Lesson 3.1: Jesus' Family PDF

LESSON 3.1: JESUS’FAMIL Y There are two significant stories about the birth of Jesus Christ. Two evangelists, Luke and Matthew, give us preliminary understanding of the person of Jesus through the story of the coming of our Lord Jesus. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS (LK...

LESSON 3.1: JESUS’FAMIL Y There are two significant stories about the birth of Jesus Christ. Two evangelists, Luke and Matthew, give us preliminary understanding of the person of Jesus through the story of the coming of our Lord Jesus. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS (LK 1:26-37) (MT 1:20-23) The purpose of Jesus being born into a family is to show the importance and the sacredness of the family as the basic unit of Church life.  THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY Families, nourished by the word of God and strengthened by prayer and the sacraments, will nurture Filipino and Christian values and protect their own members from the problems and negative influences that beset them. Christmas is a story that brings heaven down to earth. Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year when we pray: “Come, Lord Jesus, come” in preparation for Christmas. Among the four Gospel writers, only St. Matthew and St. Luke wrote a story of Jesus’ birth. Both evangelists give us the identity of Jesus even before He was born. In Matthew’s story, there were Magi who were guided by the star, found the child Jesus, and paid homage to him. They represent the Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ. Both Matthew and Luke trace the ancestry of Jesus to David and Abraham.  WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? - He is the Savior long expected by the Jews, the chosen One of God. - He will fulfill God’s promise of salvation for all humanity, not only for Jews but also for the Gentiles. - He is the expected Messiah who would deliver them from the Roman domination. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is worthy to be mentioned in the Gospel of Luke because even though she does not fully understand what God was doing in her life at that time, she completely puts her trust and faith in God. She said “yes” to God and became part of God’s plan. She came to know of God’s plan for her from the angel who visited her to announce the good news. This declaration of angel to Mary is known as the ANNUNCIATION. God calls each of us, like Mary, to welcome Jesus and to make room for Him in our lives. Her example gives us comfort and great hope. It is in saying “yes” like Mary that we can live His word and fulfill the will of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, the announcement of Mary’s pregnancy is given to Joseph by an angel in a dream. The angel told him that he is to take Mary as his wife and that he will name the child Emmanuel which means “God with us.”  Luke narrates that when a census was decreed by Caesar Augustus, Joseph went with Mary to Bethlehem to register. Bethlehem was the home of King David.  Joseph became a foster father to Jesus and played a major role in the events of the first Christmas. He was a man who gave everything in the service of Christ, a true and loyal servant of God, who as a humble man, cared for his wife, cherished the virgin mother of God, and with fatherly care watched over the Child Jesus as Hew grew in wisdom and maturity. One remarkable thing about Joseph is the manner in which he opened himself wholeheartedly to God in quiet faith. The HOLY FAMILY – Jesus, Mary, Joseph – invites us to reflect on the quality of our home and family life. We see how Joseph treasured family life when he heard the threat of Herod to kill babies. He immediately protected the life of Jesus by fleeing to Egypt with his family. Family is a full-time job and is not just about parents and children living under one roof.  FAMILY  Family is understandably the seat of a person’s strongest emotions and life experiences.  It is therefore necessary that parents teach their children what it means to be virtuous by word and by example.  Children are supposed to show their utmost respect for their parents even in their old age.  It is in the family where we are first formed as followers of Jesus and where we grow in our faith. Our knowledge of God is first taught by our parents, our prayers are first said at home, and our love for others is first nurtured within our family.  FAMILY  God Himself who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit teaches us the perfect communion of love and harmony that should exist in and characterize our families.  God blesses families and parenthood is granted sanctity, authority, and gravity by God’s fatherhood.  It is God and His relationship with His children that must inspire our own family lives.  Jesus formed His disciples into a community like a family bonded together by the will of God when He said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mk 3:35)  FAMILY The Church teaches that the family is a “domestic Church.” Therefore, any renewal in the Church starts within the family, and each family is contributory to what the Church is and will be.  CHRISTMAS… reminds us that we are not alone because God is with us. This great feast of nativity celebrates the closeness of God to us. God’s desire to be with us and among us is revealed in Jesus, the newborn child. God chose to become human and be born in humble circumstances to reveal His great love for us by sharing the brokenness of our human condition.  CHRISTMAS… - tells us that we are not to search for God in the spectacular, but it tells us that God is found in the ordinary, through the people and situations we sometimes take for granted. - is also about kindness, about giving and sharing love. It is the time of the year when our hearts are in the right place and feel blessed. We become more sensitive to the needs of the poor crying out for our generosity and care. - Rejoice, for Jesus is continually born in our hearts today! Vocabulary… INN – a place for lodging; a guest room in a house MANGER – feeding through for animals SWADDLING CLOTHES – small pieces of cloth used to wrap a baby.