CLE NOTES:

WELCOMING GODS KINGDOM

Jesus announces the Kingdom
- Jesus brings salvation to the
outcasts
Jesus teaches us with His Kingdom
parables
- Jesus used comparisons
and presented parables
JESUS UNIQUE VISION OF THE
KINGDOM
- Spiritual concept
- Never a verbal definition
- The Kingdom is present in
Him because Hes totally
committed
to
fulfilling
Gods will.
- Preaching + Miracles
- Beatitudes and Parables
PARABLES
Parable comes from the French
word Parabole meaning to put
beside or to compare.
THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD
SEED
Even the smallest bit of faith in God
can turn into a fruitful relationship
where the birds of the sky come and
dwell
THE PARABLE OF THE YEAST
The yeast is our faith, without or
faith, we would be flat, but with it, we
can reach the Kingdom of God.
THE PARABLE OF THE TREASURE
The Kingdom of God is a treasure
that is more important than any
material belonging.

THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF

GREAT PRICE
The Kingdom of God is like a pearl
that is more important than anything
one owns.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET
We are all invited to the Kingdom,
but when we reach there, only the
good ones (like the good fish in the
net) are kept and the others are
thrown back.
TYPES OF PARABLES
Parables that describe God as King
-The Lost Sheep
-The Lost Coin
-The Lost Son
-The Workers in the Vineyard
Parables that emphasize the kind of
response needed to enter the
Kingdom
-The Pharisee and the tax collector
-The rich fool
-The talents
Parables that deal with our
relationship with other people
-The Unforgiving Servant
-The Good Samaritan
Parables that refer to the future
coming of the Kingdom
-The Wedding Feast
-The Ten Virgins
-The Weeds Among Wheat
THE DIFFERENT MIRACLES OF
JESUS
-Jesus performs healing
miracles
-Jesus performs nature
miracles
-Jesus performs exorcisms
-Jesus restores life

THE GOOD NEWS THEMES IN

THE PARABLES
God s loving mercy is at the heart of
the Good News.
-Abba is father
-God loves us with His infinite
unconditional, forgiving love
Everyone is called to enter the
Kingdom
-Requires a response from each of
us
The Kingdom requires our
repentance
-Repent and believe in the Gospel
-Change our old ways
The Good News demands
persevering response
-We will be judged based on our
response to the Good News
Rejoice and be hopeful
-The Kingdom will triumph

THE CHURCHS TEACHING ON

THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is a gift as well
as a task
Thus we pray:
-To have a change of mind
and heart (conversation)
-To be less and less selfcentered
-To exercise virtues of the
Kingdom of God and seek
justice
-To be prepared to sacrifice
for the Kingdom and reject
whatever hinders its coming
-To us our talents for the
Kingdom

The Kingdom of God is here but not

yet fully
-The Kingdom is present in
human history
-The kingdom is not fully here
because there is still evil here
around us
THE SACRAMENT OF
CONFIRMATION
It strengthens the gifts of the Holy
Spirit within us, empowering us to
become witnesses and proclaimers
of the Kingdom of God.
MIRACLES
Miracles are manifestations of Gods
presence and power
-Teras = marvel
-Dynamis = power
-Semeion = sign
THE MIRACLES AS REVELATION
OF JESUS IDENTITY
- To free us from sin
- Put our faith in Him
MIRACLES IN EVERYDAY LIFE
-Gods ongoing creation
-A persons change of heart
-Modern-day miracle workers
-Social transformation
-We are Gods greatest
miracle
LIVING THE KINGDOM VALUES
The blessings of the Kingdom are
promised to the poor, powerless,
gentle, afflicted, peacemakers and
the righteous who go beyond
external observance of Gods law.

BEATITUDES
They are ethical and spiritual
standards for those who follow Jesus
-The poor in spirit will inherit the
Kingdom
-They who mourn will be comforted
-The meek will inherit the land
-Those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness will be satisfied
-The merciful will be shown mercy
-The clean of heart will see God
-The peacemakers will be called
children of God
-Those who are persecuted for the
sake of righteousness will inherit the
Kingdom
LENT
A call to prayer, silence, fasting,
conversation, mercy and compassion
-A forty-day penitential season
beginning on Ash Wednesday, which
serves as a preparation for the great
celebration of the Passion, Death
and Resurrection of Jesus
OR
-A forty-day liturgical season of
fasting, special prayer and
almsgiving in preparation for Jesus
-Ashes symbolize our mortality and
need for ongoing repentance, it is a
reminder that life is short; therefore
we need to constantly turn away
form sin and believe in the Gospel
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE
-Are the recommended practices of
the Church for the seasons of Lent
-Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
are days of obligatory fasting and
abstinence

-All Fridays of Lent are days of

fasting and abstinence as well, but
can be commuted by works of mercy
- Abstinence- 14 years and above
- Fasting- 18-60 years
ALMSGIVING
-For many, it means to give money to
the Catholic Church or any good
cause but it has a deeper concept
-Our response to the teachings of
Jesus that encourage us to reach out
to people in need, not just with
money, but with time and talents
-Stewardship
HOLY WEEK
Last week of Lent
-Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)
-Maundy (Holy Thursday)
-Good Friday
- Trial of Jesus for blasphemy
-Holy (Black) Saturday
-Jesus appears before
Thomas the doubter
IMPORTANCE OF JESUS
RESURECTION
-Changed the Apostles lives
completely
-Grounded the beginning of the
Church
-Inspired writing and formation of the
New Testament
-Instituted the observance of Sunday
as the Lords day
JESUS ASCENSION
-An integral part of Christs Paschal
Mystery
-Affirms the completion of Jesus
earthly mission
-He took His rightful place at Gods
right hand