Notes from Gathered for the Journey Six (6) essays David McCarthy

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The Expectation of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ TimeThe expectations were high in Jesus‘ time (57)McCarthy situates these expectations against the socio-cultural world, milieu inwhich Jesus‘ ministry is embedded (cf. 57, 58)Law for Jesus was ―the very structure of life and the way of following God day today.‖ After all, Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law, not obliterate it.Note: we will touch upon ―law‖ and ―natural law‖ and its ethical/moralimportance throughout this course.ConversionJesus calls for conversion and a limit to violent retribution (58, 59)This conversion is, quoting John Howard Yoder, ―a transformation ofunderstanding (metanoia), a redirected will ready to live in a new kind of world.‖(59)The Beatitudes are a portrait of Jesus, our Lord—―we are called to the love andfaithfulness of the Son of God, the One who gathers the lost and gives himself upfor us on the cross.‖ (59)V. The Crucified and RisenThe Historical Context of Jesus’ Paschal MysteryMcCarthy, interestingly, offers reasonable insights into why Jesus was crucified: cf. p. 59Against a backdrop of ―Roman oppression and strife in Israel‖, he announces theKingdom, and puts it into action in healings, preaching, gathering sinners, sendingout disciples, calling for repentance, calling for a fulfillment of God‘s purposesfor Israel (Matt. 8:14).Jesus ―forces the issue and brings Kingdom expectations to a climax bychallenging and claiming prerogative over the temple.‖ He claims Messiahship(witness charge brought to Pilate---―Are you King of the Jews?‖)McCarthy names three possible historical options for Jesus ―among he Jews of his day‖given His claim to the Kingdom-model.1. Quietism and withdrawal into the desert –cf. Qumran2. Way of compromise—take Herod‘s cue and assimilate and build acomfortable life3. Violence—the Zealots –a victory of both military and theological blessingby Lord Yahweh.Jesus chooses a Unique PathJesus confronts power in Jerusalem—and lets ―it do the worst to him.‖ (60)―The backdrop for the answer is Israel‘s commission to be a light to the nations,to bear God‘s holiness, and to be a redeemed and reconciled people. To do so,this, people would have to be gathered, called to repentance and forgiven.‖ (60)Jesus is compassionate—why was he executed?Fundamental Moral Theology Page 6 of 54Class Notes – Father Michael Seger
Well, two historical reasons:1. First, Jesus is executed as an enemy of Rome—the crucifixion is Roman and ashow of bestial power—a public humiliation and warning. Pilate, after all, iscynical and not about to risk his career.2. Second, among his own people—Jesus is condemned as a false prophet, attackingthe Temple, leading people into revolutionary frenzy—and national danger forbringing violent retribution from the Roman authorities.Note McCarthy notes that the wrath of Rome comes down on Jesus—who represents theIsraelites; recall, the ―King of the Jews‖ on the cross.Theological Points: Reconciliation unique in the Word made FleshJesus is innocent—as the Scriptures foretoldHe represents the prophetic tradition in demanding Israel realize its covenantaldestiny—―he seeks to gather and restore Israel….he brings expectations for God‘sreign to a climax. He brings the battle to his opponents.‖ (60)Jesus rejects the three solutions: (1) desert retreat; (2) compromise or (3) takingup arms. (61)He ―faces the world with God‘s reconciling love—with a means to start anew.‖ (61)―Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God who is sent into the world, toJerusalem to die, but it is humans (not God) who make his death necessary.Throughout his ministry Jesus can foresees his death, and it is rightly called asacrifice, but not a sacrifice to satisfy God‘s need for payment in blood. Thesacrifice is a gift to us and to God. Jesus‘ death is inevitable because a world ofhatred and violence will deem it necessary to kill the Son of God (Matt. 21:33-46). In Christ God will not take the human way of enmity and bloodshed. Ourvictory is that God does not withdraw from us or compromise with our sins, butjoins with us in Jesus Christ. He is God‘s offer of reconciling love to use as anew beginning and a new way, and he is (as fully human) our representative and(as divine) our cleansing sacrifice. He is our representative who unreservedlyoffers God‘s self-giving love back to God.‖ (61)The Resurrection and the CrossKey: the Resurrection –―the new beginning, our reconciliation and new life.Jesus is the ―one in whom the living God, Israel‘s God, has become personallypresent in the world.‖ (quoting N.T. Wright)―The resurrection is the triumph of God‘s justice, which is not credible,intelligible, or consistent without the cross.‖ (61)Why the Cross?―The cross is the consummation of ‗God‘s nearness to human beings, initiated inthe incarnation, proclaimed and rendered present by Jesus during his earthlylife…The cross says, in human language, that nothing in history has set limits toGod‘s nearness to human beings.‘ (Sobrino) Jesus‘ resurrection is our foretaste ofthe kingdom that he proclaims.‖ (61)Fundamental Moral Theology Page 7 of 54Class Notes – Father Michael Seger
Page 1 and 2: Notes from Gathered for the Journey
Page 3 and 4: Note: the emphasis is on the Inspir
Page 5: --a ―gift from God for the purifi
Page 9 and 10: considered the real intentions of t
Page 11 and 12: David Cloutier: ―Human Fulfillmen
Page 13 and 14: Tragic Mistake—we instrumentalize
Page 15 and 16: V. Who Loves Me and Whom Do I Love?
Page 17 and 18: Like the person finding the pearl b
Page 19 and 20: Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt --
Page 21 and 22: to Aryanism, a powerful, divisive h
Page 23 and 24: liberal. In other words, it runs th
Page 25 and 26: c. ―Reading‖ may mean tracing t
Page 27 and 28: God’s gift of theological virtues
Page 29 and 30: How God operates in CreationThe iss
Page 31 and 32: Miller draws his conclusions using
Page 33 and 34: Grace in Developing Natural GiftsGr
Page 35 and 36: Dana Dillon and David McCarthy -
Page 37 and 38: Rational Insight into Human Inclina
Page 39 and 40: 6.of social life.‖ (i.e. military
Page 41 and 42: The ―Texture‖ of Human Reason
Page 43 and 44: Kant again—he ―attempted to gro
Page 45 and 46: Truth and Virtue: shaping our consc
Page 47 and 48: William C. Mattison, III ―Moral V
Page 49 and 50: II. Naming and Defining the Four Ca
Page 51 and 52: Mattison keeps the discussion philo
Page 53 and 54: V. The Significance of Infused Virt

Notes from Gathered for the Journey Six (6) essays David McCarthy

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