• Humans were created for an intimate relationship with God… to know and love God.

• Through a harmonious relationship with God, we can receive supernatural life from Him.

From the beginning, humans have turned our backs on God… choosing instead to follow selfish and destructive ways.

We end up being alone in the desert… separated from God, others, and our true self.Our basic human nature is wounded, twisted by sin.

--God was always reaching out to humans, to embrace us, but we could never complete the embrace.--God was always offering a perfect relationship, but we (as sinners) could never hold up our end of the relationship. We could never be perfectly loving, obedient, and holy.

To reverse the disease of sin, humankind needed at least one human being who was untainted by sin and in perfect relationship with God. Such a human could ‘complete the embrace’ God offers us and restore the relationship / connection between God and human beings.

Jesus was a person embodying the perfect relationship between God and human. He was a unity of God and man.

Because Jesus has the divine nature, he is in perfect connection with God the Father.Jesus perfectly and completely connects God & human.He can be our bridge to unity with God… but how?

Because Jesus shared the same human nature as we do, we can connect with Jesus….Intellectually, by listening to Jesus’ teachings.Morally, by following his example.Mystically (spiritually), through the ‘rituals’ (sacraments) he left us. We are baptized in his name, and we take his presence into us in the eucharist. The Church is Jesus’ body.

But how can we be sure that Jesus really is both God and man?Because Jesus tells us so…

Jesus is the perfect bridge between God and Human

In what Jesus says…-Speaks with authority over Torah-Forgives sins (Mark 2:1-12)-Accepts worship (Matthew 28:9)-Acknowledges titles like Son of God, messiah, Lord, God. (Mark 14)- “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).- “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)

In what Jesus does…

-He performs miracles (heals, casts out demons) -He cleanses the Temple-He gathers the tribes of Israel.-He welcomes in the outcasts.

-He rises from the dead… ultimate confirmation.

Many Apostles were killed for professing Jesus rose from the dead and was God. Why would they suffer and die for a lie?

How do we have a personal relationship with Jesus today?

--Follow his teachings--Follow his example--Connect mystically with Jesus through the sacraments & a prayer life.--Be part of Christ’s mystical body: the Church

All of the above is made real and alive to us through the action of the Holy Spirit.