CHAPTER TEN

The Living Jesus Today:

Constant Friend and
Companion

Jesus is Present in the Church

- Jesus set up the Church to continue his
saving mission
- Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus
instructed His disciples to go into
the world and continue His work
- Jesus expects the Church to be
missionaries and ambassadors for
Him and His Father
-On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent
to empower his followers to
continue his work

Jesus is Present in the Church

- The Church is the Body of Christ
Jesus is the head, we are the members
Baptism incorporates us into His body
As individuals we are not alone when we
gather together as a church

- The Church is a Sacrament

A visible sign of the hidden mystery and
reality of salvation in Jesus Christ

Jesus is Present in Others

- To love Jesus means simply that we must
love everyone he loves
Parable of the Good Samaritan tells that
everyone, even our enemy, is our neighbor

- Jesus identified himself with the lowly and

the outcasts
We will be judged by how we welcome the
stranger, feed the hungry, and visit the sick
or imprisoned

- Our Christian faith requires us to find Christ

in others

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

- Jesus instituted the sacraments so we
can stay in touch with him

- They are material symbols that use

words, actions, and concrete
signs to express the presence of
the Lord

- Sacraments are efficacious signs

They bring about what they point to

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

Baptism:
- Christ forgives original sins and all
personal sins
- Joins us to the Church, giving us a
new birth into his life

Confirmation:
- Strengthens our faith commitment by
giving us the Holy Spirit

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

Matrimony:
- The Lord brings about a communion of
love between a man and woman
- A symbol of the union between
Christ and his Church
Holy Orders:
- Christ calls men to serve the Church
in his name and person by
teaching, leading us in worship,
and governing as a good
shepherd

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

Anointing of the Sick:
- Jesus sustains us spiritually and
sometimes heals us physically
- Gives strength to endure sufferings
because of old age of grave illness
- Forgives sin if the sick person could
not receive forgiveness through
Penance

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

- Penance and Eucharist are two
sacraments that may be received as
often as we want
Penance:
- Important way to meet Jesus and
receive his healing touch of
forgiveness for sins committed
after Baptism
- Contrition: the most important action
of Penance
- Many find a caring, sensitive Jesus in
this sacrament

Jesus Meets us in Sacraments

Eucharist: Thanksgiving
- Central sacrament: it both celebrates and
creates the Church
- It represents the sacrifice of the cross
Gods incredible love for us
- Reminds us to be Christ for othersbread
for the world
- Catholics believe Jesus is truly present in the
consecrated bread and wine
- Eucharist is our greatest source of strength

Jesus Meets us in Scripture

- Scriptures are the Word of God
- They hand on the truth of Gods
revelation
- Central object of the NT is Jesus Christ

The best thing we can do with

Gods holy word is to know it
in our heads, stow it in our
hearts, sow it in the world,
and show it in life.

Meeting Jesus in Prayer

- Prayer is the secret ingredient to grow in a
friendship with Jesus
Four traditional forms:
- Vocal: your own words or those of others
- Meditation: thinking about God and his
meaning for you
- Affective: involves your feelings and
imagination
- Contemplation: resting in the Lords
presence, simply enjoying Gods
company

Jesus & Contemporary Cinema

- We must be aware that various producers
have viewpoints that are not exactly in
harmony with the New Testament
- We must view these works critically, though
they can often be a help in depicting the
biblical world of Jesus time