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St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 7, 2014

St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 7, 2014. WHO AM I? BASED ON THE BOOK “ Made for More ” by Curtis Martin. Announcements. Fr. Mark will be ordering more books this week We will put these Power Point presentations on the parish web site by Wednesday. Prayer – Isaiah 9:5-6.

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St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 7, 2014

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  1. St. Alexander Villa Park MissionApril 7, 2014 WHO AM I? BASED ON THE BOOK “Made for More” by Curtis Martin

  2. Announcements • Fr. Mark will be ordering more books this week • We will put these Power Point presentations on the parish web site by Wednesday

  3. Prayer – Isaiah 9:5-6 • For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; • upon his shoulder dominion rests. • They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, • Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. • His dominion is vast • and forever peaceful, • Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, • which he confirms and sustains • By judgment and justice, • both now and forever. • The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

  4. Review • What motivates us? Why do we do what we do? We are looking for ___________ • Why was Jesus crucified? • What is some evidence that Jesus is more than a moral teacher or nice prophet? • Read in the book about why the Bible is one of the most reliable books in history…

  5. Foundation of our Faith • Jesus rose from the dead! • Very specific place (Jerusalem), point in history (Pontius Pilate) • Heart of Christianity is not a set of rules or ideas • It is the person of Jesus Christ, raised from the death to glory at the right hand of the Father • Relationship with Him

  6. St. Paul • “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) • This is the Good News (Gospel) • Story of a man whose wife died in Jerusalem • All who believe in Jesus will also rise from the dead • But being a Christian is not easy; it demands a radical response to the most radically dramatic event in history

  7. Jesus and the Resurrection • John 2:19 – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (not explicit) • More explicit - after giving the keys of the kingdom to Peter, Jesus says, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day, raised.” (Matthew 16:21) • It was JESUS and not His apostles who believed in and predicted the resurrection

  8. Apostles • Did not comprehend what was going on • Scandalized by the cross • Brokenhearted by Jesus’ death • Fled and hid, except John • After they see Him alive they begin to understand • Acts 2:32 – “this Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses” – became the central focus of their preaching

  9. Theories trying to refute the resurrection • Jesus’ body was thrown in a shallow grave and eaten by wild dogs • Apostles went to the wrong tomb and made up a story about the resurrection • Jesus was raised spiritually but not bodily • Jesus didn’t die; He just passed out • Jesus had an evil twin • Someone stole Jesus’ body

  10. Why we believe… • 6 historical facts that support the resurrection • 1) Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate • 2) The tomb was empty • 3) The once fearful disciples soon proclaimed the bodily resurrection • 4) Other eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive after resurrection (over 500) • 5) All apostles (except John) were martyred • 6) Millions accepted the faith quickly and it still spreads today

  11. Who do YOU say that I am? • We have a choice – accept Jesus or reject Him • If we choose to accept Christ, we choose to follow Him as the Lord of our life. • Since Jesus is a King, he must have a kingdom…

  12. Kingdom of God • How do we come in contact with the power and truth of Jesus today, over 2000 years later? • Jesus established a kingdom here ON EARTH: the Kingdom of God. • What does it look like to accept Jesus as the King of the Universe and the King of my life? • We obey (listen to) Jesus and reject the “kingdoms of this world” • God desires to change the way we think about everything • Pope Francis – funeral faces

  13. How do we know what God wants for me? • Bible – irrefutable evidence that the texts have not been distorted (early Christian writings support this) • In the same way, Church Fathers share a common understanding of the meaning of the Bible • These Church Fathers were taught by the Apostles themselves or by their companions

  14. What does this mean for me? • Asking Jesus to be the Lord of my life changes every aspect of our lives • Wants us to enter into relationship with Him – the key to everything • Our world has turned its back on God and the effects are devastating • How many times have I rejected God by my selfish decisions?

  15. Made for More • Sin makes us slaves to our passions – importance of fasting • We were made for greatness and everlasting joy • Jesus calls us, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17)

  16. Jesus preached the Kingdom • His entire life was spent preaching about the Kingdom • The kingdom of God is like • Mustard seed (Matthew 13:31) • Buried treasure & pearl (Matthew 13:44) • Net (Matthew 13:47) • Vineyard & hired workers (Matthew 20:1)

  17. King • Jesus was crucified as “the King of the Jews” • After His resurrection and ascension He is known as the “King of kings” • Jesus is king of heaven and has established an “outpost” here on this earth • We can join Him or we can follow this world that is passing away

  18. Groundwork for the Kingdom • God liberated His chosen people Israel from slavery in Egypt and made them into a kingdom in the Promised Land • 1000 years before Jesus, God established David in Jerusalem as king of his people • Jesus is referred to as the “Son of David”

  19. Jesus Christ, Son of David • Jesus was born at a time when the Jews were longing for a great king; they had fallen on bad times • David was the golden age • God told David that He would “establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13-16) • Israel was beaten, deported, returned, trampled upon and occupied by the Romans, but they clung to this promise of God

  20. Messiah = anointed one • When Jesus answers to the title “Son of David”, He is accepting the title of the Messianic King, the Christ • King Solomon, son of David, entered his reign on a donkey (1 Kings 1:38-40) • When Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, the Jewish people connected this to David – “hosanna to the Son of David”

  21. What does this Kingdom look like? • When we say yes to Him, it will involve not only a personal conversion; it will involve uniting ourselves with all others who acknowledge Him as King • We cannot embrace the King without embracing His Kingdom

  22. The King • God promised David that one of His descendants would arise and be greater than he. (2 Samuel 7:12-14) “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” • Read Isaiah 9:5-6 • David’s kingdom would extend to the ends of the earth and to the end of time

  23. When David became King • He chose Jerusalem • Retrieved the Ark of the Covenant (fragments of the Ten Commandments – holiest object in Israel) • David danced in a special robe called an ephod • To renew the covenant he offered the people gifts of bread and wine (2 Samuel 6) • David was dressing and acting like a priest • Combined the royal palace of the king with the sacred temple of the priest in a new way

  24. Prime Minister • Since antiquity, kings often had prime ministers to govern temporal affairs • 2nd to the king, possess the king’s authority • Isaiah 22:20-23 – Eliakim – given the “key” to the house of David • David was a father to his people • Now he shares this fatherly role with his prime minister, who has authority (keys) and honor (symbolized by the throne)

  25. Queen Mother • Davidic kings had a queen, but it wasn’t his wife – it was his mother • primary role of bringing petitions before the king • 1 Kings 2:19 – King Solomon bowed to his mother Bathsheba; she sat on his right • King bowed to no one, but his mother (4th Commandment) • Queen Mother used her influence to intercede for others • All members of the kingdom can bring their petitions to the king, but when the Queen Mother intercedes, their petitions are elevated • Story of the cardinal

  26. The King and His Kingdom • Matthew 1:1 – Jesus Christ, Son of David – 1st verse in New Testament • As Jesus establishes His kingdom by His death and resurrection, we see his queen mother and prime minister taking their places • Bestows upon Peter the keys to the kingdom, giving him authority and honor to act in the person of Jesus

  27. Mother of my Lord • When Elizabeth greets Mary during the Visitation she says: “How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (1 Luke 39-56) • Mother of my Lord was an ancient greeting for the Queen Mother • By declaring Mary to be Queen, she is acknowledging the baby in her womb to be the Messiah, the King • Honor given to the queen mother is always honor given to her son, the king

  28. What does this mean for us? • You and I are royalty! • Jesus brought the kingdom of the New Covenant(a sacred bond of relationship) • Classic forms of covenants are adoption and marriage • Difference between slavery and sonship, prostitution and marriage • Slavery and prostitution – people use another for a selfish end • Sonship and marriage – people belong to one another in a life-giving union

  29. Marriage • Her father and mother become my father and mother; her sisters become my sisters • Covenants make a family out of people who had not been family • Similarly – New Covenant unites us with God AND with one another • Question from 8th grade girl – “Father how do you see the world differently as a priest?”

  30. Covenants • Formed by sacred oaths and a ritual act • Marriage – oath of fidelity, act of sharing of vows, rings • Christian tradition – God is not a witness; He is a participant in the rituals • Hebrew word for oath (shevua)is the root for the word meaning seven(sheva) • Latin word for oath is sacramentum

  31. New Covenant • Founded upon 7 oaths or Sacraments • Calling us to a covenantal relationship • Enter the kingdom by adoption – in baptism; we become sons and daughters of the King • Jesus imparts His life to us in the Sacraments; we are part of His family, royalty

  32. What does this mean? • God is not just our King but our Father • We are loved, not just governed • Relationship is the essence of this Kingdom (what my mother taught me is most important) • We are called to loyalty to the Prime Minister, the Holy Father, who has been given the keys to the kingdom • Prime minister is called Pope (“papa”) – fatherly role to all of Christ’s followers on earth • Family trait – loyalty to prime minister, maintaining unity in the Church, the Kingdom of God on earth

  33. Other relationships • Jesus gives us His Father as our Father • His Mother is our Mother • “John, behold your Mother. Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26-27) • We are not merely saved orphans; we are full members of the royal family

  34. What can I do? • Attend a daily Mass each week along with Sunday • Allow the Lord to love you as His beloved son/daughter • Thoughts for the Day – www.frburke23.wordpress.com • Closing prayer

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