November Seeker 6 The Christian Story - St. Dominic's...In his second encyclical, Spe Salvi (Saved...

Goal • In our Seeker 1-5 sessions on the story of God and His People in the Hebrew Scriptures, we

encountered the concepts of salvation and redemption. God’s people, and all creation, still stand in need of redemption by the end of the Hebrew Scriptures. The "redeemer “in Jewish tradition was close relative with the responsibility of buying back a family member who had been forced into servitude through debt or war. When God says (in Isaiah) that he will be Israel’s redeemer, God is making himself Israel’s closest relative. In Jesus Christ we become members of God’s family (literally sons and daughter’s of God). Today we make the connection by looking at the life of Jesus Christ (what he did and taught). This will be our chance to wrestle with the claims of the Gospels, rejecting any notions that the Gospel authors didn’t believe in Jesus’ humanity or divinity.

Agenda • Welcome, Housekeeping, & Opening Prayer (5) • Questions & Answers (5) • Presentation: Review of the Gospels (20) • Discussion: Jesus Quotes (15)

Read the Gospel passage given to your group. Ask: • What is the Jesus in this Gospel passage like? • What is odd or striking about the claim he makes or implies? • What does Jesus in this passage seem to expect of those who hear him (i.e. then and now)?

• Large Group Discussion: Jesus Quotes (15) • Break (10) • Jesus Titles & Messianic Expectations, Including Word on Fire Videos: Nonviolence & Matthew 25 (30) • Discussion & Large Group Summary (15):

• Does Jesus’s life and teaching ring true for me? What does it mean if his claims are true? • How have I responded? How do I want to respond?

Housekeeping • We assigned groups five weeks ago.

• We’ll be adding new people as they arrive • We’ll be shifting people around a little to balance groups • Let me know if there are any changes you need made

Service Project: Care Packages for Lima Center Guests • Melanie and Laura are coordinating a drive among our RCIA small groups, to gather needed items for

the homeless guests at St. Dominic's drop-in Lima Center. Each group has been invited to work together to a specific item.Check with your group leader for more information. Items are due at our Nov. 13th session, during which we'll spend a little time creating the care packages in time for the Nov. 15 Lima Center luncheon.

Nov. 17th RCIA Field Trip to Legion of Honor Museum—Christian Art Tour • On Saturday, Nov. 4th, from 9:45am-12pm, all RCIA participants are invited to come on a guided

tour of Christian art at theLegion of Honor Museum, at 100 34th Ave, San Francisco, in Land's End. There is parking. Robert Keehan, one of our RCIA team leaders, will be leading the tour. The actual tour will be from 10am-11am, followed by fellowship and discussion in the museum cafe.

• RSVP with Michael at [email protected] if you wish to attend. • If you have a family membership, please bring it so that we can get some of our participants in for

free. If you don't have a membership, please bring $15 just in case for your ticket, and some extra spending money for a snack afterwards and perhaps a souvenir in the gift shop.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2 Alpha/Encounter Retreat (Makeup opportunity for the Fall RCIA Retreat) • Friday, 6pm until Sunday, 2pm at St. Albert’s Priory, in Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. $190

for overnight lodging. $100 for commuters. Learn more and Signup at stdominics.org

Seeker

6November

6St. Dominic’s RCIA Program

The Christian Story: Jesus Shows Us The Way

Notes On The Liturgical Year • The Liturgical Year

• Celebrating God’s presence in and through time • A new liturgical year begins each year with Advent (4 weeks before Christmas)

• November • Therefore, November is the end of each liturgical year • November is when we remember “the end.” • This means both the afterlife and the end of time (second coming) • November 1: All Saints Day (holy day of obligation for Catholics) • November 2: All Souls Day (Feast for all those who have gone before us) • Sunday before Advent: Christ the King (Nov. 25) • The November readings often include some of the more apocalyptic passages from the Bible.

• Saints • Led remarkable lives here on earth…now in heaven with God • More alive than in earthly life • Still agents of God in our lives… pray for us the way we pray for one another • Try looking up some saints online (http://www.catholic.org/saints), maybe look up saints with

your name or whose feast day is your birthday. • All Souls’ Day: November 2

• Commemorating all the faithful departed • According to the New Catholic Encyclopedia: “The prayers speak of the reality and sadness of

death, always in the context of the hope given in Christ Jesus, the resurrection and the life, that all who die in faith share the promise of immortality.”

Handouts • Session Overview (this sheet) • Questions & Answers • Holy Face of Christ Prayer (separate card) • Slides: The Gospels • Jesus Quotes • Who Are Jesus’ Brothers? • Bible Texts: Some Readings for Reflecting on Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection

Preparing for next week (Topic: The Christian Story: Jesus – Death & Resurrection): • Bible Texts: Some Readings for Reflecting on Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection • Reflection Questions:

• Why did Jesus die? (in your own thoughts and words) • What does Jesus’ death mean to me? • How might Jesus resurrection have brought about a new reality for you? for the world?

Q & A Pg. �1

Questions & Answers for Seeker 6 Session St. Dominic’s RCIA, Nov. 6, 2018

1) What do I say when other Christians say I revere Mary?

First, you have to ask yourself: do you actually revere her? If you do, why? And what does it mean to revere someone? Begin there, and then we can look at Catholic tradition for more guidance. In Catholic tradition and teaching, we do revere (ie. show reverence and special respect) to Mary. How is this different than worship or adoration?

Adoration is not a term that generally applies to Mary, and Catholics do not (or at least should not) worship Mary; they honor and venerate her. Several words can help us draw the distinction. Latria (from Greek) has come to designate the worship due to God alone. Dulia (also from Greek) indicated the honor due to the saints. Hyperdulia is the veneration due to Mary. By this we meant that Mary deserves honor above all other saints, but this honor does not rise to the level of worship or adoration.

By honoring Mary we follow the model of Jesus. We believe that Jesus was an observant Jew and therefore saw "honor thy father and thy mother" as a rule of life. Jesus honored his Father (God) and mother (Mary), and invites us to do the same. Jesus calls us to see God as our Father and to worship Him as our Father. We also believe that Jesus establishes Mary as the Mother of the Church (John 19:26-27 - "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.").

We see in history that individual Christians tend to go to extremes (overemphasizing Mary or ignoring Mary). This move often gets connected with the struggle to see Jesus as both fully divine and fully human. Ironically, both extremes of focusing on Mary get connected to emphasizing Jesus' divinity while ignoring Jesus' humanity. If I ignore Mary, then I ignore the fully human Jesus and miss the plan that God has for humanity. If I overemphasize Mary and move her into the role of "god," then I achieve the same end. Throughout history the Church has held up Mary exactly to see the humanity of Jesus and the grand plan that God has in mind for all of us.

Q & A Pg. �2

It’s not clear what criteria you might use to judge Mary’s biblical importance. Typically people might want to judge this by the number of passages that speak about her, and by that criteria no one but Jesus comes out looking important. Catholics believe that the purpose of the New Testament (compiled by the Catholic Church) exists to convey the Good News of Jesus Christ, so we’re not surprised by the limited passages about Mary. To be clear though, judging Mary by those passages alone, she is a key figure in the New Testament and in the life of Jesus. We know for instance that Mary is in Jesus life from the first moment (when he was conceived in her womb) to the last (at the foot of the cross) and to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost). At the Annunciation, Mary’s “yes” to Jesus lays the groundwork for every other yes that we make throughout history (i.e., we all get to say yes or no to Jesus Christ, but without Mary’s yes, none of us get to choose). Finally, the angel’s address to Mary at the Annunciation says if all, “"Hail, favored one!” (“Hail, Full of Grace"). Scholars indicate that this address takes the place of a name, and speaks to Mary’s unique role in God’s plan for humanity.

In his second encyclical, Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope), Pope Benedict XVI said this: "With a hymn composed in the eighth or ninth century, thus for over a thousand years, the Church has greeted Mary, the Mother of God, as 'Star of the Sea': Ave maris stella. Human life is a journey. Towards what destination? How do we find the way? Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by--people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her 'yes' she opened the door of our world to God himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, and pitched his tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)."(Pope Benedict XVI; November 30, 2007; section 49)

Finally, we can look the Mary's statement in scripture: "For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed" (Luke 1:48). The question is, will we?

Q & A Pg. �3

2. How can I connect more with God? How can I feel Him more present in my life?

We can often feel disconnected in our contemporary culture and way of life. Even if our concept or understanding of God seems clear, we can be or feel disconnected from God for a variety of reasons: is our understanding adequate or balanced? Is our attention distracted or unduly attached, or even bound, to other things or activities? Do we take time to pray? do we know how to pray?

Prayer is how we connect with God. But sometimes our way of prayer is not engaging our attention, or drawing us closer to God in relationship. If that's the case, I encourage you to try a different way of prayer.... There are many good ones that can by done by yourself or with others: Christian meditation, the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praise and worship music, the Liturgy of the Hours... If you want God to feel more present in your life, here are a couple of recommendations:

A) Pray the Examen Prayer on a regular basis (daily, if you can). It's simple and accessible, and can be done from your bed or in the car or anywhere that you have a bit of peace and quiet. Set aside 15 minutes. At the end of the day is good, but you could also do this in the morning, or during a lunch break. Once you're there, take a few deep breaths and give thanks for the present moment, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you feel God's presence more in your life. Next, review the periods and activities and people of your last 24 hours, and listen with your mind and heart to moments where you recognize the presence of God, whether it be in the consolation of a joyful encounter, a wise choice, a gentle work of mercy, a sense of gratitude that arose, or some other movement of God's spirit. Recall these movements, and perhaps jot them down in a journal. Next (or simultaneous to the last step), review the last 24 hours and notice the moments of desolation, emptiness, selfishness, annoyance, impatience, or other movements away from God's spirit. Not all of them will be choices or reactions you made, but there might be simple moments when you felt God was distant. Next, pray in your own words a prayer of gratitude to God for the moments of His presence you remembered. Next, ask for God's mercy and grace in response to the desolate moments of the past day, that you might follow Him and trust in His love in the coming day. Finish with an Our Father, or some other simple prayer.

Q & A Pg. �4

B) Spend some time doing Lectio Divina (holy reading) with the Scriptures. Read a passage of Scripture (I recommend a paragraph from the Gospels, or from the Psalms, or one of the readings from the Mass of the day) and read it prayerfully and slowly. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to hear God's Word, for it to touch your life, and for it to experience God's presence in some way. Ask yourself, with God's grace, what God might be wishing to say to you in the passage from Scripture.

No matter how you pray, here are a few principles of prayer that are important to remember, especially if you want to connect more with God:

• Don’t rush it. If you only have 10 minutes to pray, don’t race through a whole rosary (1 Apostles Creed, 53 Hail Marys, 6 Our Fathers, 6 Glory Bes, 1 Hail Holy Queen and possibly some additional prayers)!!! Just pray one decade, and do it intentionally.

• Be reverent and attentive. Turn away from distractions. That might mean turning off your cellphone, radio, and tv. It might mean turning off the lights and lighting a candle.

• Take a couple focusing breaths before you pray in order to be mindful and conscious of your body, your feelings, and your desire to pray.

• Be honest and authentic. If you are feeling angry, happy, ashamed, bored, content, or slightly irritated, don’t hide those feelings from God. Recognize them, offer them to God, and then be sure to listen to what God’s response might be. Don’t let your feelings or thoughts drown out God’s side of the conversation.

3) What is the role of the Guardian Angel in your life?

As we heard in Fr. Michael's overview and reflection on the Book of Tobit, the character of Raphael, who is one of the 3 named angels in the Bible and is known as St. Raphael the Archangel in Catholic tradition, is perhaps the clearest inspiration for our current understanding of a guardian angel. Just as Raphael is sent by God to accompany Tobiah, guide and protect him on his journey in the story, and even heal his future wife, Sarah, and his father, Tobit, from a demon and blindness, so also are all guardian angels sent by God to guide and heal each one of us.

Here is more on Guardian Angels from FranciscanMedia.org: "Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and

Q & A Pg. �5

imagined. Yet guardian angels are not only for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer, and to present their souls to God at death.

[In addition to Raphael's inspiration], the concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. Saint Benedict gave it impetus and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day. A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar. Devotion to the angels is, at base, an expression of faith in God’s enduring love and providential care extended to each person day in and day out."

SEEKER 6: JESUS SHOWS US THE WAY

RCIA 2016-2017ST. DOMINIC’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Prayer & Jesus»Prayer with Jesus»Prayer to Jesus»Prayer through Jesus



REVIEW

• God creates goodness out of love– Human beings hold a special dignity, free will, and capacity to love.

• Sin, Suffering & Death result from our free will.– Temptation to claim autonomy from God.

• God enters into human history.– To give us a radical new future through relationship with Him.– Guides human history through human beings, human free will, and

even human failure.– Providence.



REVIEW (continued)

• Images of God– Throughout history we get various images – Our images are not God, but they reveal something of God

• Redeemer– Jewish social institution– Nearest relative– Responsibility to buy back– Isaiah 44:24 – “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer”– Jewish people in exile, waiting for a redeemer, a Messiah

Christians see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan of Redemption


Prophecies of a Messiah » Jeremiah 33: 14-15 The days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will

fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days, at that time, I will make a just shoot spring up for David; he shall do what is right and just in the land.

» Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

» Isaiah 53: 2 He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye…

» Isaiah 60:6: A multitude of camels shall cover you… They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

» Micah 5:1-2 – But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.


Isaiah 11: 10-11 …the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the peoples— Him the nations will seek out; his dwelling shall be glorious. On that day, The Lord shall again take it in hand to reclaim the remnant of his people…

» Political ruler» Righteous judge, faithful to God’s law» Will gather Israel and the nations» But also…a suffering servant of GodIsaiah 53:5 He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.

Expectations

RCIA 2016-2017ST. DOMINIC’S CATHOLIC CHURCH”“Who do people

say that I am?


“ ”Who do you

say that I am?


DOES JESUS FIT?

God’s Promise

Your Hopes & Expectations

God In the Flesh (Incarnation)


SOURCES

• Eyewitnesses & Tradition– As recorded in the Gospels– As understood by the Early Church– As handed down throughout history

• Experience Today– Encounter in Word & Sacrament, by the power of

the Holy Spirit– Levels of meaning, objective & subjective


HOW MANY GOSPELS?

Matthew Mark Luke John


ONE GOSPEL

• Gospel = Good News

• Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.”


Jesus’ Mission» Mark 1:14-15

» ‘Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”


Jesus’ Mission» Luke 4:16-21

» Jesus stands in the synagogue, reads from Isaiah 61:1-2,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

» and then he says: “Today, this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”


Deeds of Power Trust » 1) “Signs” so that you may believe:

“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs* in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” (John 2:11)


Deeds of Power Trust » 2) Deeds because you believe:

“And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” Mt 13:58. ~Mark 6:5 says “was not able…”


PASSAGE DISCUSSION

• Instructions– Read the quote given to your group– Wrestle with who is this Jesus you’re encountering here

• Questions– What is the Jesus in this Gospel passage like?– What is striking or odd about the claim he makes or

implies here?– What does Jesus seem to expect of those who hear him in

this passage (then, and now)?


MATTHEW 5:43-48

43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who

persecute you, 45that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the

just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet

your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.


MATTHEW 12:1-8

1At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.“ 3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry. 4how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."


LUKE 5:29-32

29Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large

crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,

"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31Jesus

said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. 32I have not come to call the righteous to

repentance but sinners.”


JOHN 6:47-5847Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”


NOTES

• The Jesus we encounter in the Gospels displays both human and divine traits.– Easy to read with our modern optic and miss the radical claims

and miracles.

• The eyewitnesses of Jesus clearly experienced both dimensions.– The Church struggled for centuries to develop a language to

express this reality

• Jesus reveals both distinction from the Father and his unity with him.– We’ll explore this more later when we look at Trinity.– If we believe God became incarnate, something about his

humanity must have been unique. What was it?


MANY TITLES: How many titles for Jesus do you remember from the Gospels, or from Church tradition?


Claims of JesusIDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS THE BRIDEGROOMAnd they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink." Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” (Luke 5: 33-35)

IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS THE MESSIAHBut the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship

the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything. Jesus said to her, “I am he,* the one who is speaking with you.” (John 4: 23-26)



VIDEO CLIPS

Bishop Robert Barron’s

Catholicism Series: Episode 2

~The Path of Nonviolence~Matthew 25


DISCUSSION

• What about the life and teachings of Jesus ring true for me?

• What does it mean to me if the claims of Jesus are true?

• How have I responded to Jesus in my life?

• How do I want to respond?


NEXT WEEK

• We’ll continue to focus on Jesus, specifically:– Passion– Death– Resurrection

• How did early Christians understand these extraordinary events?

• What do these events mean to me today?

JESUS QUOTES

Discussion Questions 1. What is the Jesus in this Gospel passage like? 2. What is odd about the claim he makes or implies? 3. What does Jesus seem to expect of those who hear him (then and

now)? Quotes Used This Evening

1. Matthew 5:43-48: 43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall

love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2. Matthew 12:1-8: 1At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath." 3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath."

3. Luke 5:29-32: 29Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. 32I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

4. John 6:47-58: 47Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." 52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Who Are Jesus’ Brothers?

Mark 6:3 Footnote (underline added)

Son of Mary: contrary to Jewish custom, which calls a man the son of his father, this expression may reflect Mark's own faith that God is the Father of Jesus (Mark 1:1, 11; 8:38; 13:32; 14:36). The brother of James . . . Simon: in Semitic usage, the terms "brother," "sister" are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters; cf Genesis 14:16; 29:15; Lev 10:4. While one cannot suppose that the meaning of a Greek word should be sought in the first place from Semitic usage, the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew ah by the Greek word adelphos, "brother," as in the cited passages, a fact that may argue for a similar breadth of meaning in some New Testament passages. For instance, there is no doubt that in v 17, "brother" is used of Philip, who was actually the half-brother of Herod Antipas. On the other hand, Mark may have understood the terms literally; see also Mark 3:31-32; Matthew 12:46; 13:55-56; Luke 8:19; John 7:3, 5. The question of meaning here would not have arisen but for the faith of the church in Mary's perpetual virginity.

Some References to Jesus’ Brother(s)

Galatians 1:19 - But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord.

Matthew 13:55 - Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Mark 6:3 - Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Matthew 12:46 - While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.

Acts 1:14 - All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

We find four brothers listed by name: James, Joses/Joseph, Judas, and Simon.

Joses

Mark 15:40 - There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome.

Mark 15:47 - Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

Joses is brother of James and son of a woman named Mary.

Note: All text and footnotes are taken from the New American Bible

Other Accounts of Jesus’ Burial

Mark 16:1 - When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.

Matthew 27:56 - Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Luke 24:10 - The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,

John 19:25 - Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

The other Gospels also indicate that another Mary is present. John indicates that she is Jesus’ aunt. This indicates that James and Joses/Joseph are Jesus’ cousins.

James

Jude 1:1 - Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James

Jude (same name as Judas) indicates that he is a brother of James.

Lists of Disciples Matthew 10:2-4 Mark 3:16-19 Luke 6:13-16 Acts 1:13

Simon called Peter Simon, whom he

named Peter Simon, whom he

named Peter Peter

his brother Andrew James, son of

Zebedee his brother Andrew John

James, the son of Zebedee

John the brother of James

James James

his brother John Andrew John Andrew Philip Philip Philip Philip

Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew Thomas Thomas Matthew Matthew Bartholomew

Matthew the tax collector

Thomas Thomas Matthew

James, the son of Alphaeus

James the son of Alphaeus

James the son of Alphaeus

James son of Alphaeus

Thaddeus Thaddeus Simon who was called

a Zealot Simon the Zealot

Simon the Cananean Simon the Cananean Judas the son of

James Judas son of James

Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot

Notice the list of disciples contains second Judas/Jude (sometimes called Thaddeus)

Some Readings for Reflecting on Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection

Note: Next week we will discuss Jesus death and resurrection. These reading will

help put the discussion in a context. We selected them from various places in the

New Testament (mostly the Gospels).

Mark 10:32-45 32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They

were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them

what was going to happen to him. 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be

handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over

to the Gentiles 34 who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three

days he will rise." 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, "Teacher,

we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 He replied, "What do you wish (me) to do for you?" 37 They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." 38

Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be

baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them,

"The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42 Jesus summoned them and said

to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their

great ones make their authority over them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever

wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the

slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom

for many."

Luke 7:17-30 7 This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding

region. 18 The disciples of John told him about all these things. John summoned two of his disciples 19

and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" 20

When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who

is to come, or should we look for another?'" 21 At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings,

and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. 22 And he said to them in reply, "Go and

tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,

the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 23 And blessed is

the one who takes no offense at me." 24 When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to

the crowds about John. "What did you go out to the desert to see-- a reed swayed by the wind? 25 Then

what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live

sumptuously are found in royal palaces. 26 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you,

and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my

messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.' 28 I tell you, among those born of women,

no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 (All the people

who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged

the righteousness of God; 30 but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him,

rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

Matthew 26:26-32 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to

his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to

them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on

behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine

until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." 30 Then, after singing a hymn,

they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith

in me shaken, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed'; 32

but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee."

John 13:1-18 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to

the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already induced

Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, 3 fully aware that the Father had

put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, 4 he rose from

supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured

water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered

and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." 8 Peter

said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no

inheritance with me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head

as well." 10 Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he

is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." 11 For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he

said, "Not all of you are clean." 12 So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and

reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me

'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. 14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have

washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as

I have done for you, you should also do. 16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master

nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you

do it.

Luke 24:13-24 3 Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem

called Emmaus, 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened

that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16 but their

eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk

along?" They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you

the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19 And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the

Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief

priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping

that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took

place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the

morning 23 and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of

angels who announced that he was alive. 24 Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found

things just as the women had described, but him they did not see."

Philippians 2:5-18 5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, 6 Who,

though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather,

he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in

appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of

this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the

name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and

every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved,

obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,

work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in

you both to desire and to work. 14 Do everything without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be

blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse

generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, 16 as you hold on to the word of life, so that

my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 But, even if I am poured

out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. 18 In

the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Preview of Mass Readings for Sunday, Nov. 11th 2018 32th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 17: 10-16In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread." She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Psalm 146: 7-10 R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul.

The LORD keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.

The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations.

Hebrews 9: 24-28 Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Mark 12: 38-44In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

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