The Creed and in Jesus Christ RCIA 2012

The Creed: and in Jesus Christ

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Opening Prayer

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

references/sources

• Lk. 9:28-36
• Jn. 1:1-18
• CCC. para. 430-682
• US Catholic Catechism for Adults. Chapters 7-8
• Cantalamessa, Raniero. The Mystery of the Transfiguration. Cincinati: Servant Books, 1999.
• Marmion, Bl. Columba. Christ the Life of the Soul. Bethesda: Zaccheus Press, 2005. Pp.167-195.

Content

• The Word: Both God and a Person within God… the Son Jn. 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
  • Word was God. In the beginning… before time… co-eternal with the Father “was” and “was with” – the same as the Father and distinct.
• Jn. 1:3-4 “all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

• “all things were made…” – His is the creative principle… that which is

sent forth, the claritas Dei – the glory of God.

• • So, he is creator
    • “life” – He is a positive principle
    • “light” and “darkness - Darkness is only a privation of light… not a positive value unto itself. Thus while there is a duality at work in the world, evil’s power is only what we give it.

See also – vv. 16 “…from his fullness we have all received…”

• • Jn. 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
    • He (as it were) invades our space… what is our response?
    • (vv. 10-13 – How do we receive him?)
    • Our response is our faith
    • Christianity is nothing else than the acceptance – with all its remotest doctrinal and practical consequences – of the divinity of Christ in the Incarnation. (Marmion pg. 181)
    • In liturgy, our words / actions should be given quality by our relationship with the mystery who is Christ. (cf Marmion 185)
    • Recalling salvation history, this dynamic demands a counter cultural response.

In a world of fugitives

The person taking the opposite direction
Will appear to be running away.

(T.S. Eliot. The Family Reunion II.2)

• • Jn. 1:17 “because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
    • A surmounting, a completion of the OT… the Law and Prophets
    • So, he comes, greater than even Moses, as a savior and redeemer of God’s people.
  • In the Catholic teaching predestination we see the two identities as Creator and Redeemer of Creation mingle
    • Rm 8:28-30
    • CCC 257, 600
  • Made possible by divine adoption.
  • Reflecting on the Transfiguration as a Revelation of Christ
    • Lk. 9:28-36
    • Pope Leo the Great – The transfiguration balanced the scandal of the Cross
    • Jesus perfect blending of the Divine and the Human Humanity recreated/redeemed in him
  • Christ’s position in the image
    • • Tabor – Earth rising to meet heaven
      • Between the OT and NT (Peter James and John) The lens and focal point through which all history must be viewed
      • Elevated w/ Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets)
        • (creator) Completion of the Law and grace… the new law giver
        • Eastern Icons – Moses and Elijah bow to Christ
        • They are discussing the crucifixion… this is not news to the apostles… they had heard the same in vv. 22 … but it is heavenly confirmation of Christ’s mission… Further, recall, that everything Christ did flowed from perfect obedience to the Father’s will.
        • (redeemer/savior) This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
          • St. Paul – Paul’s word for the transformation of our minds (Rm. 12:12) is the same verb used to describe the Transfiguration…thus… the transfiguration tells us something of where we are invited to be… but also how to get there.

Contemplation of the transfigured face of Christ… leads to the “tranformation” of the mind, and so our transfiguration. GS 22 mystery of God / Mystery of Man Purpose of Icons Transfiguration as the first among icons. It’s light spreads to the others.

• • • • Parallels with Sinai
        • A new law giver anointed by staring at the face of God and becoming radiant The Cloud.
      • The Cloud – the pillar/cloud from Exodus
        • Reveals the intimate relationships of the Trinity
        • Recall… Jesus had gone to pray

Terms

• XX