71. YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church

The reports about the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus are the best news in the world.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church 71

Ave Maria series

I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God

71.  Why are the reports about Jesus called “The Gospel”, “The Good News”?

Without the Gospels we would not know that God sends his Son to us men out of his infinite love, so that despite our sins we might find our way back to eternal fellowship with God.  [422-429]

Transfiguration of Jesus......“Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up onto a mountain to pray.  While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothes became dazzling white.  Suddenly two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah.  They appeared in glory and spoke of his passage, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.  Peter and those with him had fallen into a deep sleep; but awakening they saw his glory and likewise saw the two men who were standing with him.  When these were leaving, Peter said to Jesus: ‘Master, how good it is for us to be here.  Let us set up three booths, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’  (He did not really know what he was saying.)  While he was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and the disciples grew fearful as the others entered it.  Then from the cloud came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One.  Listen to him.’  When the voice fell silent, Jesus was there alone.” -- Luke 9: 28-36 ......71

The reports about the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus are the best news in the world.  They testify that the Jew who was born in Bethlehem, Jesus of Nazareth, is “Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) made man.  He was sent by the Father so that “all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (compare  1 Timothy 2:4).

In the Roman catacombs we find an ancient Christian secret sign that was a profession of faith in Christ: the word Ichthys (fish).  If you spell the word out, each letter serves as the beginning of the Greek words Iesous, Christos, THeou (of God), hYios (Son), and Soter (Savior).  Ichthys Zonton means: Fish of Life.

[422-429]

The Good News: God has sent his Son

422 'But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).''¹  This is 'the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God' 

 ( Mark 1:1):''²  God has visited his people. He has fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. He acted far beyond all expectation - he has sent his own 'beloved Son' (Mark 1:11; compare Luke 1:5,68).³ --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

423 We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of King Herod the Great and the emperor Caesar Augustus, a carpenter by trade, who died crucified in Jerusalem under the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of the emperor Tiberius, is the eternal Son of God made man. He 'came from God' (John 13:3),⁴ descended from heaven' (John 3:13; Jn 6:33),⁵ and 'came in the flesh' ( 1 John 4:2).⁶ For 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. . . And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace (John 1:14,16).'⁷ --CCC

 424 Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).'⁸ On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church ( Compare Mt 16:18; St. Leo the Great, Sermo 4,3:Patrologia Latina 54,150-152; 51,1:PL 54,309B; 62,2:PL 54,350-351; 83,3:PL 54,431-432).⁹ --CCC 

"To preach. . . the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8)

425 The transmission of the Christian faith consists primarily in proclaiming Jesus Christ in order to lead others to faith in him. From the beginning, the first disciples burned with the desire to proclaim Christ: "We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard (Acts of the Apostles 4:20)."'¹¹ And they invite people of every era to enter into the joy of their communion with Christ: --CCC

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.( 1 John 1:1-4.)¹² --CCC

At the heart of catechesis: Christ

426 "At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father. . .who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever."( Catechesi Tradendae 5.)¹³ To catechize is "to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God's eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. It is to seek to understand the meaning of Christ's actions and words and of the signs worked by him."'(Catechesi Tradendae 5.)¹⁴ Catechesis aims at putting "people . . . in communion . . . with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity."( Catechesi Tradendae 5.)¹⁵ –CCC

427 In catechesis "Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God,. . . is taught - everything else is taught with reference to him - and it is Christ alone who teaches - anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ's spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips. . . Every catechist should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.'"(Catechesi Tradendae 6; compare John 7:16.)¹⁶ –CCC

428 Whoever is called "to teach Christ" must first seek "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus"; he must suffer "the loss of all things. . ." in order to "gain Christ and be found in him", and "to know him and the power of his resurrection, and [to] share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible [he] may attain the resurrection from the dead".(Philippians 3:8-11.)¹⁷ –CCC

429 From this loving knowledge of Christ springs the desire to proclaim him, to "evangelize", and to lead others to the "yes" of faith in Jesus Christ. But at the same time the need to know this faith better makes itself felt. To this end, following the order of the Creed, Jesus' principal titles - "Christ", "Son of God", and "Lord" (article 2) - will be presented. The Creed next confesses the chief mysteries of his life - those of his Incarnation (article 3), Paschal mystery (articles 4 and 5) and glorification (articles 6 and 7). --CCC'¹