How can we come to know God? Incarnation – The Word became flesh – The Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it God’s Revelation is transmitted through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Human beings can come to know God through interactions with and experiences of creation and other human beings.

How can we come to know God? Why did God take on human nature? St. Bernard of Clairvaux said “God became man in Jesus in order to know us ‘from the inside’ and thus be all the more likely to be merciful toward us”

How can we come to know God? Finding God in All Things The gift of nature and the cosmos The gift of a child The gift of friendship and love The gift of romantic love The gift of healing The gift of forgiveness The gift of liberation

How can we come to know God? Our Response in Faith to God’s Presence ‘All the things in this world are gifts from God, presented to us so that we can know God more easily…’ Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola Our response is to ‘make a return of love more readily’.

Jesus—Son of God and Son of Mary The Annunciation The word ‘annunciation’ means ‘announcement’. Luke 1:26 − 38 is the account of the announcement to Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of the Son of God. Mary was invited to conceive the One ‘in whom the “whole fullness of deity” would dwell “bodily” ’ (CCC, no. 484, quoting Colossians 2:9). Genesis 3:17 contains God’s first announcement of the Good News of his plan of Salvation to Adam and Eve. The prophets of ancient Israel had proclaimed the hope that God’s promise would come true.

Jesus—Son of God and Son of Mary Mary’s Significance in the Incarnation Mary’s words of response were a sign of her deep trust in God. Through Mary’s ‘Yes’, the Word became flesh and lived among us.

Jesus—Son of God and Son of Mary Joseph’s Significance in the Incarnation Joseph was a righteous man of faith. Even though Mary was pregnant, Joseph took her as his wife and raised Jesus as his own son. By doing this, as the angel had commanded, Joseph fulfilled his role in the divine plan of Salvation.

Emmanuel (God-is-with-us) Incarnation The ‘Incarnation’ is the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human natures in the one person of the word. The Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. CCC, nos. 461 and 483

Emmanuel (God-is-with-us) An Expected Yet Surprising Messiah The Old Testament understanding of the Promised Anointed One, the Messiah, is diverse. A mighty ruler for justice and peace (Isaiah 2:4) A man of suffering (Isaiah 53:3) An earthly ruler sent to re-establish the earthly kingdom of Israel

Emmanuel (God-is-with-us) An Expected Yet Surprising Messiah The ‘son of Joseph’, the son of a carpenter born in a manger, was not the kind of Messiah that most Jews of Jesus’ time were expecting—or could expect. Jesus the Messiah brought about the Kingdom of God, not a new earthly kingdom. He fulfilled the vision proclaimed in Isaiah 11:6−10. He enabled people to love more faithfully as the People of God, and be the catalyst of right and loving relationships between God and his people and among all peoples.

How is God present to us today? Christ Remains Present with Us through the Church The Church, in Christ, is a sacrament—a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race. Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no. 1 The Church is also ‘the universal sacrament of salvation’ for all people. Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, nos. 45 and 48

How is God present to us today? Christ Remains Present with Us through the Church Every Christian, by his or her Baptism, is joined to Christ and thus is responsible for making the Church an ‘effective sign’ of God’s Reign, or Kingdom, in their time and place. All of us must cooperate with the grace of the Holy Spirit and help make the Church what it is, the Body of Christ in the world.

How is God present to us today? Christ Remains Present with Us through the Church Christians have the vocation, mission and responsibility to make Christ present to others. The challenge of the Incarnation for the Church is in motivating and helping people to live out that calling to serve as the Body of Christ through the ministries of:  The Word  Witness  Worship

The Story of Cesar Ch á vez Mexican-American farm worker, civil rights activist, labor leader and community organizer. National Director of the Latino civil rights group Community Service Organization (CSO). Founded the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). Responsible for the passing of the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act which ensured the right of farm workers to join a union. Ch á vez’s struggle for justice was inspired and sustained by his deep Catholic faith. The Ch á vez motto was: ‘Sí, se puede.’ ‘It can be done.’