Paschal Mystery

Gabrielle Murabito Brother Jim, S. A. C. New Testament 9 April 2013 Paschal Essay God had a wonderful plan for everything He created for all things that exist. The Paschal Mystery is Christ work of redemption through His Passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. The term Paschal mystery comes from the Pasch, which is the Passover event of the Exodus. God sent the ancient Hebrews from slavery and death in Egypt, so Jesus could save us from original sin and eternal death. God the Father sent His Son to rescue all humanity.

His Son did this by dying for the whole world. He willingly offered himself for the salvation through His suffering, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. Christians call it the Paschal Mystery because we celebrate this in the sacrament of Eucharist. Eucharist represents Christ’s body and that was given to His followers on the Last Supper. It is all meant to show God’s love and Jesus’ suffering. Jesus redeemed himself through His passion, death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost.

Jesus’ passion is He, Himself, suffering through and eventually dying on the cross. In Mark 14:58, the footnote 14:38 states that “Everyone is faced with this struggle, the full force of which Jesus is accepted on our behalf and, through his bitter passion and death, achieved the victory”. Jesus accepted His passion when He accepted His cross and out of His own free will, died for us. Jesus’ death only lasted 3 hours. When others got crucified, it lasted days.

Jesus was mocked until His death, beaten many times, had to carry His own cross, and when He was put on the cross, He eventually died from suffocation because He had too much fluid in His lungs from hanging. His death was very painful but He did it for all of us. In Mark 15:39, it says, “When the centurion who stood facing Him saw how He breathed his last he said, Truly this man was the Son of God! ”. His death proved to everyone that He, Jesus was the Son of God. On the third day, Jesus resurrected.

Many did not believe, they were afraid. His resurrection changed Him physical. He was no longer the same. Jesus could walk through walls but could still be able to eat and touch people. His resurrection also proved that He was the Son of God. “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. ” Mark 16:19, explains the Ascension of Jesus. He ascended into heaven in His resurrected body. This proves that all humanity is taken into heaven.

Jesus mission on earth has been accomplished and will return again someday. On the fifteenth day following Easter when the Holy Spirit is made present, given, and communicated as divine Person of the Trinity. Pentecost is an event when the Apostles and Disciples were in the upper room and the Holy Spirit came upon. “The Holy Spirit gave them abilities. ” This event marked the beginning of the manifestation of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Now, Jesus’ mission will be completed through others. Jesus, the redeemer, saved the whole world from sin.