My dear Parishioners,

Peace! The fourth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, He died, He was buried” There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 623.

Part of the Christian Faith is that the Lord Jesus accomplished an expiatory mission. This in turn implies that there is such a thing as sin, that a sacrifice could be offered in reparation for such sin, and that Jesus Christ Himself was able to and did in fact offer such a sacrifice. Sacred Scripture repeatedly refers to sin (more than 400 times, 99 in the New Testament). That there is such a thing a sin seems obvious (cf. Romans 3:23). Sacred Scripture is likewise clear in the identifying various five (5) sorts of sacrifices (burnt offerings, sin offerings, trespass offerings, peace offerings, grain and meat offerings) offered in repartition for sins (cf. Deuteronomy 33:10, Psalm 51:19; Leviticus 2:1; 3:6; 4:8; 9:15; 14:12; Numbers 6:14). These sacrifices were preparatory for the one sacrifice accomplished by Jesus’ saving death and resurrection (cf. Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:26; 10:12). It is in this vein that we read in Psalm 40:6 that the Lord did not desire ‘Sacrifice and oblation’ as of old but had come in Person (cf. Hebrews 10:5).

Jesus’ expiatory mission was one of the ‘Suffering Servant’ (cf. Isaiah 53:10-11). Jesus Christ is the suffering servant who justifies many and bears our iniquities (cf. Isaiah 53:11). This is central to Jesus’ expiatory mission. Jesus took the curse which was rightly ours by our sins upon Himself (cf. Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ was delivered up for our sins (cf. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 3:18). The cross and the grave are not the end of sacred history. By His resurrection Jesus has opened the eternity of Heaven for those who believe and repent and live by His grace (cf. Revelation 3:8; 11:19; 15:5; 19:11).

Contrary to the disobedience which is sin (cf. Romans 5:19; Deuteronomy 8:20; Nehemiah 13:27) Jesus Christ was obedient unto death, death on the Cross (cf. Philippians 2:8). As followers of the Lord we are to live in loving obedience to the holy will of God, made known to us in Sacred Scripture and the sure and certain teachings of Mother Church (cf. Matthew 16:19; 1 Timothy 3:15).

Jesus did what He did out of love for the Father and for us. By His self-sacrifice Jesus lived His own teaching, laying down His life for us (cf. John 15:13; Mark 12:33). We, for our part, are to do the same, strengthened by His grace communicated to us through His Sacraments, through His Church. Begun in Baptism and constantly renewed in Penance and Eucharist our lives are in union with Christ who died that we might live in Him (cf. Galatians 2:20).

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr