1. The Second Person He Became Incarnate from the Virgin Mary 1 Holy Trinity - 13

2. Experience 2 Matthew 1: 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

3. 3 Luke 1: 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." Experience

4. 4 Luke 2: 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

5. Experience 5 John 19:So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

6. Experience 6

7. 7 Describe Mary, the mother of our Lord.

8. Discussion & reflection: 8 Do you think Jesus was born with flesh, like our flesh? Athanasius (ca. 298 – d. 2 May 373, Egypt) Aaron (the brother of Moses) was not born a high priest but a man, and …when God willed he became high priest…putting on over his usual clothes the ephod, breastplate and robe..So the Lord…when the Father willed…just as Aaron put on his robe, so the Word took earthly flesh, having Mary for the mother of his body.

9. Discussion & reflection: 9 What if someone said they didn’t believe in miracles, because miracles involve something outside of nature that cannot be proven? What if someone said they couldn’t believe in a miraculous birth 2000 years ago? Is going to heaven when we die a miracle? If there are no miracles, then no one is going to heaven!

10. Discussion & reflection: 10 There is a movement called Deism that denies miracles. It is said that many of our founding fathers in this country were deists. Thomas Jefferson literally cut out all the miracles in the Holy Bible to create the Jefferson bible. Hillary of Poitiers (c.300 – c.368, France) The Lord himself … said about the mystery of his birth… “I am the living bread, I who came down from heaven (John 6:51).” He calls himself bread, for he himself is the origin of his own body.

11. Discussion & reflection: 11 It is normal to call the woman who gave your birth “mother.” Jesus called Mary his mother because Mary gave birth to Jesus. Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity in human flesh. Would you then call Mary the mother of God? Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376 – 444, Egypt) I am amazed that there are some who are extremely doubtful whether the holy Virgin should be called the mother of God or not. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, then surely the holy Virgin who gave him birth must be God’s mother…

12. Discussion & reflection: 12 What if someone said that Jesus was just a man and God “possessed” him, much like we mean when someone is possessed by the devil, except in this case it is by God? Athanasius (ca. 298 – d. 2 May 373, Egypt) He became man, and did not come into a man. We must be clear about this, to avoid the notion that the Word dwelled in a man, hallowing him and displaying himself in him, as in earlier times the Word came to each of the saints.

13. Discussion & reflection: 13 Why do you think Mary, the Theotokos (Mother of God), is really, really, really important? Ireneaus (2 nd Century, France) Eve by her disobedience brought death on herself and on all the human race: Mary, by her obedience, brought salvation.

14. Written reflection Name: Date: 14 What was most important to you in today’s lesson?