Ch. 7: Redemption Through the Paschal Mystery

1. Ch. 7: Redemption Through the Paschal Mystery

2. The Wonders of Our Salvation • If we consider what Jesus Christ has accomplished by his Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension to Heaven, we can only wonder at what he has done for us. • The sacraments make the wonder of God’s work present and help us to celebrate the gift of Redemption.

3. Discussion: What are some things you have experienced in nature that amaze or impress you?

4. The Presence of God in Creation • Creation itself is the first wonder of the world; it begs us to take notice of God’s power, intelligence, goodness, and love. • Human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation, made in his own image and likeness. • Each of us is aware that we are not responsible for our own existence—this existence is a sign of God’s love for every individual.

5. The Incarnation • In the Incarnation, the Second Person of the Trinity became human and shared in the joys and sufferings of being human. • The Incarnation effected our salvation, fulfilling God’s promises: • the Protoevangelium • God’s promise to Abraham • The covenant with Moses and the Israelites • The preaching of the prophets

6. The Incarnation teaches us important truths: • Humans have great dignity • All creation has worth • God shares in both our personal joys and sufferings • The sacraments help us to celebrate the wonder of the Incarnation in special moments of our lives.

7. Good News: The Kingdom of God Is at Hand The Kingdom of God, ushered in by Christ, provides the structure and goal for our life in the Lord.

8. The Kingdom of God Is at Hand • Jesus’ announcing the Kingdom calls us to be open to the Kingdom in our lives, which requires: • Faith: a wholehearted acceptance of and commitment to Jesus • Conversion: turning our hearts and minds away from sin and toward God • The seven sacraments celebrate this Good News, offering sacred signs of God’s reign and helping to bring it about.

9. Forgiveness of Sins • An essential part of Jesus’ mission and message was the forgiveness of sin. • Jesus called for repentance—turning from sin, forgiving others (including our enemies), and embracing God’s Kingdom. • Through the forgiveness of sin, Jesus reveals that his heavenly Father loves and forgives sinners. • All of the sacraments, but especially Baptism and Penance, help us celebrate and make real God’s compassion for us.

10. Friendship with Jesus • Another gift of our Redemption is that we can experience an intimate, loving friendship with Christ. • The fruit of this love is membership in the Church. • We experience friendship with Jesus in prayer, in fellow believers, and especially in the sacraments.

11. The Paschal Mystery Wins Our Redemption • Christ’s work of Redemption is principally accomplished by the Paschal Mystery. • The Paschal Mystery is celebrated and made present in the liturgy of the Church, and its saving effects are communicated in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

12. Jesus calls us to live the Paschal Mystery in our daily lives by dying to sin and reaching out in love to others. • In order to help us live out this Mystery, God sends us the Holy Spirit, especially in the sacraments. • By enacting the fruits of the Spirit we become more like Christ.

13. The Last Things: Christian Death and the Resurrection of the Body • The study of the last things is called eschatology. It encompasses: • Death • Resurrection of the body • Particular and General Judgment • Heaven, Hell, Purgatory • At death our souls will separate from our bodies and our loving God will judge us fairly and compassionately in a particular judgment.

14. At the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus (aka the Parousia): • the Trinity will raise the bodies of both the just and unjust • in the Last Judgment Christ will reveal the truth of each person’s relationship with God • those judged to have lived good Christian lives will experience the Beatific Vision • God will transform all material creation in Christ, creating a suitable eternal dwelling for us • We don’t know when the Parousia will occur.

15. More About Eternal Life • Immediately after death, we will experience an individual, particular judgment to determine whether: • we will merit the eternal reward of Heaven, • need to be purified of our sins in Purgatory, or • deserve punishment in Hell. • God does not force us to spend eternity with him in Heaven because God respects our freedom.

16. Heaven • If we die in God’s friendship and grace and are perfectly purified, we will receive the reward of Heaven. • Heaven is sharing in God’s life for eternity. • There we will be fully incorporated into Christ, yet we will retain our true individual identities. • The happiness in store for us in Heaven is beyond human imagination.

17. Purgatory • Purgatory is for those who die in God’s grace and friendship but need purification from venial sin before entering Heaven. • Purgatory is necessary because we must be unhindered in our love in order to embrace an all-loving God. • Our belief in the Communion of Saints supports our understanding of Purgatory. The Communion of Saints includes: • The pilgrim Church (those living on earth) • The Church suffering (those in Purgatory) • The Church triumphant (the blessed in Heaven)

18. Hell • Hell is eternal separation from God brought on by deliberate mortal sin and the failure to repent. • Both Scripture and Tradition uphold the existence of Hell, though we cannot be certain who is in Hell.

19. Discussion: • How does the understanding of Heaven and Hell we have been discussing differ from how they are usually portrayed? • Why would God ever allow someone to go to Hell? • Why would anyone ever choose not to go to Heaven?

20. Our Hope for the End of Time • At the Last or General Judgment, Christ will come again, and everyone will recognize God’s saving plan in Christ Jesus. • The virtue of hope helps us to look forward to the glorious day of Christ’s Second Coming.