lord” is the central conviction of the
core of all human Christian community.
persons and of the Church. On the truth of Christ as Son and Savior
Practically speaking, this meant that, sinless depend all the basic Catholic doctrines: of
like Christ himself, Mary was not blinded or God as Triune
confused by pride or false self- Creator, of the Church as Christ’s Mystical
centeredness. More fully and truly “human” Body, of redemption from sin by Christ’s
than we are, Mary then Paschal
can truly appreciate our human trials and Mystery, of our life of grace in the Holy
failures. Spirit, and of our final destiny with God in
These graces were given to Mary precisely eternal life.
in view of her unique role in God’s plan to 528. The moral dimensions of Christ’s
save all mission and identity are innumerable. Christ
through Christ’s redemptive mission. as Son and
Mediatrix Savior becomes in person the fundamental
526. Authentic Catholic doctrine teaches moral norm for Christian action. At his
that Mary’s intercession does not in any way Transfiguration,
detract from, or add to, the unique the link between doctrinal truth and moral
mediation of Christ (cf. 1 Tim 2:5-6). Two action is explicitly made. The truth, “This is
analogies help us to understand this. First, my beloved
in God’s continuing Son,” is followed immediately by the moral
act of Creating, the one goodness of God is command, “Listen to him!” (Mk 9:7). Christ
communicated diversely to all creatures. as prophet
Second, the and Savior not only left us with moral
priesthood of Christ is shared in various teachings, especially in his great Sermon on
the Mount (cf. Mt 531. What does “knowing” Jesus Christ
5-7). More importantly, he inspired a unique entail?
moral vision of loving service, and offered Getting to know Christ is a gradual, life-long,
the interior ever-deepening personal relationship with
power of his Holy Spirit to pursue that the
vision. “The way we can be sure of our Jesus of the Gospels, present to us now in
knowledge of Jesus is multiple ways as the Risen Christ.
to keep his commandments. The man who Moreover, “knowing Christ” means being
claims, ‘I have known him,’ without keeping committed to him, being his disciple.
his 532. How do we come to know WHO Jesus
commandments, is a liar; in such a one is?
there is no truth” (1 Jn 2:3-4). We come to know who Jesus IS, from what
529. The basic worship dimension of he DID and continues to DO.
Christ’s mission and person is felt in two Therefore, it is important to know the
areas. There is first the historical life and work of Jesus through
place of Christ in all Christian worship. The constant contact
center of the Church’s liturgy is the with the Gospels, in order to know in faith
Eucharistic Sacrifice that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:11).
of his Body and Blood, the sacramental 533. Why did God become one of us in
representation and application of Christ’s Jesus Christ?
sacrifice on the God the Son became one of us:
Cross (cf. LG 28; SC 7,47; PCP II 77, 180). • for our salvation, that is: to save us from
Christ himself, as Son and Savior, is in the slavery of sin;
Person the • to reveal to us God’s unending love for us;
Primordial Sacrament of God’s presence • to be our model, as the Way, Truth and the
among us. Second, there is the yearning Life;
prayer to Christ • to actually share His divine sonship with
himself, expressed in the ancient liturgical us.
refrain: “Marana tha! O Lord come!” (1 Cor 534. How was Jesus a prophet?
16:22; cf. Rv Jesus, the “Beloved Son” of the Father and
22:20). Many of us Catholic Filipinos find filled with the Holy Spirit, perfectly fulfilled
devotion to Mary, Mother of Christ and our the
Mother in task of a prophet:
grace, a natural way to Christ. • to proclaim the Word of God;
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS • support it by signs and wonders, and
530. What conditions indicate a special • seal it with his own blood.
yearning for Christ in the Philippines today? 535. What did Jesus proclaim?
The thirst for a personal relationship with Jesus proclaimed the “Kingdom of God,”
Christ our Savior (e.g., in the “Born Again”), already present and “at hand” through him,
and for Christ the but not
Liberator among the oppressed and yet realized fully, as it will be at the end of
exploited, indicates a strong yearning for time.
Christ among This “Kingdom” summarized all the
many Filipinos today. blessings of God’s presence among His
people, liberating root of all the evils which we experience. He
them from sin, for loving service of one calls us to embrace and exercise his
another. liberating
536. How did Jesus preach and teach the grace in all our moral actions, especially by
“Kingdom”? working for justice and peace.
Jesus preached and taught with: 541. How does Jesus liberate from socio-
• certainty, because he taught only what he economic oppression?
heard from his Father; Jesus liberates in this area by exposing the
• authority, because he spoke in his own corrupting force of:
name, of what he knew personally; • riches that enslave;
• power because he claimed a unique filial • self-seeking ambition that knows no
relationship with God, his “Abba,” Father. bounds;
537. What signs and wonders did Jesus • social prejudices that oppress and exploit
perform? others;
Jesus worked many miracles, wonders and • a legalistic attitude toward law that makes
signs, healing the sick, freeing the even God’s commandments oppressive and
possessed, raising exploitative.
the dead to life. Positively, through word and example,
Through these signs he called all to faith in Christ saved by inspiring men and women
him and to discipleship which consists in with the ideal
following of loving service.
him in building the Kingdom through loving 542. How did Jesus save from the
service of others. “meaninglessness” of life?
538. What was Jesus’ fate as a prophet? Jesus saved by dissipating the darkness of
Jesus suffered a martyr’s death at the ignorance and prejudice through the light of
hands of his own, “who killed both the Lord his
Jesus and the Truth, and by giving meaning and purpose
prophets” (1 Thes 2:15). to human life, even its sufferings.
“The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus 543. From all Jesus did, what can we say of
whom you put to death, hanging him on a who he IS?
tree” Sacred Scripture grounds three
(Acts 5:30; 10:39). fundamental truths about the person of
539. Why is Jesus called “Savior”? Jesus. He is:
As announced even before his birth, the • truly human, like us in all things but sin (cf.
Child is to be named Jesus because “he will Heb 2:17; 4:15);
save his • truly divine, God’s eternal Word, the only
people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). Son of the Father, full of grace and truth,
“Lord by your Cross and Resurrection, you ever at
have set us free. You are the Savior of the the Father’s side, who has revealed Him to
world.” us (cf. Jn 1:14,18);
540. How does Jesus “save”? • one, the “one mediator between God and
Jesus saves by making it possible for us to men” (1 Tim 2:5). He cannot be divided.
work throughout our lives against SIN, the “When the designated time had come, God
spiritual sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born
under the Mary’s virginity manifests both God’s free
law, to deliver from the law those who were initiative in effecting the Incarnation of His
subjected to it that we might receive our Son,
status as and Mary’s complete gift of self to God.
adopted sons” (Gal 4:4-5). 547. How is Mary “our Mother”?
“Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Besides being the virgin mother of Jesus,
Messiah, the Son of the living God’” (Mt Mary was given by Christ on the Cross to be
16:16). the
544. Was the truth that Jesus is true God spiritual mother in grace of all his disciples.
and true man easily understood? (Cf. Jn 19:25-27.)
The early Church only gradually came to an 548. What is the meaning and significance
accurate expression of the divinity of Jesus, of the Immaculate Conception and the
culminating in the Nicene Creed’s Assumption?
profession of: Chosen to be the Mother of Jesus our
“One Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of Savior, Mary was conceived in her mother’s
God, womb
eternally begotten of the Father, “preserved free from all stain of original sin”
God from God, Light from Light, true God (Immaculate Conception). At her death, she
from true God, was
begotten, not made, one in being with the taken up body and soul into heaven
Father.” (Assumption).
The Council of Chalcedon further defined Both graces are not exceptions separating
Jesus as: Mary from us, but privileges of perfection
“begotten from the Father before the ages and
as to the divinity, and in the latter days for completion that enable Mary to fulfill her
us and our salvation was unique role in God’s plan to save all through
born as to his humanity from Mary, the Christ,
Virgin Mother of God” (ND 614). the one Mediator.
545. Why do Catholics venerate Mary as 549. How is Mary “Advocate” and
“Mother of God”? “Mediatrix”?
The Gospels clearly teach that Mary was St. Paul clearly affirms “there is ONE
chosen by God to conceive and bear a son, mediator between God and men, Christ
Jesus, who Jesus” (1 Tim
will be called Son of the Most High. (Cf. Lk 2:5). But just as Jesus calls all to follow him
1:31.) Mary is the mother of God because and share in his mission as Prophet, Priest,
she is and
the mother of Jesus, the God-man. King, so he gave Mary, his Mother, the
“Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried unique mission of being mother to all his
out in a loud voice, ‘. . . blessed is the fruit disciples (cf.
of your Jn 19:26). Thus Jesus makes Mary share in
womb. But who am I that the mother of my his own saving mediatorship, neither adding
Lord should come to me?’ ” (Lk 1:41-43) nor
546. Why is Mary exalted as “the Blessed detracting from it in any way.
Virgin Mary”?
suffering and
Chapter 11 Death, while his Resurrection and
glorification are treated in the next. Both
Christ Has Died chapters are positive,
The Son of Man has presenting the saving love of God in Jesus
Christ.
come not to be served For even the Cross is uplifting. In a secular
sense, it was the means of the most painful
but to serve __ and degrading death. But for
us Christians, the Cross of Christ is the
to give his life in symbol of salvation. At Baptism we are
ransom for the many. marked with the sign of the Cross.
Throughout life we are blessed with this
(Mk 10:45)
sign, and sign ourselves with it in prayer. St.
I solemnly assure you, Paul wrote the
Corinthians that he “would speak of nothing
unless the grain of but Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor
2:2).
wheat falls to 552. Nevertheless, the Cross has always
the earth and dies, it been, and remains for many today, a
scandal. Paul wrote:
remains just a grain of “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling
block to the Jews and an aburdity to
wheat. But if Gentiles.” Yet he
it dies, it produces continued: “but to those who are called,
Jews, and Gentiles alike, Christ is the power
much fruit. of God and the
(Jn 12:24) wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:23f).
The Cross is the symbol not only of
OPENING Christ’s saving power, but also of our true
550. Having seen the mission and Person of
selves. For it is
Christ in Chap. 10, we now focus on his
the exemplar for all time of Jesus’ great
Passion and
“Paradox,” recorded in all four Gospels:
Death, and their meaning for Filipino
“Whoever would
Christian life. For suffering and death are
preserve his life will lose it, but whoever
two inescapable
loses his life for my sake and that of the
realities which every human person has to
Gospel will save it”
face. Does Jesus Christ help us accept
(Mk 8:35; cf. Mt 10:39; Lk 9:24; Jn 12:25;
these realities and
PCP II 86).
even find meaning in them?
551. The whole earthly life of Christ CONTEXT
came to its climax in his Paschal 553. Devotion to the suffering Jesus (Padre
Mystery, his suffering, Jesus Nazareno) and the dead Jesus, taken
Death and Resurrection (cf. CCC 571f; PCP down from
II 55, 85, 413). This chapter focuses on his the Cross (Santo Entierro) is very popular
among us Filipinos. This can be seen in authentic Christian approach to suffering
many different and death.
Lenten and Holy Week practices, especially In the face of such misleading views, it is all
those focusing on Good Friday. There are the more important for us to develop an
the Stations of accurate
the Cross, the flagellantes, the Pasyon and ever-deepening personal understanding
chanted throughout Holy Week, and the of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Senakulo EXPOSITION
dramatizations of Christ’s final week. Lent 556. The Creed puts great stress on Christ’s
and Holy Week are also favorite times for passion and death. Immediately following
Filipinos to “born of the
make spiritual retreats and days of Virgin Mary,” it proclaims five actions
recollections. undergone by Jesus: suffered, was
The suffering and dead Jesus obviously crucified, died, was buried,
strikes a very responsive chord in the heart and descended to the dead.
of us This chapter takes up these five actions of
Filipinos. We see in this Jesus one who can Christ our Lord under five general themes.
identify with us in our poverty, sufferings, First, an
and oppression; introductory section on the Cross, symbol of
one who can reach out to us as a forgiving saving Love; second, Christ’s view of his
and healing Savior in our weaknesses and suffering and
failings. death; third, its characteristics; fourth, its
554. But the very intensity of these profound effects of salvation and radical
devotions to the suffering Christ conversion; and
unfortunately leads at times to finally, Christ’s descent to the Dead.
exaggerations, and even superstitions. “We
I. THE CROSS: SYMBOL OF SAVING
must have the courage to correct what
LOVE
leads to fanaticism
557. St. Paul expressed the core of the
or maintains people infantile in their faith”
“Good News” given him as follows: “For I
(PCP II 175; cf. 12). These pious practices
handed on to you as of first importance
can give a very
what I also received: that Christ died for our
one-sided image of Christ which tends to
sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1
enslave the devotees rather than heal and
Cor 15:3; cf. CCC 601). Far from
liberate them.
being a negative, depressing reality, the
555. What, then, is the true meaning of
suffering and death of Christ help us “to
Christ’s suffering and death for us, Filipino
grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the
Christians of today? Two
breadth and length and height and depth of
contradictory but widely shared attitudes
Christ’s love, and experience this love which
seem most common. One “piously” makes
surpasses all
suffering
knowledge” (Eph 3:18-19). The innocent
something to be sought in itself. The other,
Christ’s personal pain and suffering brings
in worldly fashion, sees it as something to
home to us, in a
be avoided at all
way nothing else possibly could, the evil
costs. Both gravely misunderstand the
and ugliness of sin and its power in creating
poverty, disease, He died to give us life. (Homilies on Ezekiel,
hunger, ignorance, corruption and death. A II:4,20)
truly “Christian” sense of sin is a grace II. CHRIST’S VIEW
received at the foot OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH
of the Cross, within the felt-experience of 560. In our present times, some have tried
God’s overwhelming forgiving Love in Christ to explain Christ’s suffering and death
Jesus. merely as the
558. Clearly it is not the very sufferings and political execution of a non-conformist
death of Christ that save us, for this would revolutionary by the Roman colonial
make his powers. Doubtless there
torturers and executioners our saviors. was a political aspect to the Cross, but it
Rather, we are saved by Jesus’ perfect surely was not its essential meaning as
self-giving love for his interpreted in the
Father and for us, a love lived out to the inspired writings of the New Testament.
death. In John’s Gospel Jesus declares: The Apostolic Faith expressed in the New
“The Father loves me for this: that I lay Testament sees in Jesus’ passion and
down my life to take it up again. No one death not just
takes it from me: I lay it down freely” (Jn some incidental historical event of Jews and
10:17-18). Paul quotes an early Romans, but the saving act of God in
liturgical hymn: “He humbled himself, Jesus’ free selfsacrifice. Thus Peter
obediently accepting even death, death on a preached on the first Pentecost: “This man
cross!” (Phil 2:8) [Jesus] . . . was delivered up by the set
Today’s liturgy expresses how Christ, in purpose and plan of God; you even made
fulfillment of his Father’s will, “gave himself use of pagans to crucify and kill him. . .”
up to (Acts 2:23; cf. 4:27f; CCC 599). Jesus
death . . . a death he freely accepted . . . himself clearly understood his Passion and
For our sake he opened his arms on the Death as his mission from the Father,
Cross” (EP IV and II). interpreted in the
559. The Cross, then, does not exalt light of the Old Testament prophets.
passive suffering or weakness, as some 561. As His Mission. The Synoptic
have exploited it in Gospels ‘record Jesus’ triple pre-diction of
order to dominate others. It is, rather, the his suffering and death (cf.
transformation of suffering and Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33f). “He began to teach
weakness through active, them that the Son of Man had to suffer
total self-giving love. “For God’s folly is much, be rejected by the elders, the
wiser than men, and his weakness more chief priests, and the scribes, be put to
powerful than men” death, and rise three days later” (Mk 8:31).
(1 Cor 1:25). Gregory the Great describes These predictions correspond with other
this wondrous exchange: sayings of Jesus. “Can you drink the cup I
He was made flesh that we might possess the shall drink or be baptized in the same bath
Spirit. of pain as I?” (Mk 10:38) “I have a
He was brought low that we might be raised up. baptism to receive. What anguish I feel till it
He endured blows that we might be healed.
is over” (Lk 12:50). And in his parable of the
He was mocked to free us from eternal
tenants Jesus portrays the
damnation.
death of the Son at the hands of the that the hour had
vineyard’s wicked tenants (cf. Mt 21:33-46). come for him to pass from this world to the
562. Following the OT Prophets. Jesus Father. He loved his own in this world, and
interpreted his coming death in line with the would show
Old Testament his love for them to the end” (Jn 13:1). And
prophets. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you for John, “no one has greater love than this,
slay the prophets and stone those who are to lay down
sent to you!” (Lk one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).
13:34; cf. 11:47, 49). His death was Matthew’s account of Christ’s institution of
“necessary” to fulfill the Scripture: “How the Eucharist
slow you are to believe explicitly asserts its redemptive value: “This
all that the prophets have announced! Was is my blood, the blood of the covenant, to be
it not necessary that the Messiah should poured out
suffer these things in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins”
and enter into his glory?” (Lk 24:25b-26) He (Mt 26:28). Christ is the New Paschal Lamb,
saw his suffering and death as part of the sacrificed
coming of the to redeem the people (cf. Jn 19:36;
Kingdom, the “test” he taught his followers 1:29,36).
to pray about: “Subject us not to the test” 565. Church tradition has stressed this
(Lk 11:4). redemptive and sacrifical character of
III. CHARACTERISTICS OF Christ’s Passion and
CHRIST’S SUFFERING AND DEATH Death. “Our Lord Jesus was once and for all
A. Redemptive to offer himself to God the Father by his
563. Jesus saw his Passion and Death as death on the
redemptive, his ultimate service in the altar of the cross, to accomplish an
Kingdom. “The Son of everlasting redemption” (Trent; ND 1546).
Man has not come to be served but to serve And again, “At the Last
— to give his life in ransom for the many” Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our
(Mk 10:45). The Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of
center of the ‘Good News’ focused sharply his Body and
on “the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus. Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the
Through his sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages
blood, God made him the means of until he should
expiation for all who believe” (Rom 3:24- come again” (SC 47).
25a). “It was he who sacrificed 566. Thus, in her liturgy the Church prays in
himself for us, to redeem us from all the 5th Easter Preface:
Father, we praise you with greater joy than ever
unrighteousness and to cleanse for himself
in this Easter Season
a people of his own,
When Christ became our Paschal Sacrifice.
eager to do what is right” (Ti 2:14). As he offered his body on the Cross,
564. That his Passion and Death are His perfect sacrifice fulfilled all others.
“redemptive” is shown by Christ most clearly As he gave himself into your hands for our
in his Last Supper. salvation.
John introduces his account with Jesus He showed himself to be the priest, the altar,
washing his disciples’ feet. “Jesus realized and the lamb of sacrifice.
B. From Sin Lord, to the poor. If I have defrauded
567. Christ’s coming, then, was “to expiate anyone in the least, I pay him back fourfold”
the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17; cf. CCC (cf. Lk 19:1-10).
601, 606). 569. Clarification. Some have gravely
Paul summarizes Jesus’ saving work in four misunderstood Christ’s expiation as
steps. First, Jesus offered a sacrifice as picturing the Father
both priest and punishing him cruelly for our sins, even
victim. “Christ our Paschal Lamb has been though he is completely innocent. This is a
sacrificed” (1 Cor 5:7). Second, he “gave monstrous view of
himself for our God the Father, and badly misinterprets the
sins, to rescue us from the present evil age” New Testament. The Father hates sin, not
(Gal 1:4). Third, he thus created a new Jesus. Jesus is the
Covenant with Father’s “beloved” (Mk 1:11 et passim). His
God. “This cup is the new covenant in my whole life was a perfect offering to the
blood” (1 Cor 11:25). Fourth, all this for us Father (cf. Jn 4:34; 6:38; CCC
and our 606).
salvation. “When we were still powerless, The truth is that Jesus shares the Father’s
Christ died for us godless men” (Rom 5:6; love for us sinners, and freely accepted
cf. Eph 5:2; 1 the “cup”
Thes 5:10). the Father has given him (cf. Jn 18:11; CCC
568. Jesus redeems sinners in two ways. 609). Jesus suffered with sinners, as a
First, he removes their subjective guilt by victim for sin and
bringing them sinners, and as a victim of the Law and sin
God’s pardon and forgiveness. Thus he (cf. 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; Rom 8:3; PCP II
restores their relationship of friendship to 84).
God which sin had C. For Us
destroyed. Second, Jesus repairs the 570. But how can Christ’s Sufferings and
objective moral harm and contamination Death affect us sinners? The key to the
caused by sin, through answer lies in the
his own act of reparation and expiation biblical notion of corporate solidarity.
which makes possible the sinners’ own acts Isaiah’s four ‘Servant Songs’ (cf. Is 42:1-4;
of expiation. 49:1-6; 50:4-9;
Both these dimensions are clearly indicated 52:13-53:12) present a mysterious figure
in Christ’s encounter with Zacchaeus, the chosen by God to “give his life as an
wealthy offering for sin, . . .
tax collector. In visiting the house of through his suffering my servant shall justify
Zacchaeus, Jesus liberated him from his many, and their guilt he shall bear” (Is
guilt of sin: “Today 53:10-11). Christ,
salvation has come to this house. . . The one of us, could take upon himself “the sin
Son of Man has come to search out and of the world” (Jn 1:29) and offer him-self as
save what was lost.” a “Lamb of
This inspired Zacchaeus to make up for the expiation” (cf. Lv 14).
objective harm he had caused: “I give half Today the notion of “solidarity” has come
my belongings, into new prominence relative to social
transformation, and clearly affirms:
humanity’s relation to the Blessed Trinity Christ suffered for you. . . and left you an
(cf. SRS 38-40; PCP II 32, 139, 294-96, example, to have you follow in his footsteps. . .
306f, 313, 320, He himself bore
353). our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free
from sin, we might live in accord with God’s will.
571. The Good Friday liturgy stresses
By his
Christ’s corporate solidarity with us sinners
wounds you have been healed (1 Pt 2:21, 24).
and his suffering And again: “You have been purchased, and
for us, quoting Isaiah: at a price. So glorify God in your body ” (1
It was our infirmities that he bore,
Cor 6:20 ).
our sufferings that he endured, . . .
575. It is true that Jesus acted on our
He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our
sins; behalf: “While we were still sinners, Christ
Upon him was the chastisement that makes us died for us” (Rom 5:8).
whole, But his great Sacrifice does not make our
by his stripes we were healed. own sacrifices unnecessary. Rather, it
We had all gone astray like sheep, each makes them possible as
following his own way; saving realities. We are called by Christ to
But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all (Is share in his sacrifice (cf. CCC 618). PCP II
53:4-6). explains how in the Paschal Mystery
572. St. Paul used this principle of solidarity Jesus brought us into his passover from
to explain both our human sinfulness and suffering to glory, from death to life, from our
our salvation in Christ (cf. Chap. 8 human sinfulness
on Original Sin). to his grace. In this mystery we as his disciples
Just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the need to share, finding in it the rhythm and
world, and with sin death, death thus coming to pattern of our
all men own life. . . By losing our life this way, we save it
inasmuch as all sinned . . . much more did the and grow in our discipleship of Jesus (PCP II
grace of God and the gracious gift of the one 85-86).
man, Jesus 576. To know Jesus as our Redeemer, for
Christ, abound for all (Rom 5:12,15). St. Paul, meant sharing in his sufferings. To
573. “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3), the Philippians
then, means two things. First, Jesus died he wrote: “I wish to know Christ and the
because of our power flowing from his resurrection; likewise
human sinfulness. Second, he died to to know how
show us, and empower us, to overcome to share in his sufferings by being formed
sin and its effects in our broken world. into the pattern of his death” (Phil 3:10).
Christ is the Way we are enabled to bear Thus Paul could
the sins of many, not returning evil for evil, boast: “Even now I find joy in the suffering I
nor violence for violence in a vicious endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what
cycle of revenge (cf. Mt 5:38-42). Christ’s is lacking
love gives us a chance to love even our in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his
enemies (cf. Mt 5:44), for he has body, the Church” (Col 1:24).
sent us his Spirit of love. IV. PROFOUND EFFECTS OF
574. But Christ’s redemption in no way CHRIST’S DEATH
makes us passive recipients. Scripture
A. Universal, Eschatological, “eternal life in
Empowering Salvation the age to come” (Mk 10:30). Moreover,
577. But what makes Christ’s saving love third, this dimension is “already” present in
unique? How is Christ different from all us in grace,
other martyrs empowering us so that all our actions can
through the ages? The answer lies in three have “saving” power. “The Father sent His
fundamental qualities of Christ’s saving Son as savior of
love. It is: 1) the world. When anyone acknowledges that
universal, 2) eschatological, and 3) Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in
empowering. him and he in
First, Jesus died “not for our sins alone, but God. . . The way we know that we remain in
for those of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2; cf. him and he in us is that he has given us of
CCC his Spirit” (1
604). St. Paul explains: “He indeed died for Jn 4:14,13). Put briefly, “God gave us
all, so that those who live, might no longer eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
live for Whoever possesses the
themselves, but for him who for their sakes Son has life. Whoever does not possess the
died and was raised up” (2 Cor 5:14-15). So Son of God, does not possess life” (1 Jn
it is Christ’s 5:11-12).
love that transforms us so we can really 580. The essence of the New Testament
lead a new way of life. “If God has loved us theology of salvation in Christ can be
so, we must have sketched in four
the same love for one another” (1 Jn 4:11). truths. First, Jesus Christ is the Savior of
578. Christ’s Cross on Calvary stands as a the world; there is no salvation apart from
symbol of his universal redeeming love. Jesus. Second,
The horizontal through his sufferings and death he has
bar stretches Christ’s arms to embrace the won for us sinners “objective
whole world of human suffering, while the redemption,” that is, reconciled
vertical column all with the Father. Third, he did this in
points him toward his heavenly Father, loving obedience to his Father’s will and
beyond the bounds of time and space. The love for us. Finally,
“two others he calls us to personal interior
crucified with him, one on either side” (Jn repentance for our sins and a life of loving
19:18) show Jesus’ solidarity with the whole service of others, that is,
history of “subjective redemption.”
human suffering. The crucified body of 581. Vatican II provides a similar description
Jesus Christ speaks a universal language to of Christ’s redemptive work and its effects:
all men and As an innocent lamb he merited life for us by his
women for all time. blood which he freely shed. In him God
reconciled us to himself
579. Second, this saving love of Christ is
and to one another, freeing us from the bondage
“eschatological.” Jesus did not die simply
of the devil and of sin, so that each of us could
to raise our say with the apostle: “the Son of
standard of living, or make life easier. He God loved . . . me and gave himself for me” (Gal
died that those who follow him will receive 2:20). By suffering for us he not only gave us an
example so that we might the wisdom
follow in his footsteps, but he also opened up a of God, He gives meaning and purpose to
way. If we follow this path, life and death are our lives (Jn 14:6). And this inspires
made holy and acquire a “fellowship” by
new meaning.
pouring out His “love in our hearts through
Conformed to the image of the Son, Christians
the Holy Spirit” (Rom 5:5; cf. 2 Cor 13:13).
receive the “first fruits of the Spirit” (Rom 8:23)
by which they are able to follow B. Radical Conversion
the new law of love (GS 22). 584. But what is the experience of this
582. Two ways of summarizing Christ as salvation that Christ calls us to? The answer
Savior also help in relating to the wider lies in a radical
perspectives of our Faith. conversion of heart. We can illustrate what
The first is focusing on “the blood of this means in four common Filipino types.
Jesus.” Throughout Old Testament First, some
salvation history, blood was highly symbolic. Filipinos don’t really believe that God loves
It them, accepts them and cares for them.
could refer to deliverance from death (cf. Ex They cannot
12:7, 13, 22f) and life itself (cf. Lv 17:11-14). “trust” God. To them Christ reveals that God
Or it could mean really is their “loving Father” who is truly
sin-offering, cleansing from sin (cf. Lv. 16). compassionate (cf. Lk 6:36). His “love was
Or blood could mean the seal of the revealed in our midst in this way: He sent
Covenant at Sinai (cf. His only Son to
Ex 24:6-8). the world that we might have life through
These three meanings were supremely Him” (1 Jn 4:9).
realized in Christ, the Paschal Lamb, whose 585. Second, others lack all self-confidence.
blood a) Their poor self-image makes them hesitant
brings life (cf. Jn 6:53-56), b) cleansing us to reach out
from all sin (cf. 1 Jn 1:7) and c) creating a and share with others. They are always
new Covenant afraid of what others might say. Christ
(cf. Mk 14:24). “saves” them by revealing their inner
The hymn to Christ in the Letters to the goodness. His life and death prove how
Colossians summarizes these dimensions much they mean to God. In bringing them
neatly: God’s forgiveness and acceptance, Christ
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside radically grounds their new positive self-
in him [a], and by means of him, to reconcile image.
everything in his person, both on earth 586. Third, some Filipinos find it hard to get
and in the heavens [b], making peace [c] through along with others. They tend to hold
the blood of his cross (Col 1:19f) grudges against
583. A second way of summarizing Christ’s anyone who hurt them. Christ “liberates”
redemptive work is to relate our basic them by calling them to turn toward being a
human “man/womanfor-others” in self-giving
yearnings for life, for meaning, and for service. Through word and example, Christ
loving fellowship to the Triune God. For taught that true happiness and
our drive for life is self-fulfillment come from forgiving others,
fulfilled by God the Father, “the living and and helping the poor and needy. Moreover,
true God” (1 Thes 1:9). By sending His Son,
he empowers be: 1) free from
them for this service by sending them his servile fear of God, 2) free from self-doubt,
own loving Spirit. It is Christ’s Spirit that 3) free from negative relationships with
brings deep “love, others, and 4) free
joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, from our own greed for riches, reputation
generosity, faith, mildness and chastity” and power.
(Gal 5:22-23). 589. But how does this saving power of the
587. Lastly, to those who seek happiness in “free” Jesus touch ordinary Filipino
riches, reputation and power, Christ gave Catholics today?
the example of The answer is multiplex. Christ comes to us:
rejecting these temptations (cf. Mt 4:1-11) 1) in his inspired Word of the Bible, 2) in his
and urging simplicity of life (cf. Mt 6). He saving
called the poor “blessed” symbolic acts, the Sacraments, 3) in the
because they could more easily recognize community of his disciples, the “People of
their dependence on God. He warned the God,” the Church;
rich against being tied down by concern and most of all, 4) in his Holy Spirit,
for their wealth. He asks: “what profit does a indwelling within us in grace.
man show who gains the whole world and V. CHRIST’S DESCENT TO THE DEAD
destroys himself in the process?” 590. The last action of Christ’s Passion and
(Mk 8:36) His answer was to picture the Death proclaimed in the Creed is: “He
poor Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, descended to the
while the rich man suffered the dead.” The first meaning of this expression
torments of the damned (cf. Lk 16:19-31). may simply be a confirmation of “died and
588. In brief, then, we experience our was buried.”
sinfulness in our inability to 1) trust God, 2) Christ truly and fully underwent the final test
accept ourselves, of all humans, death (cf. CCC 632). But the
3) relate positively to others, and 4) control scriptural basis
our basic drives toward riches, reputation implies a second meaning, namely,
and power. Christ’s salvific work on behalf of the
Christ “saves” us by: just who had died before his coming (cf.
• re-imaging God as our loving Father, CCC 633). In 1 Peter we read that Christ
• grounding our own inalienable self-worth in “went to preach to the spirits in prison.” “The
God, as well as reason the
• the dignity of every other person; and Gospel was preached even to the dead was
• clarifying the authentic hierarchy of values that, although condemned in the flesh in the
in life. eyes of men,
Jesus could do this because he lived totally they might live in the spirit in the eyes of
for his heavenly Father, in complete self- God” (1 Pt 3:19; 4:6 ).
giving 591. A reading from the liturgy of the Hours
service for others. He was the on Holy Saturday beautifully expresses this
“Sacrament” of God’s loving presence and second
power. “Whoever has seen meaning of Christ’s salvific work among the
me has seen the Father,” he told Philip (Jn dead:
14:9). Christ showed us what it means to There is a great silence on the earth today. The
earth trembled and is still because God has 23).
fallen asleep in
the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept
INTEGRATION
ever since the world began. Greatly desiring to 594. The Creedal doctrine on the Sufferings
visit those and Death of Christ proclaims central truths
who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, of our
he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Christian Faith: God as redeeming Love,
Adam and and Christ our Savior, responding to our
Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. sinful human
The Lord approached them bearing the Cross, condition. Christ, the Word-made-flesh,
the weapon whose glory is that of the Father’s only Son
that had won him the victory. . . . I am your God,
(Jn 1:14), never
who for your sake have become your son. I
reveals the Father more intensely than
order you, O
sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held when dying on the Cross, loving to the end,
a prisoner in hell. Rise, let us leave this place. crying out “Father,
The into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk
enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will 23:46). The glory of God shines through the
not restore you to that paradise, but I will Crucified
enthrone you in Christ as nowhere else! “When you lift up
heaven. the Son of Man, then you will realize that I
592. A third implication of Christ’s descent AM. . . .The
to the dead is the fundamental Christian One who sent me is with me. He has not left
truth that all me alone.” “And when I am lifted up from
who are saved are redeemed by Christ’s the earth, I
Passion and Death, whose effects are not will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 8:28;
limited by time or 12:32).
space (cf. CCC 634-35). This universal 595. Christ’s redemptive Death is, of
scope of Christ’s redemptive work course, the ground for the center of
grounds the possibility of Christian worship, the Eucharist. The
salvation even for those who have never Easter
heard of the “Good News” nor known Jesus Prefaces proclaim that Christ, our Paschal
Christ (cf. LG sacrifice, is “the true Lamb who took away
16; NA 2). the sins of the world. By dying he
593. Finally, we know that Jesus Christ, the destroyed our death; by rising he restored
Son of God-made-man, is “the first-born of our life.” The Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)
the dead” even dares to proclaim:
(Col 1:18). For St. Paul explains how Christ, Father, how wonderful your care for us!
raised from the dead, is “the first fruits of How boundless your merciful love!
those who To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.
have fallen asleep. Just as in Adam all die, O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
so in Christ all will come to life again, but Which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
each one in 596. By his Passion and Death Christ
proper order: Christ the first fruits and then, reached down into the deepest roots of
at his coming, all those who belong to him” human alienation — our
(1 Cor 15:20, separation from God, from ourselves, and
from one another. The love of the crucified sufferings taken separately, but by his
Christ becomes the perfect love for his
norm, the source, the means, and the final Father and for us which was expressed in
goal of all Christian morality. Christ tells his sufferings and death for us.
us: “If a man wishes to come after 600. Why did Christ suffer and die?
me, he must deny his very self, take up his Jesus freely and consciously went to his
cross, and follow in my steps” (Mk 8:34). death to fulfill the mission he had from his
For “This is my commandment: love Father. He
one another as I have loved you” (Jn saw himself fulfilling the Old Testament
15:12). prophecies by “giving his life in ransom for
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS the many”
597. What is characteristic of the Christian (Mk 10:45).
“Good News” of salvation? “Our Savior Christ Jesus. . . sacrificed
Central to the Gospel is Christ’s Cross of himself for us, to redeem us from all
salvation. The Cross is the symbol of unrighteousness and
Christ’s Paschal to cleanse for himself a people of his own,
Mystery (dying to rise to new life) and eager to do what is right” (Ti 2:14).
Christian discipleship: 601. How does the Creed describe Christ’s
“Whoever wishes to come after me must redemptive sacrifice?
deny himself, take up his cross each day The Creed describes five acts of Jesus’
and follow redeeming sacrifice: he suffered, was
me. For whoever wishes to save his life will crucified, died,
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my was buried, and descended to the dead.
sake will 602. How did St. Paul summarize Jesus’
find it” (Lk 9:23-24). saving work?
598. How did St. Paul summarize the St. Paul described “the redemption wrought
Gospel? in Christ Jesus” in four steps:
St. Paul summed up the Gospel he • Jesus offered a sacrifice as both priest and
preached and had received by stating: victim;
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with • to expiate for our sins (cf. 1 Cor 5:7; Gal
the Scriptures, . . . he was buried; . . . he 1:4);
rose on the • creating a new Covenant with God in his
third day in accordance with the Scriptures” blood;
(1 Cor 15:1-5). • for us and for our salvation (cf. 1 Cor
“We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling 11:25; Rom 5:6).
block to Jews and an absurdity to Gentiles, 603. How does Christ’s saving love redeem
but to us?
those who are called, Jews and Gentiles Christ redeems us in two basic acts:
alike, Christ the power of God and the • He removes our subjective guilt by
wisdom of God” bringing us God’s pardon and forgiveness,
(1 Cor 1:23-24). and
599. How do the sufferings of Christ save • He restores the objective moral order
us? broken by our sins through his loving act of
Christ saved us not by the physical reparation.
604. How can Jesus’ Suffering and Death new life, taking away the sin of the world,
save us? and
Because of his corporate solidarity with us establishing the New Covenant (cf. Mk
sinners, Jesus could take away “the sin of 14:24).
the 609. Is it Jesus alone who saves us?
world” (Jn 1:29) as the “suffering Servant” No, it is the Father who sends His only
foretold by the prophet Isaiah. begotten Son to redeem us from our sins,
605. What is the meaning of the sentence and to give
“Christ died for our sins”? meaning and purpose to our lives through
It means Christ died because of our sins, the fellowship inspired by the Holy Spirit.
and to overcome our sinfulness and its Thus our redemption, like our creation and
effects in the sanctification, is a work of the Triune God:
world. Thus he made possible our own Father,
repentance and sacrifices, to share in his Son and Spirit.
redemptive 610. What does Jesus’ redemption demand
work. of us?
606. What special qualities mark Christ’s We are called to radical conversion of heart:
Redemption? • trusting in God, our loving Father,
Christ’s redemptive Death is different from • who grounds our own innate dignity and
all others in that its effect is: a) universal, worth,
touching • as well as that of all persons, and
all; b) eschatological, reaching to eternal • calls us to follow Christ His Son in self-
life; and c) empowering us to share in his giving service and simplicity of life.
redemptive 611. How does Jesus help us toward this
work. radical conversion?
607. What is the significance of “universal” Jesus leads us to:
in describing Christ’s Redemption? • basic trust in God as our heavenly Father,
Christ died “not for our sins alone, but for • deeper, more authentic self-respect,
those of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2). Thus, • acceptance of others as His beloved
• there is no salvation apart from Jesus children, and
Christ, • authentic hierarchy of values in everyday
• who won objective redemption for all life.
sinners, 612. How does this help of Jesus reach us
• by his loving obedience to his Father’s will today?
and his love for all mankind; Jesus “frees” us today by touching us
• calling all to true subjective repentance for • through his inspired Word in Scripture;
sin and loving service of their neighbor. • in his saving symbolic acts, the
608. Why does Scripture emphasize Sacraments;
redemption through the “blood of Christ”? • through the service and witness of his
In the Old Testament blood symbolizes life, disciples in the Christian community; and
cleansing from sin, and seal of the • especially through his Holy Spirit,
Covenant with indwelling in each of us.
God. 613. What is the meaning of “Christ
In the New Testament, Christ’s blood brings descended to the dead?”
This means that Christ really and fully (Lk 24:34).
entered into the human experience of death, This chapter presents the Resurrection and
that his Ascension, the climax of our Lord’s Paschal
salvific ministry is universal, extending to all Mystery, together with the creedal truth of
who had died before him, and that he is Christ’s Second Coming at the Parousia.
truly the 615. Christ’s Resurrection is far from being
Savior of all, including even those who have merely the personal miraculous return from
never heard of his “Good News.” the dead which one
might expect of the crucified God-man. The
Chapter 12 actual event of Christ rising from the dead
was the real
Christ Is Risen starting point and foundation for the
and Will Come Again beginnings of the Christian Faith:
This is the Jesus God has raised up, and • for the Christian community, the Church;
we are his • for adequate understanding of Christ, his
witnesses. Exalted at God's right hand, he Passion and Death;
first received • for how Christ fulfilled the Old Testament
the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, prophecies;
then poured • for the apostolic commission to preach
this Spirit out on us. This is what you now Christ to the whole world.
see and hear. Simply put, without Christ risen from the
(Acts 2:32-33) dead, there would be no Christian Faith.
If Christ was not raised, your faith is
worthless. You are 616. We have seen how many Filipino
still in your sins. . . If our hopes in Christ are Catholics focus almost uniquely on the
limited to crucified Jesus. This
this life only, we are the most pitiable is understandable, given our own situation
people. of poverty and suffering. Nevertheless it can
(1 Cor 15:17,19) obscure the
full, adequate understanding of Christ, our
Risen Savior. We have developed some
614. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is beautiful religious
the primordial Christian proclamation. celebrations at Easter. There is the
The early Salubong, which dramatizes the meeting of
Christian kerygma stands or falls with the the Risen Christ with
resurrection and exaltation of the crucified the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother. In it,
Jesus as LORD we can see how Mary’s deep sorrow is
(cf. CCC 638). Even today, when we read turned to
the Gospel accounts of Christ raised from inexpressible joy. Or the custom of depicting
the dead, we the sleeping Roman soldiers, awakened by
experience the incredible joy and the chanting
excitement of that unique, world-shaking of the Easter “Glory” and the great noise of
event. “The Lord has been the ringing Church bells announcing: “Jesus
raised! It is true! He has appeared to Simon” has Risen!”
The soldiers run out of the Church in great witness; third, study Christ’s Ascension; and
fright and consternation. finally, look at
617. But these Easter celebrations lack the Christ’s promised Second Coming.
sharp, personally-felt dimension so
prominent in Good
Friday celebrations, and Christmas I. IMPORTANCE AND NATURE
devotions. We Filipinos can instinctively OF THE RESURRECTION
“compassionate” with a A. Salvific Importance
suffering Savior, and a young Mother with
her new-born Babe. But the once-and-for-all
620. St. Paul clearly affirmed the singular
event of
importance of the Resurrection in declaring:
Christ rising from the dead and appearing to
“If Christ was
his disciples is different. It is not something
not raised, your faith is worthless” (1 Cor
“familiar” to
15:17). This means that if Christ is not risen,
our ordinary experience. So a special effort
Paul and all
is needed by us Filipino Catholics of today if
Christians would “then be exposed as false
we are to
witnesses of God, for we have borne
become more aware of the full truth and
witness before Him
reality of Christ’s Resurrection. For this is
that He raised up Christ” (1 Cor 15:15). In
the unique key to
brief, if Christ be not risen, we are all
deeper personal understanding of the living
idolaters!
Christ, and of our authentic living out the
But the truth is: Christ IS risen, and his
Catholic Faith.
resurrection has revolutionized both the
618. Another aspect of our present
very notion
Philippine context is the strident teaching
and image of God, and the ultimate
and preaching of
meaning and goal of our very own lives.
various Fundamentalist groups. They seem
621. We can sketch the meaning and
particularly fascinated by the Second
salvific importance of Christ’s Resurrection
Coming of Christ,
in five points (cf.
and create imaginative scenarios concocted
CCC 651-55). First, his Resurrection
from various biblical texts about
confirmed everything Christ had done
Armageddon and the end
and taught. It fulfilled
of the world. An accurate Catholic
both Jesus’ triple prediction of his Passion,
understanding of the Creed’s “He will come
Death and Resurrection in the Synoptics (cf.
again to judge the
Mk 8:31;
living and the dead” will greatly help to
9:30; 10:32), and his triple prediction of
dissipate the nervous anxiety and unrest
being “lifted up” in John’s Gospel (cf. Jn
such teaching can
3:14; 8:28;
cause.
12:32). Christ’s exaltation vindicated all he
claimed to be, as he himself asserted in his
619. The following pages shall first take up trial before the
the importance and nature of Christ’s high priest (cf. Mk 14:61f).
Resurrection; 622. Second, through his Resurrection,
second, investigate its New Testament Christ fulfilled the Old Testament
prophecies promising a if asked to explain the meaning and
Savior for all the world (cf. Ps 110; Dn implications of Christ’s Resurrection. This
7:13). The history of God’s Self-revelation, may indicate that, many merely accept the
begun with fact that Christ has risen from the dead. But
Abraham and continuing through Moses, they have no idea of what this means
the Exodus, and the whole Old Testament, nor do they know how to “live out” its
reached its implication in their lives. No one has helped
climax in Christ’s Resurrection, something them see how Jesus’ Resurrection can
unprecedented, totally new. be the basic principle and animating
623. Third, the Resurrection confirmed force for a truly Christian way of life. We
Jesus’ divinity. St. Paul preached that are saved only if we not only “confess
Jesus was with our lips that Jesus is Lord” but also
“designated Son of God in power according “believe in our hearts that God raised him
to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Rom
from the dead” 10:9).
(Rom 1:4; cf. Phil 2:7-8). Upon seeing the 627. The importance of the Resurrection
Risen Jesus, Thomas cried out, “My Lord also calls for the clarification of some
and my God!” common misleading
(Jn 20:28). conceptions. Some Christians treat the
624. Fourth, Christ’s death freed us from Resurrection simply as a factual “proof” of
sin, and his Resurrection brought us a the Gospel
share in the new message, with no particular meaning in
life of adopted sons/daughters of the Father itself. But in the New Testament, Jesus’
in the Holy Spirit. “If then we have died with Resurrection is not
Christ [freed only a proof of the Gospel message __ it IS
from sin], we believe that we shall also live also the message!
with him” (Rom 6:8). Neither can the Resurrection be reduced to
625. Finally, the Risen Christ is the “making-up” for the crucifixion, as if Easter
principle and source of our future were
resurrection. This means like some recompence for Good Friday! On
Jesus rose not only to a “glorious” higher the contrary, Christ’s Resurrection is the
state of life himself, but also to become the central event of
source of this God’s whole plan of salvation. This is
new life for all. “He will change our lowly how God wills to save all persons for all
body to conform with his glorified body by time. In the Risen
the power that Christ “a new age has dawned, the long
enables him also to bring all things into reign of sin is ended, a broken world has
subjection to himself” (Phil 3:21). “In Christ been renewed, and
all will come to we are once again made whole” (Easter
life again” (1 Cor 15:22; cf. CCC 651-55). Pref. IV).
626. This importance of the Resurrection is B. Nature of the Resurrection
often missed. Two practical problems 628. The Resurrection was basically
indicate this. Many Jesus’ passage from death to new,
Filipino Catholics today seem to feel uneasy definitive glorified life.
Thus it can be described from three points Christ is not like Lazarus, the son of
of view: the widow of Naim or the daughter of Jairus
1) as passage: an event in human history; (cf. Jn 11:43f; Lk 7:15; Mk 5:41f). They were
2) as the glorified life of the Risen Christ; revived from
and death to resume their earthly existence, only
3) as effected by the Blessed Trinity. to die again (cf. Jn 11:43-44; CCC 646).
629. First, as an event, Christ’s Christ arose to
Resurrection is both historical and trans- an entirely new “glorified” existence. We
historical. It is historical in recognize this in the fact that “Christ, raised
terms of the testimony of witnesses to the from the dead,
Risen Christ, the empty tomb, etc. But it dies no more; death no longer has power
surpasses and over him” (Rom 6:9). Thus we pray: “Christ
transcends history in that no one claimed to is the victim
see the event, no one described how it took who dies no more; the Lamb, once slain,
place, no one who lives for ever” (Easter Pref. III).
can explain what “risen, glorified existence” 632. Third. As effected by the Trinity, the
is essentially. Therefore, the passage to Resurrection represents the definitive
such a new state intervention of the
of life is necessarily a reality discerned Triune God into creation and our human
through the eyes of Faith, not by the senses history. As in all out-going divine acts, the
(cf. CCC 639, Resurrection is
647). effected by all three divine Persons working
630. Second, the glorified state of the together, but each according to the
Risen Christ is both like and unlike the distinctiveness proper
historical, earthly to each (cf. CCC 648-50).
Jesus. He has personal continuity with his Thus, like the source of Jesus’ divine
prior earthly bodily existence. The Risen sonship and mission is the Father, so too
Christ reestablished direct relations with his the divine power
disciples, even with the marks of his raising Jesus from the dead has its source
Passion. For it was the in the Father (cf. Acts 2:24). Also, like
Crucified one whom “God freed from Jesus’ very
death’s bitter pangs and raised up again” conception in the Virgin Mary, the divine
(Acts 2:24). power re-vivifying and glorifying the dead
Yet, the Risen Christ also showed a clear Jesus, body and
discontinuity with his earthly state. In his soul, is the Holy Spirit. And as sharing
risen state he transcends the equally together with Father and Spirit the
bodily limits of time and space, and one divine power,
inaugurates the new and final creation, the the Eternal Son works his own humanity’s
final destiny of all. The Risen Christ is the resurrection as Jesus promised. “I have the
“first fruits of those who have fallen power to lay
asleep . . . in Christ all will come to life down my life, and to take it up again” (Jn
again” (1 Cor 15:20, 22; cf. CCC 645). 10:18).
631. Therefore, Christ’s Resurrection did II. NEW TESTAMENT WITNESS
not mean a return to earthly life. The Risen TO THE RESURRECTION
633. The New Testament gives witness to our transgressions and was raised for our
Christ’s Resurrection in three basic ways. justification” (Rom
First, the 4:24-25).
Kerygma or early preaching of the Gospel, 636. In key texts, Jesus’ Resurrection is
proclaimed the central importance of linked with the apostolic commission: “Paul,
Christ’s an apostle not
Resurrection. This was true for both the from human beings nor through a human
commission and authority of the apostles, being, but through Jesus Christ and God the
and for grounding Father who
the Christian Faith itself. Second, Jesus’ raised him from the dead” (Gal 1:1).
Presence, both in the Risen Christ’s Matthew has the Risen Christ
appearances, and then commissioning his disciples for
through the teaching, moral exhortation, and their apostolic mission. “Full authority has
worship of the Apostolic Church, witnesses been given to me both in heaven and on
to his earth; go,
Resurrection. The appearances of the Risen therefore, and make disciples of all the
Christ illumine how he relates to us through nations” (Mt 28:18-l9). These texts show
his witnesses, how Jesus’
and the essential need for faith. Resurrection directly affected the first
634. And finally, the Resurrection is apostolic mission, creating the daily life and
proclaimed as the Christians’ future. It practice of the first
indicates how God Christian communities.
saves, and illustrates this by the empty 637. But the Resurrection kerygma is
tomb. The empty tomb provides invaluable perhaps most important for grounding the
insight into our Christian Faith. For
future by showing how God actually saves the Risen Christ not only crowns God’s Self-
us bodily in Christ. We shall briefly revelation in history. He also illumines all of
investigate each of creation as
these three ways of witnessing to Christ’s its cosmic Lord, in whom “everything in
Resurrection. heaven and on earth was created . . . all
A. The Resurrection as Kerygma were created through
635. The early preaching contrasts Jesus’ him and for him” (Col 1:16). This is the basis
death for sin with his Resurrection by God, for the genuine universality of Christian
and connects them with his Faith. Through
appearances to his disciples and fulfilling Christ’s Resurrection, a real
Scripture. “Christ died for our sins in transformation of creation was effected
accordance with the by God.
Scriptures; . . . he was buried; . . . he was 638. We see some indication of this in
raised on the third day in accordance with Christian moral praxis and spirituality. Both
the Scriptures; . . . he appeared to Cephas, rest firmly on the
then to the Twelve” (1 Cor 15:3b-5). And Risen Christ’s actual presence in the world.
again: “We believe in the one who raised Without the Resurrection, Christians might
Jesus our Lord from the dead, simply relate
Jesus who was handed over to death for to the historical Jesus as one religious
leader among many. Or they might relate to drank with him after he rose from the dead”
the Risen Lord like (Acts 10:40-41).
the transcendent God, leaving behind the Unlike the Old Testament prophets’
historical “Jesus story.” But the mystery of experience of hearing God’s word, the
the Risen Christ disciples’ encounter
unites inseparably the exalted Lord with with the Risen Christ is constantly described
the crucified “Man-for-others” in a way in terms of seeing, sometimes even with
that makes the “touching.” The
earthly life of Jesus eternally valid and women “embraced” the feet of Jesus (cf. Mt
operative in our history today. 28:9). To his disciples who thought he was
639. One particular phrase in the Easter a ghost, the
kerygma is specially significant: “on the Risen Christ said: “Look at my hands and
third day” (1 Cor my feet; it is really I. Touch me and see that
15:4; Acts 10:40). Throughout the Old a ghost does
Testament the “third day” signified a special not have flesh and bones as I do” (Lk
point in salvation 24:39). To the doubting Thomas Jesus said:
history, not merely numerical time. Moses “Take your finger
told the people: “be ready on the third day; and examine my hands. Put your hand into
for on the third my side” (Jn 20:27).
day the Lord will come down on Mount 641. These appearances of the Risen Christ
Sinai” (Ex 19:11). Hosea prophesied: “He have three significant characteristics. First,
will revive us after they were
two days; on the third day he will raise us different from visions totally within history
up, to live in his presence” (Hos 6:2). In the since the Risen Christ showed himself as
New transcending the
Testament, Jesus used the phrase in ordinary limits of time and space. Second,
predictions of his Passion, in invoking the except for Paul, the Risen Christ appeared
sign of Jonah (cf. Mt only to those
12:40), and in offering the Jews a sign of his who could identify him with the earthly,
authority to cleanse the temple: “Destroy historical Jesus. These thus became the
this temple and once-and-for-all
in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:19). original witnesses founding the Church. The
B. The Resurrection as Jesus’ Apostolic Age closed with their passing;
Presence from then on,
640. In his discourse to Cornelius’ Christians are those “who have not seen
household, Peter describes the and have believed” (Jn 20:29).
appearances of the Risen Christ 642. Third, and most importantly, the
(cf. CCC 641-43). “They killed Jesus, appearances did not remove all doubts nor
hanging him on a tree, only to have God the need for faith
raise him up on the (cf. CCC 644). Some doubted that the one
third day and grant that he be seen, not by who appeared was really Jesus of
all, but only by such witnesses as had been Nazareth, others that he
chosen was the Christ. A real change of heart, a
beforehand by God __ by us who ate and conversion, was needed to “see” the Risen
Christ as the instruct you in everything, and remind you of
apostle Thomas and the Emmaus disciples all that I told
clearly show (cf. Jn 20:27; Lk 24:13-35). you” (Jn 14:26). For the Spirit “bears
Matthew witness” to the Risen Christ (cf. Jn 15:26).
describes how “those who had entertained He “will guide you
doubts fell down in homage” (Mt 28:17). to all truth. . . announce to you the things
This confirms the that are to come. In doing this he will give
fact that faith is truly a gift. “No one can say: glory to me
‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 because he will have received from me
Cor 12: 3). what he will announce to you” (Jn 16:13-
St. Thomas Aquinas explains that “the 14).
apostles saw the living Christ after his Pauline Moral Exhortation
Resurrection with the 645. The Risen Christ’s Paschal pattern of
eyes of faith” (ST, III: 55, 2 ad 1m). new life through death determines the
643. But the presence of the Risen Jesus shape of all
was not confined to his appearances. Christian life in the Spirit. Christ’s
Rather, Christ’s active Resurrection makes spiritually present He to
presence was intensely felt by the early whom every Christian
community, and linked with life in the Spirit. belongs. So Paul writes: “Continually we
“We ourselves, carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus,
although we have the Spirit as firstfruits, so that in our
groan inwardly while we await the bodies the life of Jesus may also be
redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:23). revealed” (2 Cor 4:10). He exhorts his
Jesus’ presence was especially felt in three Corinthian converts:
areas, corresponding to our present “Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been
“Doctrine,” “Morals,” and sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast not
“Worship.” First, as source of the teaching with the old yeast of
and authority of the Christian community’s corruption and wickedness, but with the
leaders. unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1
Second, in the moral exhortations of the Cor 5:7-8).
Pauline epistles. And third, in the Liturgical Worship
community worship, 646. The Risen Christ’s presence was
especially Baptism and the Eucharist. experienced perhaps most clearly in the
Teaching sacramental worship
644. The Risen Christ commissioned his of the Christian community. First, “in
disciples: You are to “teach them to carry baptism you were not only buried with him
out everything I but also raised to
have commanded you” (Mt 28:20). Jesus new life with him because you believed in
and the Father abide in anyone who is “true the power of God who raised him from the
to my word. . . . dead” (Col
We will come to him and make our dwelling 2:12). The Eucharist, for Paul, makes
place with him” (Jn 14:23). This abiding present Christ’s Paschal Mystery: “Every
presence is time, then, you eat
effected through the Holy Spirit who “will this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim
the death of the Lord until he comes” (1 Cor and your God” (Jn 20:17; cf. CCC 659-60).
11:26). John John’s Gospel
stresses the notion of abiding presence neatly unifies all dimensions of Christ’s
through the Eucharist: “Whoever eats my Paschal Mystery (Crucifixion, Resurrection,
flesh and drinks my and Ascension)
blood remains in me, and I in him” (Jn 6:56). by Jesus’ assertion of being “lifted up” (cf.
C. The Resurrection and the Empty Jn 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-33). These correspond
Tomb to the
647. By itself, the tradition of the “empty predictions of the Passion, Death and
tomb” does not prove anything. But when Resurrection in the Synoptic Gospels (e.g.,
linked to the Mk 8:31; 9:31;
Risen Christ’s appearances, it is 10:33-34).
confirmatory of the Resurrection (cf. CCC The predictions of both the Passion and
640). More important, “being lifted up” have two things in common.
perhaps, is what the empty tomb indicates They
about the nature of our salvation. For the speak of 1) the “Son of Man,” and 2) the
corpse of Jesus divine imperative. “So must the Son of
was a symbol of the ultimate human sin, Man be lifted up”
and God took that corpse and made of it the (Jn 3:143). And “The Son of Man had to
beginning of the suffer much. . . be put to death, and rise
new creation. Redemption in the Catholic three days later”
sense, then, is not escaping from this sinful (Mk 8:31).
world, but 649. The primary meaning of being raised
transforming it with all its evil and suffering. or “lifted up” is Christ’s exaltation,
Moreover, respect for material creation, sovereign authority and power over
against all forms of spiritualism, creation and all history (cf. CCC 668-70).
is once again affirmed. As He had done in This recalls a “Suffering Servant” prophecy
creation and at the Incarnation, God once of Isaiah: “See, my Servant
again enhances matter shall prosper, he shall be raised high and
by raising Christ from the dead. greatly exalted” (Is 52:13). It also appears in
PCP II strongly supports this respect for two of Peter’s
material creation in its appeal for “a discourses in Acts expressing both
passionate care of Resurrection and Ascension. “The God of
our earth and our environment” to preserve our fathers has raised up Jesus whom
the “integrity of God’s creation” (PCP II 79, you put to death, hanging him on a tree. He
321-24). whom God has exalted at His right hand as
III. CHRIST’S ASCENSION Ruler and
648. But the “raising” of Christ did not stop Savior to bring repentance to Israel and
with his Resurrection from the dead. An forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31).
integral part of Referring “lifted up” also
Christ’s Paschal Mystery is his to Christ’s Ascension to the Father, then,
Ascension. The Risen Jesus told Mary helps explain: “When you lift up the Son of
Magdalene: “I am ascending Man, you will
to my Father and your Father, to my God come to realize that I AM” (Jn 8:28). “I AM”
was the name God revealed to Moses in Ex day entering into glory with him (cf. CCC
3:14, which 661-67).
John’s Gospel uses to bring out the divinity 652. The Preface of the Ascension
of Jesus. summarizes these truths neatly as it
650. But the Ascension is also a saving proclaims:
event for us. Christ’s return to the Father Christ, the Mediator between God and man,
was necessary for Judge of the world and Lord of all,
sending the Spirit: “It is much better for you has passed beyond our sight,
that I go. . . . If I go, I will send the Paraclete not to abandon us but to be our hope.
Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church;
to you” (Jn
where he has gone, we hope to follow.
16:7). Jesus’ Ascension to his Father did
IV. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN
not separate him from the world. Rather, it
653. We are aware of the living presence of
made him even
the Risen Christ among us in the Holy Spirit
more present to his disciples.
The Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and
sent among us. But we also
took his seat at God’s right hand. The Eleven know from the Creed that he “will come
went forth and again to judge the living and the dead” (cf.
preached everywhere. The Lord continued to CCC 687-82). In the first eucharistic
work with them throughout, and to confirm the acclamation we proclaim: “Christ has died,
message Christ is risen, Christ will come again!”
through the signs which accompanied them” (Mk “Parousia,” meaning “coming” or
16:19-20). “presence,” is the traditional term for
Paul also stresses this same active Christ’s Second Coming as divine Judge
presence of “Christ Jesus who died or (cf. Mt 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Cor 15:23; etc.).
rather was raised up, who is “The Son of Man will come with his Father’s
at the right hand of God and who intercedes glory accompanied by his angels. When he
for us” (Rom 8:34). does, he will repay each man
651. Christ’s Ascension, then, brings out a according to his conduct” (Mt 16:27-28).
number of basic truths of our Christian 654. In the early days Christians prayed for
Faith. First, the this coming of Christ their Savior: “O Lord,
Ascension marks Jesus’ exaltation into the come!
heavenly realm of his Father. Second, it Marana tha!” (1 Cor 16:22; Rev 22:20). But
does not separate gradually this longing for their forgiving
Christ from us because as he promised, Savior gave
from heaven he “draws everyone to himself” way to gnawing consciousness of individual
(Jn 12:32). sinfulness and infidelity. The attitude of
Third, since “he lives forever to make longing for the
intercession,” Christ continues to exercise Lord was replaced by something akin to the
his priesthood since Old Testament prophetic warnings. The
he entered “heaven itself, that he might now “Day of the
appear before God on our behalf” (Heb Lord” was pictured as a “Day of Judgment,”
7:25; 9:24). a Dies Irae (Day of God’s Wrath). In recent
Finally, the ascended Christ as Head of the times there
Church gives us, members of his Body, the has been a renewal of the New Testament
hope of one stress on Christ’s “saving presence,” and
his Second Second, Christ’s Second Coming will be
Coming as introducing the final completion unmistakable since it will be accompanied
not just of the individuals but of the whole by
world. The unprecedented signs in the heavens and on
final destiny of the human race is ultimately the earth. “As the lightning from the East
in God’s hands. flashes to the
655. But confusion often arises today, partly West, so will the coming of the Son of Man
due to the exaggerated interpretations of be” (Mt 24:27).
the final day 657. Third, regarding when the Parousia
by some fundamentalist sects. They will take place, the Gospel is very clear. “As
overemphasize and interpret in literal for the exact day or hour, no one
fashion the poetic, knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor
apocalyptic descriptions of the end of the the Son, but the Father only” (Mt 24:36).
world given in the Bible, especially in Daniel Therefore, fourth, because it will come
and the book unexpectedly, “like a thief in the night” (1
of Revelation. Biblical literature of this type Thes 5:2), we must “be constantly on the
has to be read in terms of its typical watch! Stay awake! You
characteristics. do not know when the appointed time will
First, while seemingly a revelation of the come” (Mk 13:33).
future, apocalyptic texts actually are usually 658. Lastly, because Christ is already in his
a commentary glory, and has sent his Spirit among us, the
on their own times. Second, the revelation is “time” of
generally presented in a vision or dream, in salvation has already come. Now is the
which time when our salvation is being worked out
allegorical language and complicated in our daily acts
symbolism are used. Third, the texts with our neighbors. “When the Son of Man
attempt by such means to comes in his glory,” he will judge our acts
portray the final end of world history and the according to
fearful destruction of all the evil forces in the one norm: “As often as you did it for one of
world. my least brothers, you did it for me” (Mt
656. Given such qualities of biblical 25:31, 40).
apocalyptic literature, it is more important
for us, Filipino 659. The doctrine of Christ’s Resurrection
Catholics, to focus on the basic truths of and Second Coming constitutes a central
the Parousia. The first is that the Risen part in our understanding who Jesus
Christ as the Son of Christ IS. Without much speculative
Man will “come to judge the living and reasoning, the ordinary Catholic Filipino
the dead” (2 Tim 4:1). “The Lord himself instinctively senses that Christ as Risen
will come down Savior
from heaven at the word of command, at the and as Judge must be true God and true
sound of the archangel’s voice and God’s man in some way. He is both one of us,
trumpet; and able “to sympathize with our weakness”
those who have died in Christ will rise first” (Heb 4:15), and yet capable of taking “away
(1 Thes 4:16). the sin of the world,” and given “the power
to pass judgment” on it (Jn 663. What is the meaning and salvific
1:29; 5:27). As risen from the dead, Christ is importance of Christ’s Resurrection?
present and operative in our human history, Christ’s resurrection is not simply a “fact” of
the “Head” information, but rather, together with the
of the Christian communities, the Church. Incarnation, the most significant event of the
660. Christian morality rests precisely on Christian Faith. It
the presence of the Risen Christ among us • confirmed all Christ had done and taught
today, through during his public ministry;
the Spirit he has sent into our hearts. For • fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies;
the living Risen Christ is not merely some • confirmed Jesus as the “only Son of the
external “model” Father”;
of 2,000 years ago, proposed for our • enabled Christ to share his new life with us
imitation. He is, rather, a personal presence as adopted sons and daughters of the
through his living Father; and
biblical Word, and in active grace-filled • will be the principle and source of our
power within us. The Risen Christ’s resurrection.
presence, both personal 664. What is the challenge surrounding the
and com-munitarian, in Filipino Catholics, is Resurrection?
the abiding source of our authentic Christian The challenge today is not in accepting
moral Christ’s Resurrection, but in living out the
discernment and strength for our daily living Gospel of the
out our Christian Faith. Risen Christ.
661. Christian worship depends for its 665. Does the Resurrection “prove” the
validity on the Resurrection, for if Jesus be Gospel message?
not risen, he cannot Christ’s Resurrection is not only the proof of
mediate for us before the Father, nor be the Gospel message. It IS the central
experienced in his Sacraments. The reality Gospel
of the Resurrection was message itself.
brought home sharply to the early Christians 666. What does “Jesus Christ rose from the
precisely in their experience of him in their dead” mean?
worship. Today, in It means that:
the active liturgies of thriving parishes and • Jesus passed from death to
BECs, we Filipino Catholics share the same • a new, definitive glorified life,
experience. We • effected by the Blessed Trinity, and
come to recognize him “in the breaking of • is now the source of that new life for all.
bread” (Lk 24:35). 667. How does the New Testament witness
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS to Christ’s Resurrection?
662. Why is it so important to believe in The New Testament testifies to Christ’s
Christ’s Resurrection? Resurrection in four ways, namely, in its:
Because the Risen Christ is the key to our • Easter proclamation and apostolic
salvation and all authentic knowledge of mandate;
God. If • descriptions of the Risen Christ’s
Christ is not risen, our faith is worthless (cf. appearances to his disciples;
1 Cor 15:17). • narrative of the tradition of the empty
tomb; and must be
• account of the early Christian community’s interpreted accordingly.
experience of the Risen Christ’s presence in 673. When will Christ’s Second Coming or
the “Parousia” take place?
Holy Spirit. Christ clearly affirmed that no one knows this,
668. What is an example of the early except the Father. It is useless, therefore, to
kerygma? speculate on this “when.”
In the First Letter to the Corinthians St. Paul
wrote: “Christ died for our sins in
accordance with
the Scriptures; . . . he was buried and rose
from the dead on the third day, . . . he was
seen by
Cephas, then by the Twelve” (1 Cor 15:3-5).
669. How did the Risen Christ show his
presence in the world?
The Risen Christ was seen by his disciples,
but especially experienced through the
teaching, the
moral exhortation, and in the liturgical
worship of the early Christian communities.
670. What does the “Ascension” mean?
It means that the Risen Christ ascended to
heaven to take his place at the right hand of
the
Father.
The Ascension is a salvific event for us
since Christ’s return to the Father was
necessary for
sending the Spirit among us, and for
Christ’s continued mediating on our behalf
as well as for
grounding our hope in our own future
resurrection.
671. What does Christ’s being “lifted up”
refer to?
In John’s Gospel Christ speaks of being
“lifted up” in referring to his Crucifixion, his
Resurrection, and his Ascension to heaven.
672. Why will Christ “come again”?
The Risen Christ will come again at the
Parousia to judge the living and the dead.
Biblical accounts of Christ’s Second Coming
are written in the apocalyptic genre and

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