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INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 1-9

● First, it is good to think about Our Lord Jesus’ life as
a real life and not fiction. It happened in real places
and he encountered real people.
● The world of the Gospels: land of Zebulun and
Naphtali – the setting and the people: the
Pharisees, sadducees, Romans, Jews, etc
● The languages spoken: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek,
Latin.
● The People in this land:

a. Who were the Jews and what did they believe?

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(i) What is the importance of the other

The World of the Gospels:
languages mentioned above?
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(ii) __________________________________
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3: INSIDE THE GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE

b. Who were the Pharisees? 3.i: Prologue & Infancy Narratives

__________________________________________ ● Most important teachings in the Prologue: ● Key
__________________________________________ events in the infancy of Our Lord and their real
__________________________________________ meanings for Christian life
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__________________________________________ Compare the beginning of St. Luke’s (1:1-4) Gospel, known
__________________________________________ c. as the Prologue and the beginning of the Acts of the
Who were the sadducees? Apostles (1:1-2)
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__________________________________________ ● St. Luke is the only evangelist to give his book a
__________________________________________ preface or prologue
__________________________________________ ● Explains why he has written the book – to provide
__________________________________________ d. an orderly documented account of the life of Christ
What language did Jesus speak? starting from the beginning
● The message of salvation was preached long before
it came to be written down (which created a more on St. Luke)
permanent testimony of what Christians believe) The Infancy Narratives
● St. Luke and St. Matthew devote the first two
● The eyewitnesses would have been the Blessed chapters of their Gospels to episodes in the early
Virgin, the apostles, the holy women and others life of Our Lord, which is not done by other
who shared Jesus’ life on earth. evangelists.
● St. Luke deals with 6 episodes, structured in twos,
referring to the infancy of John the Baptist and that
of Jesus:
List the events in the life of Our Lord:
a. ________________________________
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b. ________________________________
c. _______________________________
d. _______________________________
e. _______________________________
f. ________________________________
g. ________________________________
Now fill in the events in Our Lord’s life as they run
parallel to those in the life of John the Baptist:
JESUS CHRIST JOHN THE BAPTIST

(Watch the video 2

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Zechariah and Elizabeth:

● Both were righteous before God: it is only God who
sees the hearts of people, men see externals. A “What would happen were we to treat the Bible as
Christian must seek to be righteous before God. we treat our mobile phone?; were we to always
Read ( 1 Cor. 4:3-) carry it with us, or at least a small, pocket-sized
● Note the role of angels in the lives of human beings. Gospel, what would happen?... Pope Francis.
● Gabriel means “Might of God”: chosen to announce
events to do with the Incarnation of the Word of God.
● “… for your prayer is heard”. Zechariah was given List the important events which take place from Luke
more than he asked for. God cannot be beaten in 1:26- 2:50.
generosity. 5

What 3 reasons does the Angel give Zechariah why he Some lessons from these events:
should rejoice at the birth of this child?
a._________________________________________
how?
b._________________________________________ ● The Gospel sums up Jesus’ life in Nazareth in just a
c. _________________________________________ few words: “He was obedient to them” Lk.2:51 ● He
also increased in wisdom and in stature and in
The annunciation and Incarnation of the Son of God
favour with God and man. Lk.2:52: in his human
 nature Jesus matured like anyone else.
● Christ’s first words to be recorded in the Gospel ● Fasting and temptations in the wilderness -
clearly show his divine Sonship and his Jesusteachesusthatnooneshouldregardhimselfas
determination to fulfil the will of his Eternal Father incorruptibleandproofagainst temptation;heshowsus how
● The birth of Christ is revealed by 3 different weshoulddeal withtemptationsandencouragesus
witnesses: the shepherds , the Magi and Simeon and tohaveconfidenceinhis mercy,sincehehimself
Anna who were inspired by the Holy spirit; In his plan
experiencedtemptation.
to redeem us God uses simple souls to do much good
to all mankind. - OurLord’stemptationssum upeverykindof temptation we
● The hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth for 30 years canexperience; for thecausesof temptationarethe
teaches us the value of our ordinary work as a causesofdesires – namely: lustof theflesh,desirefor
source of our salvation and that of others. Christ gloryandeagernessforpower
was already redeeming mankind with his work as a - The methods wecanusetocombat thedevilare:prayer,
carpenter.
fasting, watchfulness,notdialoguing withtemptation,
WHAT JESUS DID: havingthe wordsofscriptureonour lipsandputtingour
Preparation for his public ministry trust intheLord.
- List thetemptationsofJesus
Before his public ministry, Christ is Baptised by 6
John the Baptist in the Jordan (try and locate this
on your map). This revealed his divinity more fully: Jesus’ ministry in Galilee: His Public Life
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_________________________________________ ● The cure of the Centurion’s servant
_________________________________________ Jesus goes to the synagogue in Nazareth where he
_________________________________________ was brought up. It was his custom to go here on the
(read the life of John the Baptist) Sabbath day.
He reads the passages from the Prophet Isaiah. ● The miracle of the loaves and fishes ● The
transfiguration
- He preaches good news to the poor – that God has ● The cure of the epileptic boy (see presentation)
taken pity on them.
- According to the video, who are the ‘poor’ in the
eyes of Our Lord?
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__________________________________ ● Curing of
Peter’s mother-in-law
● Other cures
● The miraculous catch of fish
● The cure of the leper
● The cure of the paralysed man
● The calling of Matthew
● The cure of the man with a withered hand ● The
choosing of the 12 apostles
● The raising of the widow’s son ● Forgiveness of a
sinful woman ● The calming of the storm
● The cure of the Gerasene demoniac ● The raising of
Jairus’ daughter ● The cure of the woman with the
haemorrhage