RE Revision

End of Year Exam: 2nd Year 2025 To the Ends of the Earth: Resurrection Full Revision Notes

1. The Resurrection of Jesus

St Luke's Account of the Resurrection
  - Source: Luke 24
  - Women go to the tomb on the first day of the week to anoint Jesus's body.
  - They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
  - Two angels appear and remind them that Jesus said he would rise on the third day.
  - The women tell the apostles, who do not believe them initially.
  - Peter runs to the tomb and sees the burial cloths lying there.
Who discovered the empty tomb?
- Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women.
- Peter visits the tomb after hearing their report.
Reactions of those who discovered the empty tomb
  - The women were frightened and bowed down.
  - The apostles did not believe the women, thinking it was nonsense.
  - Peter was amazed and wondered at what had happened.

2 & 3. The Physical and Spiritual Resurrection

Why is the resurrection a central and 'crowning truth' of Christianity?
  - The Catechism refers to it as the 'crowning truth of our faith in Christ.'
  - Without the resurrection, Christian faith is meaningless; as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:14, 'if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless.'
  - It confirms everything Jesus taught and performed during his life.
  - It proves that Jesus is the Son of God.
  - The resurrection provides the foundation of hope for Christians; if Jesus rose, they too will rise.
What does the resurrection mean for Christians?
  - It serves as proof of life after death, indicating that death is not the end.
  - It signifies salvation: Jesus defeated sin and death, opening the path to heaven.
  - It offers hope and comfort; Christians also expect to be resurrected.
  - It affirms Jesus's divinity; God confirmed His identity through the resurrection.
  - The physical resurrection: Jesus rose bodily, substantiated by the empty tomb and wounds visible to Thomas.
  - The spiritual resurrection: Jesus had a transformed, glorified body that could appear and disappear and was not subject to physical laws.

4. The Empty Tomb

Why is the empty tomb important for Catholic belief in resurrection?
  - The empty tomb serves as physical evidence that Jesus truly rose; the body was missing.
  - The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers, significantly reducing the probability of theft.
  - It indicates that the resurrection is bodily and not merely spiritual.
  - Catholics maintain that the soul and body are united; thus, the bodily resurrection holds significance.
  - The empty tomb also fulfills Old Testament prophecies and Jesus's own predictions.
Difference between Jesus's resurrection and Lazarus's resurrection
  - Lazarus was resuscitated; he returned to ordinary life and eventually died again.
  - Jesus was resurrected to a new, glorified, and eternal life.
  - Jesus's resurrected body was transformed; it could pass through walls and appear/disappear.
  - Jesus's resurrection is unique, being referred to as the 'first fruits' of resurrection (1 Cor 15:20).

5. What Happens When We Die?

What Catholics believe about the end of life
  - At death, the soul separates from the body.
  - A Particular Judgement occurs immediately after death, where souls are sent to heaven, purgatory, or hell.
  - There will be a General/Last Judgement at the end of time for all people.
  - The body and soul will be reunited at the resurrection of the dead.
The Four Last Things
  1. Death: The conclusion of earthly life.
  2. Judgement: Includes both Particular (individual, at death) and General (at the end of time) judgement.
  3. Heaven: Eternal life with God for those who are saved.
  4. Hell: Eternal separation from God for those who reject Him.

6. Human Beings Do Not Have Souls

Exploring the Debate
  - Are humans merely physical bodies, or do they possess souls?
  - Some materialists claim humans are solely physical beings; consciousness is strictly brain activity.
  - Catholic teaching asserts humans are body AND soul in unity; the soul is not separate from the body but animates it.
  - The soul is what allows humans to exist in the 'image and likeness of God' (Genesis 1:27).
  - Near-death experiences and the presence of conscience are sometimes cited as evidence for the existence of the soul.
Catholic beliefs about the soul
  - Every human has a unique, immortal soul created by God.
  - The soul is regarded as the spiritual principle of the human being.
  - Upon death, the soul continues to exist; during the resurrection, it reunites with the body.
  - The soul differentiates humans from animals.

7. Baptism & Why Is It Necessary?

Sacrament of Baptism
  - Baptism is considered the first and most significant sacrament, as it serves as the entry point to all other sacraments.
  - The ritual involves water being poured with the Trinitarian formula spoken: 'I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.'
  - Baptism removes original sin and grants sanctifying grace.
  - The baptized individual becomes a member of the Church and a child of God.
Connection between Baptism and Jesus's resurrection
  - Romans 6:3-4 states that baptism symbolizes dying and rising with Christ.
  - Being immersed/washed in water represents dying to sin, while rising from the water denotes sharing in the resurrection.
  - Baptism provides the hope of eternal life, allowing participants to share in Christ's risen life.
What is a baptism of desire?
  - Refers to those who sincerely seek God but have not received sacramental baptism.
  - This includes catechumens who die before baptism and individuals who do not know Christ but lead good lives.
  - God is not confined by sacraments; He can extend salvation to those who sincerely seek Him.

8. The Catholic Funeral Rite

Purpose of the Catholic funeral rite
  - To pray for the deceased and commend their soul to God.
  - To provide comfort to the bereaved and instill hope through faith in the resurrection.
  - To affirm the belief in life after death and the resurrection of the body.
  - To celebrate the life of the deceased as a child of God.
Importance and significance of the funeral rite
  - It reflects the Catholic belief in the dignity of the body, made in God's image.
  - The Mass of Christian Burial is central; the Eucharist connects the deceased to Christ's resurrection.
  - The funeral consists of three stages: Reception of the Body (at church), Funeral Mass, Committal (at graveside/crematorium).
  - White vestments and the Paschal candle symbolize resurrection and hope.
  - Traditionally, Catholics opt for burial (as modeled by Jesus), though cremation is now permitted.

9. Purgatory

What is purgatory? Is it biblical?
  - Purgatory is viewed as a state of purification after death for those who died in God's grace but are not yet fully sanctified.
  - It is not a 'second chance'; only those already saved go through purgatory.
  - Biblical basis:
    - 2 Maccabees 12:46 supports praying for the dead to release them from sin.
    - 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to being 'saved as through fire.'
    - Matthew 12:32 indicates sins that 'will not be forgiven in this age or the next,' suggesting some forgiveness posthumously.
Why do non-Catholics reject purgatory?
  - Most Protestants deny purgatory, holding that salvation is through faith alone (sola fide).
  - They argue that the books of Maccabees are not included in the Protestant Bible (deuterocanonical).
  - Martin Luther asserted that Jesus's sacrifice was wholly sufficient, negating the need for further purification.
  - Protestants believe that the saved proceed directly to heaven upon death.

10. Art & the Resurrection

How art has depicted the resurrection throughout history
  - Early Christian Art:
    - Featured the empty tomb and angels with women (e.g., found in catacombs).
  - Renaissance Art:
    - Included dramatic representations of Jesus's resurrection (e.g., Piero della Francesca's 'Resurrection').
    - Depictions often show Jesus with a white/gold light, visible wounds, and a triumphant stance over death.
    - Risen Christ represented holding a banner or flag, symbolizing victory over death.
What art tells us about resurrection belief
  - Art serves as a medium to communicate faith, especially to those unable to read, thereby educating theology visually.
  - The glorified, luminous body depicted in art reflects the belief in a transformed resurrection body.
  - Resurrection art provides hope and inspires faith in viewers.
  - Contemporary artists continue to explore themes surrounding death, hope, and resurrection.
Good luck with your exam! ✔