Salvation HistoryThe Promise of a Savior

The Incarnation

And the Word Became Flesh

AnnunciationMary is asked to be the Mother of the Savior

Theotokos: Bearer of God

Mary’s “fiat” collaborates with God’s divine plan

Mary is the antitheses of Eve. Eve brings suffering and death into the world, Mary brings new life and salvation.

Faithful v faithlessTrusting v doubtful

Obedient v disobedientHumble v proud Immaculate Conception: The dogma that Mary

was conceived without Original Sin and remained free from personal sin throughout her entire lifeLuke 1-2, Matthew 1-3

Joseph

• Compassion• Faith• Trust• Unhesitating obedience• Model father and husband

– Protector– Provider

Visitation

• Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin• Zechariah, Elizabeth’s

husband• John the Baptist• Faith• Trust• “Seeing”

Nativity

• Jesus is born in humble surroundings, in Bethlehem

• Mary was a virgin before, during and after His birth

Christological Prophecies

• Is. 7:14 “born of a virgin”• Micah 5:1-4a “born in Bethlehem”• Ps. 69:10 “love the house of God”• Is. 61:1-2 “filled with the spirit of God”• Zech. 9:9 “come into glory riding on a donkey”• Zech. 11:12-13 “betrayed for 30 pieces of silver”• Ps. 22* “will suffer and die”• Ps. 2: 7-8 “Son of God who will overcome

death”

Titles of Jesus• Jesus

– “God Saves”• Christ

– Anointed one, Messiah• Son of God

– Special relationship with God (OT)– “This is my beloved Son” (NT)

• Lord– Title of respect (used by Jews in place of Yahweh)

Titles of Jesus• Alpha & Omega• Bread of Life• Good Shepherd• High Priest• King of Kings• Lamb of God• Light of the World• The Word

Incarnation

• God becomes flesh– To reconcile us with God through the forgiveness

of sins– That we might know the depth of God’s Love– To be our model of Holiness– To make us partakers of the Divine Nature– To destroy the power of Satan

Why?

Model of Holiness

• Jesus lived as He expects us to live– Prayed– Served– Sacrificed

Jesus is Baptized ( Mt.3: 13-17)

Temptation in the Desert(Mt. 4: 1-11)

Pgs 73-76 text

Baptism of Jesus

• By submitting to baptism by John, Jesus– Identified himself with our sinful human race even

though he himself was without sin.– He formally accepted his vocation, the mission of

preaching God’s kingdom– Showed his willingness to die* to bring new life to

the world» Water, a sign of death.

Temptation in the Desert

• Demonstrates the need to be alone before encountering the major enterprises of life and the importance of distancing ourselves from everyday life in order to hear God’s message.

• Jesus struggle shows us that evil is alive and active in the world

• Jesus experience with evil helps us to approach him knowing he understands what we face.

Significance of the Account

• Evil exploits our vulnerability– Hunger– Exhaustion

• Types of power– Material– Miraculous– Political

• Resistance– Trust in God

Know God’s Love• Learn the meaning of God’s unconditional

love• Proclaim the Kingdom of God

– Teaching• Words

– Ethical exhortations– parables

• Actions– Miracles and signs– example

Reconciled us with God

• Restored us to friendship with God the Father– Passion and death

• Redeemed our sins– Resurrection

• Destroyed death– Ascension

• Established the kingdom

Partakers of Divine Nature

• Sacraments– Participate in the sacraments

• Prayer– Experience moments of oneness with God both

alone and in community• Live in God’s Grace

– Strive to live a perfect life– Faith in action