This whole next section paragraphs 572 through 594 details how Jesus’ radically different approach to fulfilling the commandments of God put him at odds with the pharisees and essentially fueled the fire the authorities needed when they were preparing to try and punish him. He was not actively working against the law, he embraced the law of his father, he was providing an example and simplifying the law. He honored the temple and when he declared it would be destroyed and built up again in three days he was speaking of himself, the temple of God – those who doubted, those who did not understand that God would become man to set the record straight found Jesus to be just a man claiming to be God, the truth was that he was God made man.

The CCC very charitably discusses Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and the persons responsible for it. Paragraph 597: “The personal sin …” The church is adamant about not holding the Jewish faithful
guilty and instead reminds us of our own responsibility each time we turn away from what we know to be right and we choose sin. Paragraph 598 “We profess to know him. And when we deny him by our deeds, we in some way seem to lay violent hands on him.”

Closing out this week’s episode paragraphs 599 through 605 explain God’s hand in the sacrifice of Christ. Despite it being requisite and necessary that Christ die for our sins, the free will of the characters who carried out the trial, persecution, and crucifixion did so of their own free will. Paragraph 600 says: For the sake of accomplishing His plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their (those responsible for Christ’s death) blindness.

Finally after all this sometimes tough discussion about Christ’s death, sin, and who did what, the last paragraph rather refreshingly reminds us “At the end of the parable of the lost sheep… ” “There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer.”

Songs heard on this week’s podcast: T-Fig and the Party on the Mountain by Popple.

Go to www.popple.us for more info, or go to itunes or steal it from a friend, or e-mail us and we’ll send you a free copy of the song, whatever.

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