Christian Living Reviewer

June 29, 2003 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

◊Peter: fished out on Sea of Galilee

◊Paul: former persecutor of Christians

First Reading: Acts 12:1-11

◊King Herod persecuted the Church

◊James, brother of John had been killed while Peter had been arrested

◊Feast of Unleavened Bread

◊Peter put in prison under four squads of four

◊Herod intended to bring him before the people after Passover

◊On the night before he was to be brought to trial, Peter secured by double chains, sleeping between two soldiers was awakened by a light in the cell

◊Suddenly, the chains fell from his wrists

◊He asked him to put on his belt, sandals, and cloak

◊They passed by the two guards until they reached the iron gate and an alley where the angel then left him

◊Peter now knew that the Lord had rescued him

Second Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8. 17-18

◊Paul reflects on his coming death and his life and states how the Lord was the source of his strength

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19

◊Jesus went to the region of Caesarea Philippi

◊He asked his disciples what do people say that the son of man is

◊Responses: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, prophets

◊Peter responded by saying he was Christ, Son of the living God

◊Jesus then blessed him and calling him the rock asked him to build the church

July 6, 2003 Prophets

First Reading Ezekiel 2:1-6

◊God asks Ezekiel to be a prophet to the Israelites

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

◊Paul asks that the Lord remove the “thorns in his flesh”

◊The Lord responds by saying that he should be the one to take care of his own weaknesses

Gospel Mark 6:1-6

◊Jesus return to his native place with his disciples

◊People questioned him while he addressed them in the synagogue

◊Jesus: A prophet is not without honor expect in his native place and among his own kin in his own house

◊He failed to perform any dead except curing a few sick people

July 13, 2003 God’s Messengers

First Reading Amos 7:12-15

◊Amaziah, priest of Bethel asks Amos to flee to Judah and prophesy there and never to prophesy again in Bethel

◊Amos replied by saying he was never a prophet but a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores

Second Reading Ephesians 1:3-14

◊Paul talks about the privileges bestowed upon the people by Jesus Christ

Gospel Mark 6:7-13

◊Jesus summons twelve and sends them in two’s

◊They were instructed to take no belongings but a walking stick

◊They were allowed to wear sandals but no second tunic

◊When they entered a house, they would stay there until they left

◊They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick

Lesson 2: Pentecost: The Birth of the Church

◊There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind which filled the entire house

◊Tongues of fire appeared

◊All the apostles were filled with the holy spirit

◊They were enabled to speak in different tongues

◊Devout Jews from every corner of the world were in Jerusalem

◊People questioned their ability to speak different languages saying that the apostles were all Galilean

◊7 weeks after Passover is Jewish Feast of Weeks

◊Also known as Pentecost meaning fiftieth day after Passover

◊It was a Jewish harvest time festival

◊Pentecost is Christian adaptation of the fiftieth day feast celebrating Moses’ reception of the Law on Mt. Sinai

◊Moses: gift of Law

◊Jesus: gift of Holy Spirit

◊Spirit on Pentecost signaled beginning of church; new stage in salvation

◊Presented Holy Spirit as driving force in message that Christ had died and risen

◊Pentecost Spirit is prime mover of mission of the church to the whole world

◊It enables Good News to be preached to all regardless of language, nationality, or race

◊Source of strength to endure persecution

◊Emboldened the apostles to proclaim message of salvation

◊Holy Spirit gave birth to apostolic church

◊Church: principle agent of evangelization

◊Church means “that which pertains to Christ”

◊Best way to introduce church is to focus on Christ who is light of all nations

◊Church is community of men and women united in Christ and guided by holy spirit who press onwards the kingdom of the Father and are bearers of message of salvation

Lesson 3: The First Christian Community and the Spread of the Church

◊Church is a community

◊came forth as natural consequence of the Jesus story

◊early church followers united by their constancy in listening to the apostles

◊shared all things in common

◊Christians prayed in temple in Jerusalem everyday

◊Breaking of bread: eucharist

◊Hymns: Magnificat, Benedictus

◊Petition Prayer in Synagogue: Lord’s Prayer

◊In their homes, they broke their breads

◊Koinonia: fellowship in Christ, faith, hope and love

◊Church exists for the world on mission to proclaim the good news of Christ and to be instrument of grace

◊PCP II: reflects reality of the early church

◊Acts of Apostles: describes the spread of the good news; filled with overpowering missionary spirit

Early Community in Jerusalwm

◊traditional Jewish forms of worship

◊separation between Judaism and Christianity necessary for they had different practices and customs

◊Christian practices like Baptism, sharing of property called forth rejection of Jews

◊main difference was belief in Christ which led to martyrdom of Stephen

◊destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 resulted in the end of Christian pre-eminence in Jerusalem

Community at Antioch

◊first Gentile Christian Community (non-Jew)

◊members were called Christians

◊not much known about extent of its reponsibility for the spread of the faith

◊Paul brought Christianity from Antioch to center of Greek-Roman culture of Hellenism

St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys to the Gentiles

◊Saul of Tarsus

◊from persecutor to apostle

◊Saul encounctered Risen Lord on way to Jerusalem; Jesus said, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting

◊In Arabian desert for 3 years to prepare himself

◊Paul came with him on first mission to Cyprus, Salamis, Paphos, Perga (where John Mark deserted them) and back to Jerusalem

◊After meeting resistance, they returned to Antioch where they first called themselves Christians

◊Converts from Judea or those faithful to Jewish law insisted on circumcision

◊This led to the first Council of the Church in AD 49

◊This was sseed for later ecumenical councils

◊Peter argued in favor of freedom for the Gentiles

◊James pronounced that they should not cause the Gentiles any difficulties but merely ask them to abstain idols, illicit sexual union, strangled animals, and eating blood

◊It broke all barriers of the universality of church

◊Paul and Silas went on second missionary with Timothy joining later

◊They went to Asia Minor, Galatia, Derbe, Lystra, Troas (he received a vision)

◊First community in Europe by the Christians is Philippi in Macedonia

◊Moved further to Thessalonica, Berola and Athens

◊Stayed in Corinth for 18 months and converted Jews and Greeks

◊Sailed to Ephesus then Jerusalem eventually returning to Antioch

◊Third missionary journey, he went to Norhtern Galatia and Phyrgia to Ephesus

◊Spend two and a half years in Ephesus before moving to Macedonia then to Thessalonica and Corinth

◊He wrote letters to Corinthians, Romans, and Galatians

◊Also looked toward Rome and the West (Spain)

◊Paul detached Christianity from its Jewish-Palestinian exclusivism

◊assigned leaders of every community

◊His letters became first source of information about our faith and our considered canonical or official recognized as inspired by God

◊Spread of gospel to pagans rsult of efforts of apostles and missionaries

◊Reasons for rapid spread

◊1. peace and order in the world; Pax Romana achieved by Augustus; favorable to travel and trade

◊2. roads and highways; fast comunication

◊3. growing moral decadence and crass idolatry caused openness by people to Christianity

◊main reason for Christianity’s success was the fact aht it provided the basic religious questions of the soul; worship of one God, creator of all

◊through Jesus, it brought assurance of liberation from sin, resurrection and a life of faith
Lesson 4: The Persecuted Church

◊Paul’s letter to the Roman; no dangers in life can make a Christian forget the love of Christ; difficulties are mysterious signs of God’s love; disciple who perseveres will gain enternal peace and salvation; Christians called to follow and imitate Jesus

◊Paul cited spirits, angels, principalities and powers are obstacles to the love of God

◊Dogmatic Constitution of the Church in the Modern World: Church presses forward despite persecution the announcing the cross and death of the Lord until he comes; through the Risen Lord, the church is given strength to overcome the hardships; Church is living sign of Christ’s presence throughout the world

1. The Moral Degeneration of the Roman Empire

◊during first three centuries of Chrstian era, Church was under severe persecution

◊second century: New Faith spread like wildfire throughout Roman provinces

◊Paul’s letters to the Romans talked about moral corruption in Roman society

◊Fundamental truths that opened the Romans to the Christian faith:

◊1. fundamental worth and dignity of the person; world-wife fellowship among believers, all persons are equal, dignity of women was exalted

◊2. Spirit of compassion for poor, sick and abandoned

◊3. Thirst for power and wealth was confronted by the Christian’s respect for the rights of others

2. The Basis of Christian Persecution

◊in the beginning, Rome was tolerant and allowed religions to flourish

◊Eventually, opposed Christianity perceiving it as threat to its power and rule

◊Also rituals differed form those of the Romans:

◊a. Christians separated themselves from rest of society, Eucharistic rites wre supposedly cannibalistic

◊b. Christians considered bloddy games like those of gladiators as inhuman

◊c. Natural disasters attributed to the refusal of the Christians to participate in the worship of the Gods

◊d. Christians did not pay  imposed temple taxes

◊during those times, religion and patriotism were closely associated

3. The Course of Persecutions

First Period:

◊Persecution by Nero (54-60AD):blamed Christians for six days of fire that destroyed three-fourths of Rome; according to Tacitus (greatest Roman historian), Nero was himself responsible for the burning of Rome because of his desire to rebuild Rome

◊Christians were turned into living torches at Garden of Nero, Peter and Paul first victims

◊Domitian (81-96 AD) committed murderous acts; John exiled to Patmos where he wrote Book of Revelation or Apocalypse

Second Period:

◊started from 100AD to 250AD

◊Informers were hired to report the Christians

◊Trajan (98-117AD): issued decree that to be a Christian was punishable by death

◊implementation of Trajan’s decree was in the hands of Roman governors; Ignatius of Antioch martyr of this period

◊Emperor Hadrian (117-138AD): governors should not follow the desires of the mob; Christians accused should be judged by the nature of their crimes

◊Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD): accused Christians of being atheists, Christians were executed

◊Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD): decreed legalization of persecution; martyrs: Justin the philosopher, Polycarp of Smyrna, martyrs of Lyon

◊Septimus Severus (193-211AD): ordered cruel persecution of Christians; Tertullian wrote that Christians were fed to the lions

◊Philip the Arabian: peace in the empire (244-249AD)

Third Period

◊Decius (249-251 AD): Christianity terrible poison; Christians must make public act of homage to Roman gods; passed laws which required worship of state religion

◊Emperor Valerian:257 AD: methodical persecution of Christians, all bishops, presbyters, and deacons were to offer sacrifice to Gods; those who participated in secret meetings were killed. 258AD: arrest and execution of clerics who refused to offer sacrifice; Christian senators were demoted; martyrs: Cyprian of Carthage, Pope Sixtus II

◊Emperor Diocletian: last evil emperor; divided Roman Empire into tetrarchy; decreed all Christian churches and bibles destroyed; Chrstian meetings banned; all Christians must sacrfice to the gods; bloody executions where in eyes and tongues were gouged out, feet sawed and thrown into dungeons

◊Galerius: admitted uselessness; Edict of Tolerance (313AD) granted Christianity right to exist

◊Maximinus Daia: temporarily demanded Christian blood again; but changed his mind after being ordered by Constantine, new leader of Italy and Africa who issued Edict of Milan which established policy of religious tolerance

4. The Church during and after the Period of Persecution

◊martyrdom of Christ driving force that urged people to face death fearlessly

◊Liturgy developed as creed of Church

◊central to christian worship was eucharist

◊Wednesdays and Fridays: fasting; Easter; central feastday after Passover

◊Baptism: celebrated with complete immersion into the waters; public repentance required

◊arts and symbols used

Summary of 3^rd page of Ms. Reyes’s handout

Practices of Early Church

◊church means religious gathering or meeting

◊early Christians used to meet for prayer at the temple

◊Sunday, chief day of communal celebration

◊Sharing of goods

◊Jews of Diaspora (resided outside Jesusalem;Greek language): often complained about being neglected in the distribution of goods

◊Apostles displayed special kind of leadership; did not act as leaders but as unifiers, founders, coordinators, and missionaries

◊Unifiers: settled disputes arising among communities

◊Coordinators: coordinated systematically the activities of the Christian communities

◊characterized by intimate relationship with Christ

◊Even pagans were attracted to Jesus

◊Admirable was their generosity and their charisma (which means gift; sharing of talents)

Christian Message

◊demands of our time require a lot of faith and determination to continue with what the Early Christians started

◊Paul’s pilgrimages

◊Pauline letters:epistles
Writing the Gospels

◊30 years after Jesus’ death:  original witnesses of Risen Christ lessened in number

◊This required that there be a written record of events

◊Mark (65-70AD), Matthew and Luke (80-90AD), John 90-100) AD began writing the gospels

The Start of the Roman Persecution

◊Pantheism: official religion of the Roman Empire

◊persecution of Christians started during time of King Herod I(37-4BC)

Lesson 1: From Christ to the Church

◊Jesus’ mission was focused on the reign of God

◊Right after his baptism, he proclaimed the kingdom of God was at hand; called on people to change their ways if they wanted God to rule their lives

◊used parables to tell audience

◊spoke of the Kingdom as God’s desire to make us his children

◊God: Abba

◊Jesus’ deeds proved the truth of his preaching

◊Jesus led a lifestyle against wealth, fame and power

◊Jesus chose 12 apostles corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel meaning that their reach was universal

◊These disciples became the nucleus from which the church began to grow

◊Church is a community called together by God

◊a community of love whose source is the Father who sent Christ to be our redeemer in the unity of the Holy Spirit

◊Church: Banal na Iglesya: Iglesia: Greek word ekklesia: a people called together

◊Church is a community of disciples