Public life of Jesus 13 LANFRANCO, Giovanni Miracle of the Bread and Fish Oil on canvas, 229 x 426 cm National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Compendium of the Catechism 108. Why did Jesus manifest the Kingdom by means of signs and miracles? Jesus accompanied his words with signs and miracles to bear witness to the fact that the Kingdom is present in him, the Messiah. Although he healed some people, he did not come to abolish all evils here below but rather to free us especially from the slavery of sin. The driving out of demons proclaimed that his cross would be victorious over “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).

Introduction We christians "have to meditate on the life of Jesus, from His birth in a stable right up to His death and resurrection (...). For we do need to know it well, to have it in our heart and mind, so that at any time, without any book, we can close our eyes and contemplate His life, watching it like a movie (...). If we do this without holding back, Christ's words will enter deep into our soul and will really change us." (Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, Christ is passing by, n. 107). GIORDANO, Luca Raising of Lazarus c Oil on canvas, 256 x 362 cm Private collection

Main ideas

1. The mysteries of the public life of Jesus From the many events of the three years of the public life of Jesus, we can highlight:  the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan,  the temptations in the desert,  the preaching of the Kingdom of God,  the transfiguration on Mount Tabor,  the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem,  His messianic entry into Jerusalem,  and the mysteries of His Passion, Death and Resurrection so as to redeem mankind. CRANACH, Lucas the Elder Christ and the Adulteress 1532 Oil on panel, 82,5 x 121 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

2. Jesus' Baptism in the River Jordan The public life of Jesus begins with His Baptism. The Baptism of Jesus was the public manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, equal to the Father, before the people of Israel. Jesus' Baptism recalls our own baptism. CARRACCI, Annibale The Baptism of Christ 1584 S. Gregorio, Bolonia

3. The temptation of Christ in the wilderness After being baptized, Jesus went to the desert to pray and fast, allowing himself to be tempted by the devil. Jesus' replies to the tempter showed His filial identification with the salvific plan of God, His Father. Every year the Church celebrates these forty days of Jesus in the wilderness, where, to set us example, with His fasting, He overcame the devil's temptations. DUCCIO di Buoninsegna Temptation on the Mount Tempera on wood, 43 x 46 cm Frick Collection, New York

4. The preaching about the Kingdom of God Jesus came to the world to preach the Kingdom of God and to found His Church. The Sermon on the Mount and the parables are a specially significant part of His preaching. He confirmed His mission with His holiness and His miracles. From the beginning of His public life, Jesus chose twelve apostles to be with Him and to share closely in His mission. DOMENICO DI MICHELINO Dante and the Three Kingdoms 1465 Oil on canvas Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

5. The transfiguration of Christ on the Mount Tabor Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples -Peter, James and John- in order to strengthen their faith because His Passion was close at hand. Following tradition, this transfiguration occurred on Mount Tabor. ANGELICO, Fra Transfiguration Fresco, 193 x 164 cm Convento di San Marco, Florence

6. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem Jesus went up to Jerusalem willingly, ready to die. The messianic entry into Jerusalem, which we celebrate on Palm Sunday, shows the coming of the Kingdom that the Messiah-King -greeted in His town by the children and the humble of heart- would carry out with His death and resurrection. GIOTTO di Bondone No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem Fresco, 200 x 185 cm Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

7. From the Cenacle to Calvary "When Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." (John 13:1). Then Jesus opened His Heart in a long speech framed around:  the washing of feet, in which he gives His disciples example in humility and service;  the new commandment of love, that He entrusts to them;  the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood: "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke, 22:19);  the promise of the Holy Spirit;  the priestly prayer of Jesus, that opens the prospect of the glory of the Cross. BASSANO, Jacopo The Last Supper 1542 Oil on canvas

8. Knowing the life of Jesus Every Christian should know the life of Jesus, and reproduce Christ's life in his or her own life. Reading and meditating on Sacred Scripture will help us, because from Scripture we will learn how to follow Jesus; He, then, will show us the way to holiness in our ordinary life, in our family and in our work. BOSCH, Hieronymus Christ Carrying the Cross Oil on panel, 150 x 94 cm Palacio Real, Madrid

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Read and meditate every day some passage from the Gospel about the life of Jesus Jesus is our model in everything; let us imitate the life of Christ in our dealings with other people.