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“Life Issues and the Church Year: Journey to Life in Christ”
Renewal For Life Training Workshop
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Altoona, IA
12 April 2008
Culture of Life
25 March 1995 Annunciation of our Lord
Evangelium Vitæ -- "The Gospel of Life" John Paul II
The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture.
At the dawn of salvation, it is the Birth of a Child which is proclaimed as joyful news: "I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). The source of this "great joy" is the Birth of the Savior; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the Birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfillment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn 16:21).
When he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, Jesus says: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). In truth, he is referring to that "new" and "eternal" life which consists in communion with the Father, to which every person is freely called in the Son by the power of the Sanctifying Spirit. It is precisely in this "life" that all the aspects and stages of human life achieve their full significance . . .
Man is called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of his earthly existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God . . .
The angel's Annunciation to Mary is framed by these reassuring words: "Do not be afraid, Mary" and "with God nothing will be impossible" (Lk 1:30, 37). The whole of the Virgin Mother's life is in fact pervaded by the certainty that God is near to her and that he accompanies her with his providential care. The same is true of the Church, which finds "a place prepared by God" (Rev 12:6) in the desert, the place of trial but also of the manifestation of God's love for his people (cf. Hos 2:16).
The Lamb who was slain is alive, bearing the marks of his Passion in the splendor of the Resurrection. He alone is master of all the events of history: he opens its "seals" (cf. Rev 5:1-10) and proclaims, in time and beyond, the power of life over death. In the "new Jerusalem", that new world towards which human history is traveling, "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" (Rev 21:4).
Journey to Life in Christ
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24)
In fact, the Nicene Creed captures this journey best:
. . . who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day he rose again
according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
Two perspectives on Time
30 - 312 A.D. Eschatological (“last things” and the “endtime”)
Sunday as the “8th” day
Jesus’ Sabbath Theology – Luke 6:1-11
Transfiguration – Luke 9:28-36
The Resurrection -- Luke 24:1-11
The Eighth Day Today
The baptismal consequences
312 - 1998 Historical and Eschatological
Sunday and the Church Year
The Church Year
The Time of Christmas
Life Issues in Advent
All Saints Day
The eschatology of the end of the Church Year
Dying of the light
Death of nature
John the Baptist as eschatological preacher
Gospels of Life on Advent IV
Matthew 1:18-25 Birth of Jesus Christ
Luke 1:26-38 Annunciation to Mary
Luke 1:39-56 Visitation – babe leaps in Elizabeth’s womb
Life Issues at Christmas
Birth of the Light -- Winter solstice
Birth of the Life of the World -- Incarnation of Jesus in Bethlehem
Conception and Death on March 25th
Gospels of Life in Christmas Season
Luke 2:1-20 Birth of Jesus Christ
John 1:1-14 Life and Light
Luke 2:22-40 Presentation in the Temple
Luke 2:40-52 Young Jesus in the Temple
Life Issues in Epiphany
Light and Life as Christmas continues
New Creation in the Miracles of Jesus
Baptism of Jesus, Wedding Feast of Cana, Transfiguration
Gospels of Life in Epiphany
Matthew 5 & 6 Life in Christ
Mark 1 Miracles of Healing
Luke 4:16-30 Sermon in Nazareth
Luke 4?31-44 Miracles of the New Creation
The Time of Easter
Life Issues in Lent
Catechetical in preparation for baptism -- Easter Vigil
Penitential for the penitents -- Maundy Thursday
Temptation in the Wilderness
Gospels of Life
John 2:13-25 The Temple of Jesus’ Body
John 3:1-21 For God so loved the world
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal
Gospels of Scrutiny
John 4:5-42 Springs of Living Water
John 9:1-41 Eyes that see the Son of Man
John 11:1-53 The Raising of Lazarus
Life Issues in the Triduum -- 3 days
Following the body of Jesus
Maundy Thursday
Last Supper / Washing of the Feet / Stripping of the Altar
Passover as Rite of Passage
The food that leads to life
Good Friday
Temptation, Trials, Journey to Death
The innocence of Jesus
The words of Jesus from the cross
The Psalter of the suffering righteous one
Death as the means to life
Easter
Baptism and New Life (Spring)
Resurrected body of Jesus
Ongoing table fellowship with Jesus
Life Issues during the Great Fifty Days -- Sundays of Easter
Easter -- Ascension -- Pentecost 7 times 7 plus 1 = 50
A Week of Weeks plus one indestructible day of the future age (Jubilee)
The Time of the Church
Pentecost Green
Fields getting ripe for the harvest
Jesus who has become a people