Chapter 5: Jesus Christ & the Church

Why is the disposition of those receiving the sacraments important?

The disposition, or the inner attitude and readiness for a particular sacrament, of those receiving the sacraments is important because when someone is about to receive a sacrament they must have their whole hearts, minds, and souls opened up to God.

What is the paschal mystery? What do Jesus' death on the cross and his Resurrection tell us about God?

The paschal mystery is Jesus Christ's death and Resurrection, his Ascension to the Father, and his sending the Holy Spirit to his followers. Jesus' death on the cross reveals God's care and concern for those who suffer. Jesus' rising from the dead by the power of God lets us know that God can turn any kind of suffering into a grace-filled opportunity for new life.

What does it mean to say that the sacraments are divinely efficacious?

The sacraments are divinely efficacious, meaning they are capable of effecting change in us and the world because of God's power.

Correlate the seven actions of Jesus Christ listed on page 90 with the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church?

The seven actions of Jesus Christ are connected to the sevens sacraments of the Catholic Church. Jesus brought people to new life (Baptism); he forgave people's sins (Reconciliation), he sacrificed himself out of love (Eucharist); he shared the power of his spirit with others (Confirmation ); he healed people's illnesses (Anointing of the Sick); he was faithful to the One he called Abba (Matrimony); and he ministered to people's spiritual needs (Holy Orders).

What twofold function do the seven sacraments serve in the Catholic Church?

The seven sacraments (1) express the faith of the church, who the church is, and (2) renew and strengthen the faith of the church by giving us divine life

Where do the seven sacraments come from? In what do they have their roots?

They are rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus as shown in the New Testament, and in the Tradition of the Catholic Church—the church's wisdom, teaching, and practice handed down under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What does the word incarnation mean? How does the opening story relate to the Incarnation of Jesus?

Incarnation means "to make flesh." The term describes God's embodiment or "becoming flesh" as a human in Jesus. The opening story relates to the Incarnation of Jesus because it demonstrates that God became human to let us know that he loves us.

How did Jesus' disciples witness Jesus to others?

Jesus left his disciples with the example of his own life and ministry. The way his disciples would witness Jesus to others would be to preach and act as he did.

What does Jesus' humanity model for us human beings?

Jesus teaches us to be fully human by teaching us who God is and what he desires for us and creation and he also teaches us who to respond to God: by trusting God completely and by loving our neighbors.

Summarize why Jesus' life and ministry are a sacrament of God. Use an example to illustrate your response.

Jesus' life and ministry are a sacrament of God because during his teachings he taught about a God whom he called his Father, a passionately caring God whose love in unlimited, healing, and unreserved. Through his own life and work the Kingdom of God was being revealed.

Why is Pentecost the birthday of the Christian church?

Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Christian church because the church was charged on the day of Pentecost to be a sacrament of Jesus Christ to the world, a sign and an instrument of Christ and God's continuing presence in the world.

Identify three images that help Christians understand who the church is. Discuss why each is a helpful image.

Three images of the church that help us understand who the church really is are the church as the people of God, the Body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. The image of being the people of God is a helpful image because the church is God's beloved people through whom the world is being saved. The image of the church as the Body of Christ suggests a community of persons who profess faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit dwells in the church and so too the church is a living temple of God's Spirit.

What is meant by saying Jesus is the primary sacrament of God?

We can see Jesus Christ as the primary sacrament of God most tangibly through his life and ministry, as told in the Gospels of Jesus. When we read the Gospels we see that Jesus loved and helped everyone and through his actions he revealed God, whose love is all-embracing.