Longtime readers of the Bubble will recognize this feature from waaaaay back! We haven't had a Doctrinal Quiz Show in years, but recent conversations made me want to revive it. So, here we go!
Growing up poorly catechized, I was never taught (or maybe never thought about) exactly what was the effect or result of Jesus' Death and Resurrection? Meaning, I knew that "He died to save us from our sins", but what exactly did that mean? How were things different for humanity after His Sacrifice? After He accomplished our redemption, what specifically changed for mankind?
Give me your best answer in the comments, and please remember the rules:
NO cheating, googling, researching, looking at other answers before writing yours, etc.
I want to hear it straight from your brain to your keyboard, and don't be embarrassed to be wrong.
Okay... GO!
(And to those new to this, I will give the answer and some "prizes" on the next post!)
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In other news: If you are a high school or college student at a Catholic school (or if you know someone who is) I will be speaking in Reston, Virginia at Young America's Foundation in early April, and I would love to see you there! For more information on this incredible weekend, click here:
I spoke in November as well and it's a fantastic program!
Off the top of my head: no more circumcision, no more animal sacrifices, and the Jewish ritualistic laws (regarding keeping kosher, not eating unclean meat, and such) were abolished (or rather fulfilled), although the moral law (the Ten Commandments) were kept intact. Also, I believe the rending of the veil signified a change in that the people were allowed "access" to the "Holy of Holies" (i.e., Christ) not just the high priests.
ReplyDeleteA very simple answer I think would be that death was conquered and the gates of Heaven were opened. Man became reconciled with God through Christ; eternal life. Christ became the sacrifice. I know there's much I'm missing right now but I'm running on 2hrs sleep. My brain is mush, lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to clarify the question a little bit....
ReplyDeleteI received a question about this and I think I was not clear enough (or part of what I asked was leading people in the wrong direction). So, I think how I have it phrased now is more precise.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, it opened the gates of Heaven for all those who had died and those who would die in a state of grace. Prior to the Resurrection, when people died, they descended to Hades (?), the place of the dead. So, following the Resurrection, humanity obtained the hope of being joined with Jesus in Heaven for eternity.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that popped into my brain was that he opened the gates of heaven.
ReplyDeleteAdam and Eve sealed shut our entry into heaven. But by literally redeeming every sin committed, from Adam until the end of the world, Jesus reopened the doors to heaven, making it possible for us to enter. By taking on human flesh, He also sanctified our bodies humanity) and allowed us to share in His Divinity, by allowing us to partake in His sacrifice on the altar and by offering our sufferings for our sins and others' sins. Additionally, He left us His Precious Body and His Blood so that we could be in union with Him and better cooperate in this redemptive work. In some mysterious way, we have the opportunity for more intimacy with Our Creator as a result of our fallen state and Jesus' salvific work.
ReplyDeleteThe sacrificial death of Jesus was the triumph of the Reign of God over sin and death. Jesus went to the cross because He loved us. Evil people killed Him for political reasons-they didn't like his message and His challenge to the power structure. Rather than change His message, Jesus let himself be executed.
ReplyDeleteChrist perfectly atoned for all of our sins, out of sheer love, and because we humans would never be able to atone for the monstrosities we have committed and continue to commit. If we accept God's love and forgiveness, and sincerely regret all our sins, He will joyfully embrace us and open the gates of heaven that were shut by our first parents' disobedience and pride. Christ's suffering and sacrifice also make sense of our own sufferings that we can join to His and offer up for others' salvation. He always was and is Lord, but His suffering and sacrifice make Him our brother whom we could not relate and turn to in the same way if He had not humbled Himself to share in our pain - out of boundless love. It is what makes Him unique and (literally) adorable, and the proof of being the True God.
ReplyDeleteBecause sin and death entered the world, we owed a debt that we could never pay. The gates of Heaven were locked. :(
ReplyDeleteJesus paid our debt with his life. The gates were open again for ALL to enter. :)
He also gave us his body, blood, soul and divinity as food for the journey.
Christ's death opened up the gates of Heaven to us...before He died, men could go to Abraham's Bosom, and not to Heaven. That's why after the crucifixion He descended to Hell to take the souls out of Abraham's Bosom to Heaven, now open to them.
ReplyDeleteBecause of Adam and Eve's sin against God by listening to the Evil One, impurity and death entered the world. Nothing impure can be in Heaven, so the gates of Heaven were closed. God cannot just allow all this evil and death to exist without consequence, a debt to Divine Justice. God's Mercy is that he sent his only Son to pay a debt he didn't owe to make us righteous again - it was a debt we couldn't pay because we are finite. So to open the gates of Heaven, the new Adam and Eve (Jesus and Mary) had to say 'yes' to counter the 'no' of Adam and Eve. So when the Father looks at us he only sees his Son. But we have to assent to belonging to his Son, to being part of his Body. We don't automatically waltz in to heaven, we have to give our 'yes' to God. This 'yes' is a daily conversion to following Way, the Truth and the Life. So we are redeemed by Christ but we work out our salvation in fear and trembling every day. We look to the Church to guide us (Magisterium) and to provide the Sacraments that we need for regular bursts of grace. O happy fault of Adam that brought to us so great a Redeemer!
ReplyDeleteAll of the above...�� and upon his ascension he left us with the ever present Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteHe opened the gates of Heaven, which had been closed since the fall. And He remains with us. That's a pretty basic answer, I guess, but it's what comes to mind without reading the other comments yet!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun! I'll keep it up for a day or two more, while more answers come in!
ReplyDeleteHe gave us finally, a way to clean ourselves from our dirt. Like a shower after days of desert hiking without any water.
DeleteBTW, I am unable to comment at the bottom as we are supposed to; the comment button disappears in a flash. Sorry.
By Death He conquered Death and to those in the Grave he granted Life!
ReplyDeleteByzantine Catholic represent!
ReplyDeleteThis was our homeschool lesson for today for my 1st grader (now, let me see if I can remember!): Jesus's death atoned for original and personal sin and reopened the gates of Heaven.
ReplyDelete