Church of St. Francis XavierRCIA 2009 / 2010 Pre-CatechumenateWho is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ: Excerpts from the Bible

Jesus is born (Luke 2: 1 – 7)In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.

Jesus states his mission (Luke 4:16 – 21) When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on

the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of the Lord’s favour.”

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them. “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus calls others to follow him. (Luke 5: 1 – 11)Now it happened that he was standing one day by the Lake Gennesaret, with the crowd

pressing around him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.” And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.

When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, “Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For he and his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.” Then bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

Jesus eats and drinks with sinners (Luke 5:29 – 32)In his honour Levi held a great reception, and with them at table was a large gathering of

tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “It is not those that are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have come to call not the upright but

sinners to repentance.”

Jesus heals (Matthew 9: 27 - 30)As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy

on us Son of David”. When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened.

Jesus speaks about this death. (Mark 10:32 – 34)They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; Jesus was walking ahead of them; they

were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the Twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the gentiles; they will mock him and spit upon him and flog him and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

The greatest commandment of all (Mark 12: 28 – 31)One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that

he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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Written reflection:

Please copy the following statement in your journal and, after some reflection and thought, complete the statement:

Right now… at this point in time, to me personally, Jesus is …