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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