“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH” - heart of...
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THE KONTAKION THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST By St. Romanos the Melodist Sixth Century The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The Angels and shepherds give glory, And the magi journey with the star, for you are born for us Little Child, God before the ages. [CCC #525] JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 3 “AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH” Sacred Scripture LUKE 1:39-66 The Visitation MATTHEW 1:18-25 An Angel Appears to Joseph LUKE 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus LUKE 2:8-20 The Shepherds Catechism of the Catholic Church #522-526 PARENTS’ & CATECHISTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER DID YOU KNOW? CHRISTMAS, which takes its name from Christ's Mass, was not among the Feast Days celebrated by the early Church. Evidence shows it was first celebrated in Egypt around 200 A.D. in the month of May. Other countries celebrated on January 6 th the Epiphany. The Church of Rome in the Fourth Century decid- ed to celebrate this Feast on the 25 th of December. HEART OF CATECHESIS The Nativity Lorenzo Lotto 1523 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Transcript of “AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH” - heart of...
THE KONTAKION THE NATIVITY OF
CHRIST
By St. Romanos the Melodist
Sixth Century
The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal
And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible.
The Angels and shepherds give glory,
And the magi journey with the star,
for you are born for us
Little Child, God before the ages.
[CCC #525]
JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 3
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH”
Sacred Scripture
LUKE 1:39-66 The Visitation MATTHEW 1:18-25 An Angel Appears to Joseph LUKE 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus LUKE 2:8-20 The Shepherds
Catechism of the Catholic Church
#522-526
PARENTS’ & CATECHISTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER
DID YOU KNOW? CHRISTMAS, which takes its name from Christ's Mass, was not among the Feast Days celebrated by the early Church. Evidence shows it was first celebrated in Egypt around 200 A.D. in the month of May. Other countries celebrated on January 6th the Epiphany. The Church of Rome in the Fourth Century decid-ed to celebrate this Feast on the 25th of December.
HEART OF CATECHESIS
The Nativity Lorenzo Lotto 1523 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
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TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES
THEME: THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
“SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRSTBORN SON AND WRAPPED HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES AND LAID HIM IN A MANGER.”
OBJECTIVES: Consider with your students the events associated with the birth of Jesus
Foster their understanding of these moments in the life of the Lord
Ponder again the Mystery of the INCARNATION and what it means
Sacred Scripture
Grades K-4 New Catholic Picture Bible pp. 96-101 Grades 5-12 LUKE 1:39-66 The Visitation MATTHEW 1:18-25 An Angel Appears to Joseph LUKE 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus LUKE 2:8-20 The Shepherds Catechism
Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp. 27-29
Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp. 37-39
Grades 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church #522-526
OPENING PRAYER:
DECADE OF THE ROSARY- THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
STUDENTS’ READING REFLECTION & PRAYER
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REVIEW:
PLEASE DO A BIT OF “MEMORY DRILL” WITH THESE TERMS
GOD THE FATHER THE FIRST PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
JESUS CHRIST THE SECOND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE FATHER
THE HOLY TRINITY THERE IS ONE GOD WHO IS THREE DIVINE PERSONS; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE INCARNATION JESUS CHRIST IS GOD AND MAN THE SON OF GOD BECAME THE SON OF MARY...AND “THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.”
IMMACULATE MARY WAS PRESERVED FROM ORIGINAL SIN FROM THE FIRST MOMENT CONCEPTION OF HER LIFE IN HER MOTHER’S WOMB
THE VIRGIN MARY MARY IS THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST. SHE WAS IMMACULATELY CON-CEIVED, IS FOREVER FULL OF GRACE, AND HELPS US CONSTANTLY BY HER PRAYERS
ETERNAL WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END; ONLY GOD ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE
CREATE TO MAKE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING; ONLY GOD CAN CREATE
DIVINITY THE QUALITY OF BEING GOD
NATURE WHAT A PERSON OR THING IS
MAN A UNION OF BODY AND SOUL IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS
ANGEL A SPIRITUAL BEING IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS
MYSTERY A HIDDEN REALITY REVEALED BY GOD
SCRIPTURE CITATIONS
JOHN 1 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
2 SAM 7 DAVID’S SON SHALL BE THE MESSIAH
ISAIAH 7 A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON
LUKE 1 & 2 MARY IS THE MOTHER OF GOD
REVIEW
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REVIEW:
IS JESUS MORE GOD, OR MORE MAN?
NEITHER! Jesus is both God and Man—fully Human and fully Divine.
IS JESUS REALLY A HUMAN PERSON?
NO! He is a Divine Person with a human nature.
OPENING QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS
READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE VISITATION LUKE 1:39-66
IN WHICH MYSTERY OF THE ROSARY DO WE REMEMBER MARY’S JOURNEY TO SEE ELIZABETH?
The Second Joyful Mystery—The Visitation
WHAT DOES THE NAME “ELIZABETH” MEAN?
The name Elizabeth means “House of God”.
WHO IS THE BABY THAT ELIZABETH IS CARRYING WITHIN HER WOMB?
John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN ELIZABETH HEARD MARY’S GREETING?
Her unborn baby, John the Baptist, leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PRAYER THAT MARY PRAYS WHEN SHE REJOICES WITH ELIZABETH?
The Magnificat. [Verses 46-55]
WHAT TITLE DO WE GIVE MARY FROM THIS BEAUTIFUL PRAYER OF HERS?
Mary prophesies that God the Almighty will exalt the lowly—including her. All generations to follow shall refer to Mary as “Blessed”...so this is where she receives [and we learn] her beautiful title, THE BLESSED MOTHER.
WHAT DOES BLESSED MEAN?
That she is holy and is favored by God.
Mary left Nazareth to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who lived near Jerusalem. Since a woman would never travel alone, she likely joined a caravan headed there-- Picture from Visual Bible Alive
The Visitation Pietro di Francesco degli Orioli, 1458 Siena, Italy
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WHAT DOES “BETROTHED” MEAN?
In those days, there were three “stages” in the coming together of man and woman as husband and wife. The contract or formal agreement—the ENGAGEMENT was often arranged by the father and mother of the husband and bride to be—sometimes many years before they were even old enough to marry. As the couple neared the time for the wedding, there was a formal public ceremony of their agreement called a BETROTHAL [they were then BETROTHED]. It was understood that the husband and wife to be were not yet to live together or give them-selves completely to each other. In order to separate after this ceremony, the couple would have to secure a divorce. The WEDDING was the third and final movement of this bonding, and often followed a year after the betrothal.
WHERE DID JOSEPH LIVE AND WHAT DID HE DO FOR A LIVING?
He lived in the town of Nazareth in the region of Galilee. He was a carpenter.
IS JOSEPH JESUS’ REAL FATHER?
NO. God the Father is Jesus’ true Father. Mary became His Mother by the power of the Holy Spirit [see verse 18].
WHERE IN THE CREED DO WE SAY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS HAD NO HUMAN FATHER?
“AND BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS INCARNATE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND BECAME MAN”
WHAT DOES INCARNATE MEAN?
It means that the Son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father, “was united to flesh” … and assumed a human nature; He became man. IS MARY A VIRGIN MOTHER? [v. 23]
YES. God the Father is the only true Father of the Son of God. Jesus had no human father in the physical sense of the word. Joseph, as the husband of Mary and the head of the Holy Family...was Jesus’ “adopted” father.
This is a fulfillment of another important Old Testament Messianic Prophecy, Isaiah 7:
“The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall call him Emmanuel” [IS 7:14]
This prophecy must have come to Mary’s mind as she pondered the words of the Old Testament which referred to the mother of the Messiah.
WHAT DOES THE NAME “JESUS” MEAN? [v.21]
“YAHWEH SAVES.”
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS CHRIST is THE SECOND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY MADE MAN ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE FATHER.
READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSEPH MATTHEW 1:18-25
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WHAT DOES THE NAME “YAHWEH” MEAN? WHERE AND WHEN DID GOD FIRST REVEAL IT?
God first revealed His Holy Name, YAHWEH, to Moses from a Burning Bush on the slopes of Mount Sinai. His Name means, I AM!
WHY DIDN’T THEY NAME THE FIRSTBORN SON “EMMANUEL?”
Mary and Joseph were told that the Son was to be named “Jesus” [v. 21]. Emmanuel which means “God is with us,” is a title not a name...as is “Christ” [which means the “Anointed One”].
WHAT VIRTUES DOES JOSEPH SHOW US IN THIS STORY?
FAITH and HOPE in God... and Obedience to God’s Plan...even though he didn’t fully understand it.
FAITH THE VIRTUE WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND IN THE MYSTERIES WHICH HE HAS REVEALED
HOPE THE VIRTUE WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD
READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE BIRTH OF JESUS LUKE 2:1-7
IN WHAT YEAR WAS JESUS BORN?
Jesus was probably born in the year 6 BC. Wait a minute ... BC means “Before Christ”, so most people would guess the year “0” or “1”. Our current dating system was not put into place until centuries after Jesus lived—It is close, but
not entirely accurate. In order to better understand and explain the Mystery of the Birth of Je-sus, we should attempt to remember this Citation from Scripture: LUKE 2.
WHY DID JOSEPH TAKE MARY TO BETHLEHEM?
Because Caesar ordered a census [or counting] of all people in the Roman Empire so that they could be taxed. The custom during the census was to return to the town of one’s ancestors.
WHAT DOES THE NAME “BETHLEHEM” MEAN?
It means “House of Bread.” This is a foreshadowing that the Son of God is one day to give Himself to us as the “Bread of Life.”
WHAT ARE SWADDLING CLOTHES?
Rags.
WHAT IS A MANGER?
A food trough for animals.
WHAT DO THE SWADDLING CLOTHES, THE MANGER, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAD NO PLACE TO STAY TELL US ABOUT THE HOLY FAMILY?
It tells us they were poor.
Visual Bible Alive
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READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE SHEPHERDS LUKE 2:8-20
WHAT WAS THE FIRST RESPONSE OF THE SHEPHERDS TO THE ANGELS?
Like Mary, they were afraid.
WHAT IS THE SIGN FORETOLD BY THE ANGEL THAT HELPED THE SHEPHERDS RECOGNIZE THE MESSIAH?
They will find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
WHAT DOES MESSIAH MEAN?
It is a Hebrew word, meaning, “THE ANOINTED ONE.” Greek was the language spoken throughout the world in Jesus’ time—and the Greek word for Messiah is “CHRISTUS”...or CHRIST. The Jews in Jesus’ time be-lieved that a Messiah who was descended from King David… “The Christ” would come to save them from the Romans.
WHAT IS A “MULTITUDE OF HEAVENLY HOSTS?” [v.13]
An army or vast assembly of angels!
WHAT HYMN DO THE ANGELS SING?
The Gloria. We sing or say the Gloria at most Sunday Masses.
WHAT DID MARY DO AFTER ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED?
She “treasured them and pondered them in her heart”. This just what we do when we pray the Rosary and meditate on the Mysteries and their meanings.
Mural from Shepherds Chapel, Bethlehem
