1. JESUS CHRIST: HIS MISSION AND MINISTRY
MICHAEL PENNOCK
AVE MARIA PRESS, 2011

2. CHAPTER 1 – GOD’S REVELATION AND OUR RESPONSE
To be human is to question!
Our questions come from our searching minds, but also from our restless hearts
Sense a deep longing in our hearts for something more
Only found in God who is Truth and Love
The Confessions (St. Augustine): God as our true happiness

3. Transcendence and Immanence of God
Transcendence: God is beyond our comprehension
Immanence: God is intimately united with all of creation and sustains their being
Find God in creation and in human persons

4. What about nonbelievers?
Atheists: deny that God exists
Agnostics: refuse to take a stand on the question of God’s existence

5. Story of God’s saving activity for humanity known as salvation history
God’s self communication (Divine Revelation) to humans has occurred gradually
Story of God’s saving activity for humanity known as salvation history
Series of covenants between and humans
With Noah: after the flood; rainbow as sign
With Abraham: “Father of Faith”;
circumcision as sign

6. With Moses: Mount Sinai; YHWH (I am who am); Ten Commandments as sign
With David: line of David future Messiah
Jesus Christ, the New Covenant: Climax of Salvation History = Jesus Christ (God’s Son, the fullness of God’s Revelation)
Brought Sinai Covenant to fulfillment
(depth of its meaning)
Jesus as God’s final, total, definitive Word

7. How do we who are living today learn about God’s revelation?
Transmission of Salvation History to us:
Apostles
Deposit of Faith
Magisterium
Magisterium: guided by the Holy Spirit
Determines canon of inspired writing
46 Old Testament bks., 27 New Testament bks.
Dogma: a central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe

8. Four Gospels: the heart of the NT; principal source of information about the life and teaching of Jesus Christ
Life and Teaching of Jesus (4-6 BC and AD 30/33); historical documents
Oral Tradition: Apostles preached what they witnessed
Written Gospels: (AD 65- Mark’s gospel); four reliable accounts of Jesus’ life
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Four orderly accounts that would appeal to their various communities of people

9. Faith: our positive response to Revelation
A virtue (habitual and a firm disposition to do the good)
Cardinal Virtues Theological Virtues
Prudence, justice Infused into our souls
Fortitude, temperance Gifts from God (unearned)

10. Faith: in Baptism; believe in God; lifeline to God
First shared in the “domestic Church” (parents and children worship God, receive sacraments)
Religion (a set of beliefs, values, practices that bind believers in a relationship with God and other believers
Religion flows from faith
Christian Faith unites us with a community of faith, the Catholic Church, which professes belief in Jesus Christ

11. Hope: helps us to desire God; rely on God not on our own strength and abilities; keeps us from getting discouraged
Charity (Love): greatest of the theological virtues; If we love everyone, it transforms us.

12. Church as the Body of Christ in the World
St. Paul: Jesus as head of the body; we are its members.
Dignity of each member
Marks of the Church
Unity (rooted in the mystery of the Trinity)
Holy
Catholic (universal)
Apostolic (missionary)
Explaining the Faith
Reason: Thomas Aquinas (Five Proofs)
Ordinary Experience
Witness of martyrs