Section 4 THE PASCHAL MYSTERY AND YOUR LIFE

Section 4 THE PASCHAL MYSTERY AND YOUR LIFE

Section 4, Part 1: LIVING AS A DISCIPLE

Introduction • Practical turn to the implications of the Paschal Mystery for my life • God calls and strengthens us to be holy • Baptism, effort, discipline, spiritual battle (self, world, Satan) • Christ is the means to victory—participate in his three ministries • 4 articles • (A. 34) – Our Call to Holiness • (A. 35) – Participating in Christ’s Priestly Ministry • (A. 36) – Participating in Christ’s Prophetic Ministry • (A. 37) – Participating in Christ’s Kingly Ministry

Article 34: Our Call to Holiness • Who is/was called to be holy today and in the past; why; what are your reactions to this thought? • What does it mean to be holy • Sacramental—to reveal or share God’s life (Creation for us) • Consecrated—designed or set aside for God’s service (Baptism for us) • Clean—free from moral impurities (Confession, conscience, grace, and moral decisions for us) • Human anthropology concerning holiness as summary • Possible but not easy--“the way of perfection passes by the way of the cross” (CCC 2015) • Thankfully we are not left without help • Intellect and Free Will • Work together to guide human action; knowing good leads to doing back to knowing; role of emotion • Grace—the free and undeserved gift of God’s love in our lives • Sanctifying, actual, sacramental, charisms all have specific roles is helping us to respond to God in holiness • Self-reflection--“silent rivers run deep, noisy rivers run shallow” • Ability and therefore responsibility to practice interiority • The Church—greatest gift but not always seen as such; why • Sacramental life, Body of Christ, education, prayer, service, community, gift of holiness, • Holiness for a lay person is very much about how you do what you are doing • Schedules can assist in freeing us to focus on the “how” and find time for the heart where holiness starts

Homework • Read AA. 35 -36 in your Paschal Mystery e-book for discussion tomorrow • 4. 1 HW; #’s 1 -2 at the end of A. 37 PAGE 138

Article 35: Participating in Christ’s Priestly Ministry • Vatican II describes the role of the laity through the 3 munera (offices or ministries) of Christ • • Lumen Gentium/Dogmatic Constitution on the Church in 1964 affirmed biblical treaching Priest, prophet, and king—given through anointing so Christ the Messiah has the fullness Baptized into this identity (CCC 783) Perhaps most familiar with priestly role, but “I am not a priest? ”; less familiar with prophetic and kingly • Christ’s priestly ministry • OT Jewish priesthood: temple worship leading animal sacrifice; one week every 24; judges, teachers of Torah, and scribes when not on duty; under high priest • Christ’s NT priesthood: Hebrews refers to Jesus as the high priest; single sacrifice of himself; every word and deed teaches us how to pray, worship, and sacrifice • Prayer, worship, & sacrifice: personal and communal; various forms and expressions; humble and honest not hypocritical; for the good of others not self; at cost of own personal comfort • Our participation in the priesthood of Christ • Already objectively participate through Baptism and Confirmation; how increase subjective participation • Don’t limit ourselves to certain situations but be open with every situation especially informal ones • Daily prayer; Mass/Eucharist; Confession; daily sacrificial attitude; others…? • Example of St. Benedict the Moor (Manasseri)— 16 th century Franciscan lay brother who lived as a hermit in Italy (but from Ethiopia); patron saint of Africans on April 4; other examples for you?

Article 36: Participating in Christ’s Prophetic Ministry • Personal experience of modern day prophets in our own lives • Heart of evangelization—words & actions in every circumstance on every issue; especially where clergy can’t be present; all are called; few respond; why? ; only possible through the grace of Christ • Christ’s Prophetic Ministry • Jesus is the ultimate prophet since a prophet is to lead people to God through their words and deeds & Jesus is God • Difficult to pin down Christ’s fulfillment of his prophetic mission since all his words and deeds are prophetic • Easiest way to see is fulfillment of OT parallels (idolatry, care of poor, injustice, hypocritical worship)—A. 36 chart • Our Participation in Christ’s Prophetic Ministry • Be open to big and small ways wherever you are and whatever you are doing • Some ideas: unborn, community violence such as bullying, care for the poor (corporal works of mercy), teach the ignorant as a catechist (spiritual works of mercy) • Other ideas…? • Pray for the insight to see opportunities and the courage to witness in those opportunities • Example of St. Martin de Porres (1579 -1639) • • Illegitimate son of Spanish nobleman and freed slave in Lima, Peru so grew up poor and persecuted Became a Dominican lay brother in charge of the infirmary after working for them as a servant Spoke out for poor, sick, slaves, children—established a hospital & orphanage; collected alms; fought for slaves Patron saint of mixed race persons and social justice; celebrate on Nov. 3

Homework • Read A. 37 in your Paschal Mystery e-book for discussion tomorrow • 4. 1 HW; #’s 3 -4 at the end of A. 37 PAGE 138

Article 37: Participating in Christ’s Kingly Ministry • Church Tradition, Scripture, and secular history bear witness to the importance of self-discipline • Ambrose, Proverbs 29, Einstein, … Others that speak to you • Kingship begins with self-discipline which is 1)consistently choosing what is true, good, & beautiful • Continues with 2)following Christ with all our strength for our entire lives and 3) serving those most in need • Christ’s Kingly Ministry • Jesus is a true king; earthly versions often fall short; fulfillment of the Davidic covenant • Temptation in the Desert; James and John’s Question to Jesus; King’s Banquet • Kingship based on moral life, personal holiness, not fame or gain, serving others, all people, especially marginalized • Our Participation in Christ’s Kingly Ministry—We are called! • Personal morality; work, especially service work; humility; servant attitude; … • Other ideas for participating that you have • May be noticing overlap in Christ’s munera as well as our participation— 3 roads to 1 end of discipleship • What aspects of the priestly and prophetic munera fit under the kingly munera here as well • Modern crisis of leadership in the world; how can we combat ? • Example of St. Catherine Drexel (1858 -1955)—wealthy banker’s daughter in Philadelphia who devoted her life and inheritance to serving African and Native Americans through education; Founded the sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to work in the schools they founded; founded Xavier University (LA) in 1915; 500 sisters in 63 schools by 1955; feast March 3, 2000; second US born saint (E. A. Seton— 1 st)

Homework • 4. 1 HW; #’s 5 -8 at the end of A. 37 • Make sure you are ready to take the 4. 1 Quiz tomorrow (AA. 34 -37) • Make sure the 4. 1 HW is ready to turn in tomorrow (#’s 1 -8 at the end of A. 37) PAGE 138