279. Life in Christ

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 279

Ave Maria series

How We Are to Have Life in Christ

Section One: Why we are put on earth; what we are supposed to do; and how God’s Holy Spirit helps us to do it.

Why do we need faith and the sacraments in order to live a good, upright life?

If we were to rely only on ourselves and our own strength, we would not get far in our attempts to be good.  Through faith we discover that we are God’s children and that God makes us strong.  When God gives us his strength, we call this “grace”.  Especially in the sacred signs that we call the sacraments, God gives us the ability actually to do the good that we want to do.  [1691-1695]

Several years back I had our daughter Laurie take this photo of Rose with myself in our front yard overlooking the swing set that first entertained our children and, later, our grandchildren. We frequently spend time together remembering events that brought both joy and sorrow in the years past.  …..279

Since God saw our misery, he “delivered us from the dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13)through his Son, Jesus Christ.  He granted us the opportunity to make a new start in fellowship with him and to walk the path of love.  173-178

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

”Let nothing trouble you.  Let nothing frighten you.  Everything passes.  God never changes.  Patience obtains all.  Whoever has God wants for nothing.  God alone is enough.”  St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

[1691-1695]

LIFE IN CHRIST

1691  "Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God." (St. Leo the Great, Sermo 22 in nat. Dom., 3:Patrologia Latina 54,192C.)¹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1692  The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God's gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification. What faith confesses, the sacraments communicate: by the sacraments of rebirth, Christians have become "children of God" (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1.)² , "partakers of the divine nature."(2 Peter 1:4.)³   Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life "worthy of the gospel of Christ."(Philippians 1:27.)⁴   They are made capable of doing so by the grace of Christ and the gifts of his Spirit, which they receive through the sacraments and through prayer. –CCC

1693  Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father,(Compare John 8:29)⁵   and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ's disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father "who sees in secret," (Matthew 6:6.)⁶   in order to become "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Matthew 5:48.)^7- --CCC

1694   Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" and so participate in the life of the Risen Lord.(Romans 6:11and compare Rom 6:5; compare Colossians 2:12.)⁸  Following Christ and united with him,(Compare John 15:5.)⁹   Christians can strive to be "imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love"(Ephesians 5:1-2.)¹⁰   by conforming their thoughts, words and actions to the "mind . . . which is yours in Christ Jesus,"(Philippians 2:5.)¹¹ and by following his example.(Compare John 13:12-16.)¹²–CCC

1695  "Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God,"(2 Corinthians 6:11.)¹³   "sanctified . . . [and] called to be saints,"(1 Corinthians 1:2.)¹⁴   Christians have become the temple of the Holy Spirit.(Compare 1 Corinthians 6:19.)¹⁵ This "Spirit of the Son" teaches them to pray to the Father(Compare Galatians 4:6.)¹⁶   and, having become their life, prompts them to act so as to bear "the fruit of the Spirit"(Galatians 5:22,25.)¹⁷  by charity in action. Healing the wounds of sin, the Holy Spirit renews us interiorly through a spiritual transformation.(Compare Ephesians 4:23)¹⁸   He enlightens and strengthens us to live as "children of light" through "all that is good and right and true."(Ephesians 5:8, 9.)¹⁹–CCC

People  Don and Rose Bragg 3-26-12