Fifth Sunday of Easter

Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and

enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, You

have taught the hearts of Your faithful. In the same
Spirit help us to know what is truly right and always
to rejoice in Your consolation. We ask this through
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
 The Fourth Glorious Mystery
The Assumption of Mary

“And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with

the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a
crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in
her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery… And the dragon
stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that
he might devour her child; she brought forth a male child, one
who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child
was caught up to God and to his throne…”

Revelation 12:1-2,4-5
 The New Testament Review
• The NT is the fulfillment of the OT
o “The NT lies hidden in the Old, and the OT is revealed in the New.” (St.
Augustine A.D. 354-430)
• The NT consists of:
o Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
o Acts of the Apostles – 2nd of two part writing
o St. Paul’s Letters – Romans; I & II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians;
Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus;
Philemon
o The “Catholic” Letters – James; Jude; I & II Peter; I, II & III John
o Hebrews & The Book of Revelation
 The New Testament Timeline
• 6–4 B.C. Birth of Jesus
• A.D. 30 Death and Resurrection of Jesus
• A.D. 40s Paul’s Missionary Journeys
• A.D. 50s Paul’s Epistles
• A.D. 67 Gospel of Mark
• A.D. 70 Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
• A.D. 80s Gospels of Matthew & Luke and Acts
• A.D. 90s Gospel of John and Book of Revelation
• A.D. 367 St. Athanasius fixes NT at 27 books
• A.D. 382 Pope Damasus issues official papal decree on NT
 The Acts of the Apostles
• Acts picks up where the Gospel of Luke stops
o Repeats the Ascension story, then it’s the time of the Church
• Similar introductions show continuity
o Luke 1:1-4 – “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a
narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as
they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also,
having following all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth
concerning the things of which you have been informed.”
o Acts 1:1-2 – “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that
Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after
he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles
whom he had chosen.”
• Author: Luke, a companion of Paul’s (see Col. 4:14)
 The Acts of the Apostles
• When was it written? A.D. 80s
• Who was it written for?
o Theophilus (Greek meaning “God-lover” – Theo + philo)
o Unknown if he is a historical person or a symbolic name
o The audience was Gentile Christians, most likely in Greece
• Themes
o Explains how God’s plan of salvation was worked out in the early
Church
o Moves from salvation of Israel toward the salvation of all people
o Focuses mostly on Peter and Paul
 The Acts of Continuity
• Emphasis on the Holy Spirit - Physical Form
o Form of dove – Lk. 3:22 – “…and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in
bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my
beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
o Tongues of fire – Acts 2:3 – “And there appeared to them tongues as of
fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.”
• Emphasis on Preaching
o Jesus in Galilee – Lk. 4:14 – “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to
Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the
surrounding country.”
o Church in the world – Acts 2:14 – “And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them
utterance.”
St. Paul
 Who was Saul…er, Paul?
• Born around A.D. 10
• …of Tarsus, on the SE coast of Asia Minor
• Roman citizen and Jew (Pharisee)
• Received rabbinic training from Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)
• Vigorous persecutor of Christians
o Present at the stoning of Stephen, 1st martyr (Acts. 7:58)
• Converted on the Road to Damascus… on the way to
persecute more Christians
o “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4)
o Jesus identifies intimately with his followers, as if they are one Body.
• Name changed from Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9)
o Sublime change. New name comes with new mission (ex. Abram to
Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter).
 Pauline Letters
To communities: To pastors:
Romans I & II Timothy
I & II Corinthians Titus
Galatians Philemon
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
I & II Thessalonians
 Anatomy of a Pauline Letter
• Address and greeting
o Names the sender and addressee.
• Thanksgiving
o Sets the tone of the letter and introduce its main theme.
• Message of the letter
o The letter usually contains Pauline doctrine or teaching on a variety of
subjects appropriate to that community.
o Followed by some practical application that outlines what behavior is
appropriate for a Christian community.
• Conclusion and final greeting
o Includes personal news, requests, and greetings from Paul or
coworkers to special friends.
o Ends with typical Pauling blessing: “If anyone has no love for the Lord,
let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of Lord Jesus be with
you. My love be with you all Christ Jesus. Amen.” (I Cor. 16:21)
 Major Pauline Themes
• Against the Judaizers
o They accused Paul of making life easier on the Gentiles by not requiring
circumcision.
o “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also?
Yes, of Gentiles also…” (Rom. 3:29)
• The Law
o The law was the means of attaining salvation for Jews.
o Paul gave up on the Jewish Law… and he was a Pharisee! (Gal. 2:19-
21)
• Circumcision
o Symbol of Abrahamic covenant, act of obedience to God’s law and
physical act of continuity with salvation history. Paul rejected it for new
Christians.
o See Rom. 2:25-29 and Acts 15:1-21.
 Council of Jerusalem
• Story told in Acts 15.
o Some were teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according to the
custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
o Peter said, “…by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
gospel and believe. And God …made no distinction between us and
them, but cleansed their hearts by faith.  Now therefore why do you
make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which
neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?  But we believe that
we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
o Paul & Barnabas retell their experiences with the Gentiles.
o James replies, “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble
those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to
abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is
strangled and from blood.”
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Baptismal regeneration
o Titus 3:5
• Bishops
o I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9
• Celibacy and chastity
o I Corinthians 7; I Timothy 5:11-12
• Confirmation
o 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13
• Divinity of Christ
o Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-16; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13
• Eucharist
o I Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-29
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Excommunication
o I Corinthians 5:13; I Timothy 1:20; Titus 3:10
• Forfeiting salvation
o Galatians 5:4; I Corinthians 15:1-2
• Merit of good works
o I Corinthians 3:8, 13:2; Galatians 5:6; 2 Timothy 4:7-8
• Heaven
o 2 Corinthians 5:1
• Hell
o 2 Thessalonians 1:9
• Heresy and dissent
o Galatians 1:8-9; Colossians 2:8; Ephesians 4:14; I Timothy 1:3-7, 6:3-5;
Titus 3:10-11
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Hierarchy, Church
o Ephesians 4:11-12
• Holy Orders
o Acts 13:3; I Timothy 4:14, 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6
• Incarnation of Christ
o Philippians 2:1-11
• Indulgences
o 2 Corinthians 2:10
• Inspiration of Scripture
o 2 Timothy 3:16
• Marriage
o Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11; Ephesians 5:31;
I Thessalonians 4:4
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Mass, Obligation
o I Corinthians 11:24-25
• Mortal Sin
o Romans 1:29-32; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians
5:5
• Original Sin
o Romans 5:12-19; I Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:3
• Papacy
o Galatians 1:17-19, 2:7-14
• Penance
o 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
• Prayer, Intercessory
o Colossians 4:3
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Priesthood, Catholic
o Romans 15:15-16
• Priest as “Father”
o I Corinthians 4:15; I Thessalonians 2:11; Philippians 2:22; Philemon 10
• Purgatory
o I Corinthians 3:15
• Relics
o Acts 19:11-12
• Resurrection of the Dead
o I Corinthians 15:12-14
• Saints in Heaven
o Colossians 1:12
 Catholic Doctrines in Paul’s Work
• Sunday (the Lord’s Day)
o Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2
• Tradition, Sacred
o I Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 2:2,
3:14
• Trinity
o I Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 13:13; Ephesians 2:18
 Philippians 2:6-11
• A Christ Hymn
o “…Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being
found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient
unto death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
 The Catholic Letters
• James
o Leader of the Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem. Not James the
apostle, but James, the brother of Jesus (ie. Cousin).
o Written around end of 1st century
o Important teachings: 1) Faith and Works – 2:14-18; 2) Anointing of the
sick – 5:13-15
• I Peter
o The 1st Papal Encyclical!
o Important teachings: 1) Hope of future salvation – 1:3-12; 2)
Warning about civil obedience and persecution 2:13-17; 3)
Hardship is participation in Christ’s suffering – 3:13-14, 4:12-19
• II Peter
o The 2nd Papal Encyclical!
o Explains the delay of the end of the world – 3:1-14
 The Catholic Letters
• I, II & III John
o Copious evidence from 2nd & 3rd centuries that these epistles were
written by John the Apostle.
o Stylistically, they are very similar to the Gospel of John.
o Major themes include: the light of God; living as God’s children; God is
love; vigilance against deceivers; authority of the apostles.
• Jude
o Written by Jude, “a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.”
o Deals with the end of the world. And also deals with false teachers.
 Hebrews
• Early acceptance as St. Paul’s effort. But the language of
the letter is elegant, technically perfect, and written in
polished, educated Greek. Paul’s known style is more
spontaneous and vigorous.
• Comprised of five doctrinal sections:
o Christ’s divinity and activity as creator (1:1-4).
o Christ’s superiority over the angels (1:5-2:18).
o Christ’s superiority over Moses (3:1-4:13).
o Christ’s priesthood is on a higher level than the Levitical priesthood
(4:14-7:28).
o Christ’s sacrifice is worth more than all the sacrifices of the Old Law
(8:1-10:18).
 Hebrews (cont’d)
• Contains five moral themes:
o To attain salvation, a person must follow Christ (2:1-4).
o We need to imitate those faithful souls who accepted Revelation, if we
are to enter into God’s “rest” (3:7-4:13).
o Joyful hope and rules for Christian living (5:11-6:20).
o Reasons why a believer should persevere in the faith despite difficulties
(10:19-12:29).
o A final appeal to charity and religious duties (13:1-19).
 Revelation
• Written by St. John
o Copious evidence from 2nd & 3rd centuries that these epistles were
written by John the Apostle.
o Stylistically, they are very similar to the Gospel of John.
o Major themes include: the light of God; living as God’s children; God is
love; vigilance against deceivers; authority of the apostles .
• Belongs to a genre called “apocalyptic” literature
o Records visions, full of symbolism.
o Addressed to a persecuted people. The persecution is so great that it
seems like the true embodiment of evil. Only divine intervention can
bring persecution to an end.
o Other apocalyptic literature includes the Book of Daniel, Ezekiel 40-48,
Isaiah 24-27 and 56-66, Zechariah 9-14, etc.
• The name, Apocalypse, means “unveiling”
 Revelation (cont’d)
• Structure is seven letters to seven Churches in Asia Minor
(2:1-3:22)
o Churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
• Records seven groups of visions:
o Scroll with seven seals (5:1-6:17)
o Seven trumpets (8:11-19)
o Dragon’s kingdom (woman in travail, 12:1-18)
o Beasts (13:1-18)
o Christ as Lamb (14:1-5)
o Seven plagues – visions of the fall of Babylon – defeat of the beast by
Christ (15:1-16:2)
• Satan let loose – overpowered (17:1-20:15)
• New heaven and new earth (21:1-22)
Stump the Dummy