Theo 2 - Notes (Intermittently revised)

THEOLOGY 2
CHRIST AND MAN’S SALVATION

INTRODUCTION
Theology I –

“God” – _____________,_____________ Religion --________________________
-gives everlasting life/happiness __________________________
___________________________

Everlasting Happiness
Everlasting Life
death

Happiness/answer –unlimited / infinite


Answers : Philossophy/Ideology – hedonism, humanism, Marxism. - limited
(Answers / Happiness)- - Limited
Man’s Quest: Life? Meaning / Meaningful?


God : _____________,___________________
- gives Everlasting Life / Happiness / complete meaning of life.

Revelation – Recorded in the ____________
( ex. Torah, etc )

Religion - ___________________________________________________



__________: Man’s Response


Happiness / Life’sMeaning – infinite / unlimited
death
Life’s meaning, Happiness – limited, finite
Man’s Quest : Life? Meaning / Meaningful?


( Since God’s revelation is mostly by mediations, our responses is also through mediations like images or signs and symbols, drama, rituals, etc.)



Religion and Life:

Religion – a social Institution with set of beliefs and practices as a result and expressions of their faith and dependence on the transcendent Being (God).
- You believe in “God” because you are powerless (you can’t control the situation) you look for security, ultimate meaning of life, salvation.

- acknowledge their dependence on the supreme being (God).
- express their beliefs and dependence on the transcendent through cult/rites and witness it in their personal and social life.


ATTITUDES TOWARDS RELIGION
1. Superstitious
Ex. “Magical” – it gives luck
- wishes are granted, etc.
Ex. Image of the Sto. Niño.

2. Guiding
- it helps us find the meaning of life.
- It gives life’s direction, refines attitudes.
- Helps to have better outlook of life.

3. Consoling
- it consoles, gives hope in times of difficulty, crisis, etc.
Ex. “Bahala na si Lord”

4. Conventional
- religion is just part of society, culture.
Ex. For people to maintain peace and order not to do evil.

5. Indifferent
- religion is neither good nor bad
- Good for those who find it useful or who need it.
- Not necessary for success.
- Values can be learned thru’ education.

6. Hostile
- Religion is a “Bad” Influence”, “Harms” people.
- Makes people not think, lazy, too dependent to God which doesn’t exist. Makes people not look at life realistically.


Which of these attitude/s is helpful? _______________

Which of these attitude/s do you possess? ______________,







God Created all things , (world and the human persons). They were in “paradise”

sin

Father : ------------Mission : Salvation

Abraham
Prophets ---------Theology I
Priests ----- O. T.
Kings
God Jesus -----------Mission : Salvation / Kingdom -------- Theology II
(Son)
(way,truth,life)
------ N.T.(Gospels)

____________
____________ : Mission : Salvation / Kingdom. --------- Theology III
(Apostles + Disciples)
------ Acts of the Apostles
And the Letters / Epistles.


Philippines Spain Rome Jerusalem



Theology IV
Living a Christian Life ( Morality )

Creation Story
• Woman/man in Paradise
• They committed sin (Disobedience/Pride)
• (Woman will give birth to Messiah)
• God planned to save man
• Salvation history started in the Old Testament (God made a Covenant with Abraham – fulfillment was the coming of Christ)

God :-------------------Mission : Salvation
Prophets
Priests - O.T.
Kings

Theology II: Jesus : ---------------- Mission : Salvation / Kingdom - N.T.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jesus Christ: Both Divine and Human(except sin)
• Gave Salvation
• Mediator between God and Man
• Salvation involves Christ and Man
• Bridge the Gap between God and man/humanity

Salvation is a gift of God / a grace – take it or leave it.

• Salvation history is still at work at present through the church with the Holy Spirit.

Salvation – deliberance from sins (old definition/old view).
a. Eternal life with God Eternal Happiness in the form of
b. For the Soul seeing God face to face(beatific vision)
c. In Heaven

 Fullness of Life with God - --destruction of all evils.
(Ressurrection)

Maturity: Difficult process.
• Takes time ( but start or do it now)
• Challenge
• Mission – you have to perfect yourself.

JESUS: The Model of Maturity.
some bases/reasons:
A) He Advanced in age and wisdom
Ex. Sticked to his convictions
• convinced that such is true or correct(do it).
B)He Chose to risk his life but not uselessly
Risk: “Put in danger”
Ex. Tell the Truth – witness
Christ Corrected People in Authority
C) He Develop unlimited concern for others - do good for others.
D) Gave his life a meaning/purpose.
Ex. Do your Mission (to save and he painted the vision of the Kingdom)
E) Helped people find the meaning of their lives.
F) Painted the vision of the Kingdom.
• Building up the Kingdom on Earth.


THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS AND THEIR BASIC ORIENTATIONS IN LIFE

WHO IS THE FILIPINO CATHOLIC?
PCP II – 34
“ We Filipinos are followers of Christ, his disciples, to trace his footsteps in our times, to utter his words to others, to love with his love, to live with his life, to cease following him is to betray our identity.”

(The Problem in the process of evangelization: Jesus Christ or Christianity is always enveloped/colored by the culture and world view (background) of the evangelizer/missionary)

Inculturation:_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
-Guard and purify our values /culture
-Preserve and strengthen the positive elements of our culture
-Purify the negative elements in the light of the Gospel
-Our Christian faith must be inculturated; must become part of our culture / must become part of our everyday life / life/ life’style (also baptizing our culture).

Doing Filipino Theology

Hypothesis: becoming mature and authentic Filipino is becoming truly (Filipino) Christians.

Comparison Values: Examples

Gospel Filipino
1. love ----
2. justice ----
3. compassion ----
4. peace ----

TRAITS OF FILIPINO CATHOLICS
A. SELF-IDENTITY
1. Family-Oriented / centered
a. immediate family
b. extended family (ninongs, ninangs).
c. Fond of children
a. Jesus: Family of God
God – Father
(Mary- mother)
Us – brothers and sisters
How do we become member of God’s Family? _________________

B. MEANING IN LIFE (HAPPINESS)
2. Meal oriented
Filipino: Gracious hosts and grateful guests
-salu-salu kainan
-“kain tayo”, come and eat with us
- we treat everyone as part of the family.
* Jesus: Eucharist: The Bread of Life
Eucharist: The Center of Life of the Early Christians
1 Cor.11;25-26, John 6:48-58
(The Early Church called it Breaking of the Bread)

C. SUFFERING IN LIFE
3. Kundiman Oriented
Kundiman : Sad Filipino Song about Wounded Love
Filipino: Hero Lovers
:Hero - sacrifice Everything out of love
( we accept suffering for the sake of love)
* Jesus: Hero
Christ sacrificed everything out of love
Savior from sin
Jesus is a suffering servant – He suffered out of love

D. LIFE COMMITMENT
4. Bayani oriented

Hero: fights for justice, peace, true love.
: Savior; Defends, protect the oppressed, weak, and the poor from injustices and oppressions. Even to lay down one’s life. ( movie –“bida” )

Jesus: Hero
: “Conqueror” of the world from sin.
: Won over evil
E. WORLD VIEW
5. Spirit Oriented
Filipinos: naturally psychic
: Believe in supernatural beings
Ex. Spirits. . in a tree, place, person, etc.

* Jesus: Miracle worker
ex.Jesus drove away evil spirits in persons.
-He sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples(Pentecost)

Conclusion: Filipino traits are parallel with that of Christ.
Accepting Christ and becoming mature and authentic
Filipino is becoming truly (Filipino) Christians.



God





JC
(Way,T.L)



______________
Saints,Angels :_____________________



People


* The outstanding trait of Filipino Catholics is people in love with Mary. (Pueblo Amante De Maria)
* Most Filipinos are Marian Devotees
(Devotion: prayers addressed to Saints, Angels)
- you ask the prayer of the Saints.
* Typical Filipino approach to Christ is
with and through Mary

ex: - simbang gabi
-panunuluyan at Christmas
- salubong

Marian piety / devotion is part of being Filipino (most)

1. Family oriented: Mary “Spiritual Mother”.
2. Meal oriented: we have our Feast with Mary
- month of Marian festival: __________.
- pilgrimage to her shrines
3. Kundiman oriented: Mary was sorrowful because of our sins.
-Mater Dolorosa
4. Hero: Mary: She offered her whole life for the fulfillment of God’s salvific plan.
:Queen
5. Spirit oriented: Mary: The Holy Spirit overshadowed her.

Who is Christ to Filipinos?
Filipino images of Christ
1. baby symbol
: Sto. Niño:
2. Hero Symbol: Suffered out of love
: Hesus Nazareno
: Sto. Entiero – “dead Christ”
: Crucified Christ/crucifix
: Sacred Heart
3. Kingdom Symbol
Christ the King: Winner / Victorious

1.Sto. Niño
- Feast: 2nd Sunday of January - 1521 – Magellan’s gift to Queen Juana of Cebu at her baptism.
Legaspi – set Cebu on fire but the image of Sto. Niño was found in one house.
(symbolisms: child: honest, trustworthy, just, innocent,
loving,”malambing”)
Evaluation:
- must be complimented by the adult image of Christ.
-message: respect the rights of children.

2.Hesus Nazareno (Black Nazarene) - in Quiapo Church.
-feast: January 9
- brought to Philippines by the Augustinian Recollects 16th – 17th century
- work of an unknown Mexican artist.

Symbolism: God’s faithfulness to his people.
- God’s love to his sinful people.
- Christ suffered out of love
- Christ – suffering servant
3. Crucified Christ ---consoling to many Filipinos
In their hardships.

cross

cross – sign of victory

veneration / respect – for the saints, also for images. (expression depends on cultural practice)
Adoration, praise and worship – for God.

4. Sto. Entierro (dead Christ)
- Christ is God, is also human(except sin).

Evaluation:( Hesus Nazareno, Crucified Christ, sto. Entiero)
-Must be complemented by the kingly image/resurrected image/ victorious image.

- Religious Experience of devotees - __________________________.

5. Sacred Heart of Jesus

6. Christ the King: Victorious Christ
Feast: Last Sunday of the Liturgical Year(The Sunday before the 1st Sunday of Advent)
What’s the difference between Christ our King with the other kings?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Ex. Chess king

In the Catholic Liturgy, we have three seaons: the season of Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter and ordinary time. Our Liturgy/worship is revolving around the great deeds of Christ.
Who is the person who worshipped God perfectly? __________________



Liturgy - ___________________________


Different colors of the celeb-
bration:1.
2.
3.
4.