Lesson 1b
Lesson 1b
Embedded Files
Jesus: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house
Revelation 3:20-21
You Have Been Called
The previous lesson introduced you to the ‘faith journey’ on which you now have begun. That lesson provided some insight into the process you are undertaking. It is important to look at what begins your journey because somehow or in some way you have been called by God.
In Christianity, your faith journey is a path towards righteousness[1] with God. On your journey/pilgrimage, you discover many new things. The idea of a pilgrimage helps define what happens while on the journey towards your eternal destination. On your pilgrimage you learn about the Church, what it means to be a Catholic, the transformation occurring within yourself, beginning a new relationship with God to know and love Him, and God’s Mercy. As you discover some things about yourself, you will learn other things which pertain to faith in God. This includes answering His call.
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[1]Proverbs 4:18 - The path of Righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Answering the Call
By asking, “Why am I here?”, or “How did I come to be here?”, you acknowledged somehow you were led to be here and this experience is different for every person. Various choices were involved that prompted you to be here. One element is the same for everyone’s answer. It is this; you were called by God. This is an early awakening of a hidden yearning within you to come to know God. Often God calls a person using other people, ordinary circumstances, and experiences. How God called you initially, can seem very important at the time; and it is! How you respond and let Him into your life will become of greater importance.
God calls each person differently because each person is unique. The bible covers a history of thousands of years in which, many people were called by God. Each one was called differently. Getting their attention was sometimes subtle, unique, or very dramatic. The importance is for you to know, God always calls out to everyone. You need to first stop, listen, and then respond. Responding nonchalantly or with indifference means your soul misses an opportunity for eternal happiness
In the book of Genesis in the Bible God calls Abraham. In each case, Abraham would respond “Here I am.”[1] This is not a simple response saying “Hey I am over here!” In His native tongue, it meant “I am here to do whatever you command.” Another example is that of Samuel. He responds “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” [2]
God knocks on your door prompting you to follow His Son Jesus Christ and asks if you are willing to be changed. Anyone not wanting to be changed, is not doing themselves or anyone else much good. There are those who claim to follow Jesus and do so for the wrong reasons. Often, they treat the idea of following Jesus as a fad, a sort of popular or social thing to do for now. Others wrongfully join the Church, as a form of self-edification. While others get involved in His Church as a social or status symbol. Sadly, some follow Jesus out of false piety, believing it is appropriate to look down their noses at all sinners. Any false response ends in further disillusionment and personal calamity brought on by the individual's own doing.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:20-21
To truly respond to God’s call, follow Jesus because you need His help. His love for mankind is immeasurably great, along with his kindness and mercy. He does not force himself on you. Therefore, your response needs to be genuine, and attentive, with a willingness to change (be transformed). He gave you free will. You must use your free will and time wisely. Answer His call, ask for His help, pray to Him, and listen to Him in prayer. This is referred to as surrendering to God.
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[1] Genesis 22:1-2 God put Abraham to the test. He called to Him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied.
[2] 1 Samuel 3: 7-10 The Lord…calling as before, ‘Samuel.” Samuel replied, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.”
To be loved requires a response. To be loved requires responsibility!
God’s Love for You
Regardless of how you came to be engaged in OCIA, whether you are beginning your faith journey or continuing it; remember this, you are called by God. God calls all people to Himself. One reason for this is that only God can love infinitely. Because of sin, man is separated from God, so, He calls His creation back to Himself.
1.) God does not disappoint. God has always wanted you to be close to Him. God tells Jeremiah the Prophet: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, (Jeremiah 1:5a )
2.) God has a plan for everyone. You need to choose to draw nearer to Him.
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for woe (Evil), so as to give you a future of hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the Purpose(plan) of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
Ephesians 1:11a
3.) As you draw near to God, allow him to touch you with His grace and love;
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
God who is infinitely powerful, sent His only begotten Son; Jesus Christ, to be your way back to Him. Jesus came so that you might know Him, learn of God’s love for you, and how God wants you to have a full life set ablaze by His love:
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10b
Jeremiah was a prophet of God found in the Old Testament, who spoke God’s message to the ancient people of Israel and tried hard to do what God asked.
Ephesians and
Romans are letters written by Saint Paul and are found in the New Testament of the Bible.
How Can I Know God Loves Me?
God has always loved you and wanted you to know this. He just does not want you to know it as head knowledge. He wants you to experience it as well as believe it. He provides you with an assurance of this love. God loves you like no other being can.
Love is an action. When you love or are loved there is action. Love is not an emotional warm and fuzzy feeling. Love is not some sappy sentiment either. With love, there are outward or sensible indications of this love. With love, there is also truth. With God’s love for you, He demonstrates love in more ways than can be counted because His love is endless and boundless.
17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. 18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. James 1:17-18
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
1 John 4:16
In the Bible, you find many indications of God’s boundless and unconditional love. All of which provides assurance and comes with a promise. This promise is by remaining in His love He will be with you always.
God’s love is immeasurable. As you walk in faith you should desire to know this love, experience it, live in it, and share it with others.
Jesus forgives the Woman caught in Adultery. John 8:1-11
God does not force us to love him!
Is it possible to just have a “Short-cut” to becoming a Christian?
God is not a genie in a bottle (or lamp) who is here to do our every whim, nor to be at our command to fulfill our every desire.
We don’t expect a Five-Star meal at a fast food restaurant. Then why should we expect instant gratification when wanting to become a Christian (which is a billion times better than a five-star meal).
Don’t you think the journey towards God is worth spending time and eventually your whole life getting to know God and worship Him?
Christian initiation is not meant to be lengthy or difficult. However, it is a choice that should not be made on a whim. Becoming a Christian involves an inquiry before making a choice. Christianity is a way of life, involving choices which continue until the end of your life here. Some think Christianity as being similar to joining a club. Those who believe it is a social club or like-minded thinkers are sadly mistaken.
It is wrong to think it would be nice to simply ask for a complete infusion of grace and knowledge of Christianity and BAM! You’re a super Christian. It does not work that way. God is not a genie in a lamp who is here to do your every whim, nor does God see things the way you do. However, He does have a wonderful plan for you!
Jesus bestows His grace which is supernatural life-giving power intended for your salvation. He can give this even at the last minute before death. Normally, you want to receive this grace throughout your life. Does receiving grace mean you just wade and bask in the glow of holiness and do nothing? No! You must grow in faith.
Today’s societies run rife with instant gratification and some feel this should be the case for Christianity. Unfortunately, there are plenty of so-called “Christian Churches” that push this false notion. Something as important as making an informed decision to follow Christ cannot be served up quickly and expect to have a lasting relationship with Him. Such an approach to Christianity leads to disillusionment.
Jesus is not a fast-track savior. Jesus waited thirty years before revealing himself to the world. He picked twelve apostles who walked with and learned from Him for three years. When they were all tested at the time of Jesus Crucifixion; they all ran away and one committed suicide. There was no fast infusion of faith for the apostles then!
Later the apostles would by God’s grace, grow in faith, forbearance and became faithful followers. Once filled with the Holy Spirit, they became the dynamic evangelists of the early Church and would change the whole world. Their mission to preach the Gospel and go out into the whole world would take time as well.
Can someone have a quick conversion? Yes, this has happened, but under trying and special circumstances. It is not the norm. Even in such cases, the person goes the rest of their life seeking to draw closer to God. However, this is not the point or argument. Besides such occurrences are up to God’s doing and not your asking!
Jascha Heifetz (1901 – 1987) a great violinist, once was approached by a woman who said; “I would give my life to play like you!” To which Jascha Heifetz responded, “I did!” Isn’t it interesting that artists, professionals, and athletes would respond very similarly? To understand, embrace, appreciate, and become disciplined at something takes time. Likewise, to get to know someone takes time, especially God.
Scripture compares the journey toward heaven to gold being refined in fire. Refining gold is a timely process that gets out all the impurities. Ask yourself this question; are not the things that are worthwhile, long-lasting, of great value, or worthy of a commitment, going to take time to produce and reach their fruition? Yes!
The early Church deemed it important for its believers to understand the faith and how important it is to know Jesus. Therefore, a time of inquiry and learning makes sense! Jesus tells the parable of a general/King before he goes to war[1] and the landowner who plans to build[2]. Characters in both parables first see if they have a good course to follow. This in part, is what OCIA does for the inquirer.
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[1] Luke 14:31-32
[2] Luke 14:28-30
Rudimentary Steps
Jesus who is God, knows everything about you. He knows all the good and wrong you have done. He knows your strengths and weaknesses. Yet he loves you unconditionally. The price had to be paid for everyone’s sin, (Yes it had to be paid). Jesus, as part of His sacrificial life, went through unfathomable suffering and an excruciating death. Name one person you know who loves you that much and who would pay such a cost for you! There is no one. Right! Only Jesus!!
Jesus suffered death on the cross so mankind would not be lost to sin. He wants to be an important part of your life. Jesus loves you even with all your faults. Don’t you think all this is worth spending your whole life getting to know Him, thank Him, worship Him? Don’t you think it is worth spending eternity in heaven with him?
Your first steps are for rudimentary learning. Each step asks you to give your life over to Jesus. You are getting familiar with the guides and tools through instruction as you proceed along your journey. Soon you will be learning more about God, His revelation, His plan of salvation, and transforming your life. It begins with prayer, listening to God’s word, and submitting to God’s plan for you as well as for His whole Church.
A relationship with God begins with faith, listening to God’s word, a life of prayer, and a desire to follow His will.
Basic Questions
Do you believe God exists?
How do you believe God exists? (This is not asking to explain his existence but more so, it is an inquiry into any understanding you currently have on how you think God exists.)
Believing in the existence of only One God as The Creator is essential for Christianity, making the above questions important. Your answers may be primary. Such as, “I just believe God exists!” The questions are not meant to put you on the spot. But, Christianity always challenges where you are at in your thinking. This is meant to challenge you positively. In this instance, it helps set a baseline (starting point on a ruler) as your personal measuring tool for your journey.
Believing God exists is reasonable. However, delving into an exhausting explanation for the existence of God is a whole study in itself and is outside the scope of the OCIA. There are certain “philosophical” arguments affirming the reasonable assertion for God’s existence which can help. OCIA focuses more on who God is. Christianity as a faith does more to answer questions about God. Determining or believing God exists is a good start for a knowledge base, but you cannot stop there, because it falls short of bringing you to having a relationship with God.
Believing God Exists is important. However, it is different from believing in God which is even more important. “Believing in God” will be delved into later. But, from these two basic points, both do say that “God Exists.” It implores, without question that when you believe God exists, then there must be a response. A beginning response is to believe in Him and this may occur starting from where you are now. It is here you move towards God and as the beginning of your ‘Transformation.’
Transformation
Transformation is a change that occurs due to an experience, an encounter, and/or a process. Transformation can be thought of as a byproduct of conversion and sometimes it seems both mean the same thing. Conversion typically involves the process of coming to an encounter/experience. Transformation is something of God’s doing more so than yours. Both conversion and transformation include the Christian’s experience of being open to change. Both are inclusive of learning the truths of the faith and your choice to live in these truths; This leads to the way of experiencing God to become more Christ-like. This is accomplished through the sacraments.
Conversion begins and eventually continues to emanate a desire to move towards God and yearns for a full transformation with Christ. With such a desire there builds a deep yearning to have a personal relationship by obeying His will. The continued development of this relationship is an indication of transformation.
Transformation is only done through the gift of God’s grace and the working of His Holy Spirit. Therefore, expect this when you call out to him in prayer and worship. Do not let doubt cloud your mind. What you obtain, learn, and encounter corresponds to the truth coming from God’s grace. Later lessons will teach about the sacraments of the Church and more will be discussed regarding God’s grace itself, the sanctifying power of His Spirit, and the effective changes (transformation) of grace.
In Christianity, by coming to know God, you discover a loving God. It is a love which is returned to you. As such, love always demands a response. Love given to you also demands responsibility. It is an immense responsibility because it is the essence of absolute truth. God is the ultimate truth because He is second to nothing. As such God is complete and ultimate Love, Goodness, Happiness, Knowledge, Mercy, etc…
The Our Father can be found in the Gospel of Luke 11:2-4
The Hail Mary has as its source from the Bible Luke 1:28 and Luke 1:42
Prayers
The life of prayer is important and necessary for our life journey in faith. Prayer is necessary for transformation. Below are two essential prayers for the RCIA candidate to know.
Our Father
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death. Amen.
A Jesus Moment: This is my chosen Son;
listen to him.
A Jesus Moment: This is my chosen Son;
listen to him.
33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.
34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:33-35)
This passage is taken from the evangelist Luke’s Gospel. It is a portion of the story called “The Transfiguration of Jesus.” Here Jesus reveals himself in a glorified vision to three of His apostles, Peter, James, and John. In this part of the story, one of Jesus’ apostles Peter, is trying to take all this in. The best he can muster is a suggestion for some act of piety (build three booths or tents). Peter’s response, although sincere, really accounts for nothing because there is no action Peter or anyone can do which dictates holiness or renders holiness to come from within oneself. Holiness comes only from God and it is the experience of God speaking. This is the most important part of the experience. God speaks, you listen! First, you are to listen, then you respond (Listen and act).
You might say, “Shouldn’t there be a response to what God says or when someone experiences God?” Yes, of course! However, at best the response is always secondary. The initial response is always to experience or to encounter God listening. Then ponder what it is, God is saying. With listening, you get better prompting to follow God using additional responses. All secondary responses should be congruent with God’s Call, His will, His Love, His Mercy, and His Holiness.
In this passage, the Apostles who are with Jesus get an affirmation directly from heaven as to who Jesus is and they are to listen to Him. This is why, you must “Listen.” From listening and experiencing God comes holiness, then comes the response. When the Christian prays, they talk to God. In prayer, you may speak to God, but you must also have time in silence to listen to God. It is in the silent presence of God where the Christian in prayer encounters God.
Self-reflection:
Self-reflection:
Read ( Luke 9:57-62)
Consider these thoughts and ask yourself these personal questions:
• In Luke 9:57-62 and Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus lays out that to follow Him is not something the world would consider “typical” or what the world calls “normal.” It requires a change in you. Therefore you must consider carefully the choices when Jesus Christ calls you to change you. Never be afraid to follow His call.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)
Answer the Questions:
Answer the Questions:
1.) What does it mean to surrender to God?
2.) Believing in the existence of only One God as The Creator is _______________ for Christianity.
3.) God has a _________ for everyone.
4.) As you draw near to God, allow him to touch you with His _______and _____.
5.) What is another word for transformation? _______________________
Meeting Others on the Journey (an OCIA Activity)
You will be traveling on this journey with others. To get to know those that are going to be with you on this journey, below is an exercise to get to know another person. In groups of two, interview each other beginning with their name.
You will be traveling on this journey with others. To get to know those who are going to be with you on this journey, below is an exercise to get to know another person. In groups of two, interview each other beginning with their name.
The Name of the person I interviewed is: _____________________________
What is a favorite food you like?
What are some of your favorite activities?
Have you ever gone to or lived in another country? If so, Where?
Which would you say is your favorite movie or cartoon character?
Have you ever met a celebrity or otherwise famous person?
What would you consider as a preferable pet? (cat, dog, monkey, rock, etc.)
Are there any goals in life that you have completed or are about to complete? (or perhaps a goal you would like to complete?)
Do you play a musical instrument? Or sing?
If you do not play an instrument, is there one you would like to learn to play?
Do you like Art? If so what kind? OR Do you like ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) type projects? Are there any projects you completed or would like to do?
What is your favorite season? Why?
What are some of your expectations while spending time in OCIA?
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