Rachel Evans
Teaching Catholics about Jesus can be a challenging task, as traditional Catholics tend to focus more on the institutional aspects of the Church, such as the Pope, sacraments, and creeds, rather than the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth. However, it is important to recognize that the Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the centrality of Jesus, proclaiming that he is both fully human and fully divine. When teaching Catholics about Jesus, it is essential to combine the historical Jesus with the Christ of faith. This can be achieved through storytelling, experiential engagement, and a deep exploration of the Gospels, recognizing that they reflect the faith of the early Christian communities and the personal experiences of Jesus' disciples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Teachings of Jesus | Justice, mercy, penance, alms, prayer, and everlasting life |
| Jesus' Stories | Attention-grabbing stories with a message |
| Jesus' Identity | Jesus Christ is God the Son, who became man to free us from sin and open the way to Heaven |
| Catholic Church's Role | To pass on the teachings of Jesus without error |
| Jesus in Daily Life | Going to Mass, engaging with worship, and encountering Jesus |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus' teachings: the reign of God
When teaching a Catholic about Jesus, it is important to note that Jesus is at the heart of the Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997) emphasizes that their faith is constituted by great creeds, commandments, scriptures, and sacraments, but at the heart of it all is Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God.
Jesus' teachings were centered on the "reign of God," which he used to portray God's utopian vision for humankind. This vision included the best of everything for every person, shalom for all people, and the well-being of God's creation. Jesus taught that this reign of God was to begin on earth, with its values being lived out in the present, not just in the afterlife or spiritual space.
Jesus invited his followers to live their lives in this "transcendent horizon," allowing God's reign to shape their entire way of being in the world. This is reflected in the Lord's Prayer, where Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom of God was not just about personal salvation but also about the unexpected inclusiveness of God's reign. He demonstrated this through symbolic actions, such as eating with social and religious outcasts (tax collectors and sinners) and embracing children. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these, the meek and lowly, rather than just to those who are powerful or righteous in the eyes of society.
The kingdom of God, or the reign of God, is about God's sovereign action in the world to redeem and deliver a people, and then to ultimately renew them and the universe completely. It is a future reality, as Jesus himself is coming again to establish a new heavens and a new earth. However, it is also present in some way through the life and ministry of Jesus, as he is the crucified and risen king.
In conclusion, Jesus' teachings on the reign of God reveal a God who desires a personal relationship with humanity, offering salvation and inviting all people to live in accordance with his values of love, inclusiveness, and justice, both now and in the world to come.
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The Gospels
Each of the four gospels may focus on various spiritual themes or present different aspects of Jesus's life on earth. For example, Matthew wrote the first gospel to explain that Jesus was the king of the Jews and brought the kingdom of heaven, even though Jesus didn't arrive in the way people expected. He generally used the term "kingdom of heaven" instead of "kingdom of God." Mark's gospel begins with Jesus' proclamation that the "kingdom of God has come near" (Mark 1:15).
John isn't just writing so that people will know the facts about Jesus. He is calling them to faith and belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. John acknowledges that there are many other things that Jesus did that are not recorded in his gospel. However, he writes that "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).
Luke also conducted research for his gospel, which emphasizes the reign of God as the central theme of Jesus' teaching. Jesus used it to pose God's great utopian vision for all humankind, the best of everything for every person, and the well-being of God's creation. Luke's gospel captures this as "life in abundance" (10:10).
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Jesus' life and death
Jesus of Nazareth, born of a virgin, was God's only son. He took on human nature and came to serve us, showing us God's love and living as our example. He was fully human and fully divine, and his two natures, united in one person, did not compromise each other.
Jesus travelled and preached, and his teachings focused on the "reign of God", which he used to pose God's utopian vision for humankind. He emphasised the importance of living a sinless life of love and obedience to God's will. He spent more time with everyday people than with those of high status and challenged corrupt and misguided religious leadership. He also trained his disciples to carry on his work after his death.
Jesus angered the Roman rulers, who feared that he was provoking unrest and planning a rebellion. He was betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas, to the Roman authorities and was arrested. He was executed by crucifixion, dying in our place and bearing the eternal consequences of sin so we could be reconciled with God.
Three days after his death, Jesus was resurrected, and in the following days, many of his disciples saw him and experienced his presence. His resurrection proclaimed God's triumph over evil and affirmed the divinity of Jesus and God's continuing presence and power in the world.
Jesus' life, death, and resurrection made way for our salvation and showed us what love looks like. His story and teachings continue to capture the attention of people all over the world.
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Jesus in the liturgy
Liturgy is a form of public worship and is considered the supreme act of worship in the Catholic Church. It includes all the rites, ceremonies, prayers, and sacraments of the Church. The liturgy encompasses the entire service: prayer, reading and proclamation of the scriptures, singing, gestures, movement and vestments, liturgical colours, symbols and symbolic actions, the administration of sacraments and sacramentals.
The sacred liturgy is an exercise of the priestly function of Jesus Christ. It is through the sacred liturgy that the Church fulfills its sanctifying function, with the sanctification of humanity signified through sensible signs. The whole public worship of God is carried out by the Head and members of the mystical Body of Jesus Christ. The liturgy is considered the great prayer of the Church, with Christ present among those gathered for liturgical prayer.
The liturgical year provides many opportunities to teach children about Jesus through storytelling. For instance, teaching them about his birth at Christmas, his death and resurrection at Easter, and his life and teachings. Taking children to Mass and allowing them to engage their senses in the hour of worship is another way to help them encounter Jesus.
The central theme of Jesus’s teaching was the “reign of God,” which he used to pose God’s great utopian vision for all humankind. Jesus taught that God’s reign begins here and now, with its deeply humanizing values being done “on earth... as in heaven.”
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Jesus in the Catechism
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1992, is a summary of the Church's teachings. It is a doctrinal manual that follows a question-and-answer format, making the complex concepts accessible to children and adult converts. The Catechism emphasizes that Jesus of Nazareth and the Christ of faith are one person.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares:
> "At the heart... we find a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father."
This statement underscores the belief that Jesus was fully human and fully divine, with both natures united in one person. The Catechism also highlights the central theme of Jesus's teachings: the "reign of God," which captures the deepest longings of humanity and the best personal and social values we can aspire to.
The Catechism outlines the mysteries of Christ's life, including his birth, death, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension. It also mentions his descent into Hell and his return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The sacraments, instituted by Christ, are another important aspect of the Catechism. They are seen as vehicles through which God's grace flows into those who receive them with the proper disposition. The Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, is the source and summit of the sacraments.
The Catechism also addresses other topics, such as confirmation, baptism, marriage, and the liturgy. It provides guidance on clerical celibacy, stating that ordained ministers of the Latin Church, except for permanent deacons, are typically celibate men dedicated to serving God and humanity.
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Frequently asked questions
It is important to remember that there is a difference between "instructing" and "storytelling". Jesus’ stories captured the attention of his listeners, and our stories about Jesus, the saints, and our lives of faith can capture the attention of Catholic children. It is also beneficial to give children the opportunity to encounter Jesus by taking them to Mass and allowing them to fully engage their senses in the hour of worship.
In Matthew 16, Jesus proclaims it is on Peter that he will build his Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against that Church. This is understood to mean that Jesus is guaranteeing that the Church will always faithfully hand on his teachings without error.
Jesus taught about the "reign of God", which was a vision for all humankind to live by God's values and achieve the best personal and social values to which we can aspire. Jesus also taught about justice, mercy, penance, almsgiving, and prayer for the faithful departed.
