Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 76 - Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 76 - Part III. Why did God become man in Jesus?

(Youcat answer - Repeated) “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven” (Nicene Creed).    

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 459) The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (Mt 11:29; Jn 14:6). On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!" (Mk 9:7; cf. Dt 6:4-5). Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you"(Jn 15:12). This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example (Cf.  Mk 8:34) (CCC 228) "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD..." (Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29). "The supreme being must be unique, without equal… If God is not one, he is not God" (Tertullian, Adv. Marc., 1, 3, 5: PL 2, 274).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and redeemed mankind from the imprisonment of sin. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” (Jn 3:16). In Jesus, God took on our mortal human flesh (incarnation), shared our earthly lot, our sufferings, and our death, and became one like us in all things but sin.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 231) The God of our faith has revealed himself as He who is; and he has made himself known as "abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Ex 34:6). God's very being is Truth and Love.

(This question: Why did God become man in Jesus? is continued)

Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 76 - Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 76 - Part II. Why did God become man in Jesus?

(Youcat answer - Repeated) “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven” (Nicene Creed).    

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 457) The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins": "the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world", and "he was revealed to take away sins" (I Jn 4:10;  4:14;  3:5). Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state? (St. Gregory of Nyssa, Orat. Catech 15: PG 45, 48B).

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and redeemed mankind from the imprisonment of sin. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” (Jn 3:16). In Jesus, God took on our mortal human flesh (incarnation), shared our earthly lot, our sufferings, and our death, and became one like us in all things but sin.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 456) With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man."    

(This question: Why did God become man in Jesus? is continued)

Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 76 - Part I.

YOUCAT Question n. 76 - Part I. Why did God become man in Jesus?

(Youcat answer) “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven” (Nicene Creed).    

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 458) The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him" (1 Jn 4:9). "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (Jn 3:16). (CCC 455) The title "Lord" indicates divine sovereignty. To confess or invoke Jesus as Lord is to believe in his divinity. "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Cor 12:3).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and redeemed mankind from the imprisonment of sin. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” (Jn 3:16). In Jesus, God took on our mortal human flesh (incarnation), shared our earthly lot, our sufferings, and our death, and became one like us in all things but sin.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 233) Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their names (Cf. Profession of faith of Pope Vigilius I (552): DS 415), for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.     

(This question: Why did God become man in Jesus? is continued)

Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 75 - Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 75 - Part III. Why do Christians address Jesus as “Lord”?

(Youcat answer - Repeated) “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am” (Jn 13:13).     

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 450) From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord" (Cf. Rev 11:15;  Mk 12:17;  Acts 5:29). "The Church… believes that the key, the centre and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master" (GS 10 § 3; cf. 45 § 2).    

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The early Christians spoke as a matter of course about Jesus as “Lord”, knowing that in the Old Testament this title was reserved as a form of addressing God. Through many signs Jesus had shown them that he had divine power over nature, demons, sin, and death. The divine origin of Jesus mission was revealed in his Resurrection from the dead. Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). For us this means that since Jesus is “the Lord”, a Christian may not bend his knee to any other power.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 451) Christian prayer is characterized by the title "Lord", whether in the invitation to prayer ("The Lord be with you"), its conclusion ("through Christ our Lord") or the exclamation full of trust and hope: Maran atha ("Our Lord, come!") or Marana tha ("Come, Lord!") - "Amen Come Lord Jesus!" (1 Cor 16:22;  Rev 22:20). (CCC 455) The title "Lord" indicates divine sovereignty. To confess or invoke Jesus as Lord is to believe in his divinity. "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Cor 12:3).     

(The next question is:  Why did God become man in Jesus?)

Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 75 - Part II.

Dear Visitors, we are very sorry and we apologize for the long delay - from September 4 to September 15 - in posting our texts. The firms supplying connections to internet took that very long time to repair their breakdown and to resolve their troubles.

 

YOUCAT Question n. 75 - Part II. Why do Christians address Jesus as “Lord”?

(Youcat answer - Repeated) “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am” (Jn 13:13).     

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 448) Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as "Lord". This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach him for help and healing (Cf. Mt 8:2; 14:30; 15:22; et al.). At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, "Lord" expresses the recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus (Cf. Lk 1:43; 2:11). In the encounter with the risen Jesus, this title becomes adoration: "My Lord and my God!" It thus takes on a connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian tradition: "It is the Lord!" (Jn 20:28; 21:7).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The early Christians spoke as a matter of course about Jesus as “Lord”, knowing that in the Old Testament this title was reserved as a form of addressing God. Through many signs Jesus had shown them that he had divine power over nature, demons, sin, and death. The divine origin of Jesus mission was revealed in his Resurrection from the dead. Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). For us this means that since Jesus is “the Lord”, a Christian may not bend his knee to any other power.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 449) By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power, honor and glory due to God the Father are due also to Jesus, because "he was in the form of God" (Cf.  Acts 2:34 - 36;  Rom 9:5;  Titus 2:13; Rev 5:13; Phil 2:6), and the Father manifested the sovereignty of Jesus by raising him from the dead and exalting him into his glory (Cf. Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:9-11).    

(This question: Why do Christians address Jesus as “Lord”? is continued)