The New Saint Joseph Baltimore
Lesson 7
The Incarnation
The Annunciation
“I believe…in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary…”
We read in the Holy Bible:
Luke 1
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Explanation
God wanted to send His Son to earth
God wanted to send His Son to earth to save men from their sins. He wanted Him to be born and grow up and work and suffer with us and for us. So He asked Mary to be the Mother of His Son. She knew her Son would have to suffer and die for the sins of men, and she would feel it with Him. But she wanted everything God wanted, no matter what the cost. So she said, “Yes.” Then God sent His Son to her by the power of His Holy Spirit.
We read in the Holy Bible:
Luke 2
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Explanation
Jesus came to live among us
Our Savior was born in a poor stable in Bethlehem
Practice
Accept all God asks of you as Mary did, and Jesus will come to live with you, too.
CATECHISM
40. Did God abandon man after Adam fell into sin?
God did not abandon man after Adam fell into sin, but promised to send into the world a Savior to free man from his sins and to reopen to him the gates of Heaven.
41. Who is the Savior of all men?
The Savior of all men is Jesus Christ.
42. What is the chief teaching of the Catholic Church about Jesus Christ?
The chief teaching of the Catholic Church about Jesus Christ is that He is God made man.
43. Is Jesus Christ more than one Person?
No, Jesus Christ is only one Person; and that Person is the second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
44. How many natures has Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ has two natures: the nature of God and the nature of man.
A nature us WHAT someone is.
A person is WHO someone is.
45. When was Christ born?
Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Christmas Day, in Bethlehem
Jesus had no earthly father. Saint Joseph
Discussion Questions
1. What did God ask Mary to do?
2. How did God send His messengers to Mary?
3. What was her answer?
4. Why did God send His Son into the world?
5. Why was our Lord born in a stable?
True or False
1. There are two Persons in Jesus Christ.
2. There is only one nature in Jesus Christ.
3. God promised a Savior to free men from sin.
4. Jesus is both God and man.
5. Mary said “No” to the angel.
Fill in the Blanks
1. God promised to send into the world a ......................
2. Jesus Christ is both …..…… and man.
3. In Christ there is (are) …………… Person(s).
4. Jesus Christ has ………….. nature(s).
5. Jesus Christ is the ……............ of all men.
Other Readings
1. Our Lady was happy when she knew she was to be the Mother of God and
she sang to God about it, the Magnificat. Luke 1: 46-55
2. The shepherds visit the Savior. Luke 2: 8-20
3. Christ came as the Light of the world. John 1: 1-18
4. Christ came as the Son of God. Hebrews 1:1-12
Class Liturgical Action
Learn to say (or sing) together the Magnificat, our Lady’s hymn of joy and gratitude for the Incarnation.
Magnificat
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants
forever."
Amen
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