Year 8 : Prophecy and Promise
Is Prophecy and Promise a thing of the past?
The word prophet defines someone specially chosen and called by God to tell his truth to others. The Hebrew word for prophet is Nebi: this is derived from the verb ‘act on’ or ‘to bubble forth’ like a fountain.
The English word for prophet comes from the Greek word prophetes which means to ‘speak for another, especially one who speaks for God’.
Who is Amos?
The prophet Amos was a simple shepherd called by God to speak to the northern kingdom of Israel. The people of Israel had fallen into great sinfulness including idolatry, greed, bad leadership, and injustice to the poor. Amos’ message warned of God’s coming judgement, but the people ignored the warning. And after many years, God judged Israel. But as always, the promise of restoration was also given. Amos told of God’s forgiveness and grace to all who would repent.
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin for "arrival".
The season of Advent begins a new Liturgical year in the Church and spans the four Sundays up to Christmas Day. The first Sunday of Advent begins on the Sunday closest to St Andrews on 30th November.
Retrieval: What do you know about Advent?
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation in the Church’s Liturgical year. For Christians it marks the period spent preparing and waiting for the season of Christmas, when we celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation, when God became flesh in the person of Jesus.
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The Advent Wreath connects to the Book of Isaiah, which prophesied that the Messiah would be a ‘suffering servant’.
The wreath is made of evergreens, which have symbolic meanings:
Cedar and laurel:
These are a traditional symbol of victory over suffering. Cedar symbolises strength and laurel the strength to overcome suffering.
Holly:
This has a special Christian meaning as the prickly leaves symbolise Jesus’ crown of thorns.
Pine, Holly and Yew:
These symbolise immortality and Jesus’ victory over death.
The circular shape of the wreath also has a symbolic meaning as it has no beginning and no end.
This links to the eternal nature of God, recognised in Jeremiah through a reference to God’s ‘everlasting love’, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Jesus.
This is an oil on canvas painting by the Greek artist El Greco whilst living in Spain between 1597 and 1607.
It is in the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco.
It shows a young John, dressed in animal skin, holding a long staff with a cross shaped top.
Beside him sleeps a lamb on a rock, representing the Lamb of God (Jesus) whose coming he prophesied.
This is an oil on canvas painting by the Greek artist El Greco whilst living in Spain between 1597 and 1607.
It is in the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco.
It shows a young John, dressed in animal skin, holding a long staff with a cross shaped top.
Beside him sleeps a lamb on a rock, representing the Lamb of God (Jesus) whose coming he prophesied.
Title | Definition | How does Jesus show this? |
Prophet | People inspired to bring God’s messages to his people, prophecy is God’s messages for the world, warnings, encouragement or predictions. | Jesus explained how the Kingdom of God would be created on both heaven and earth. |
Priest | Someone who dedicates their lives to God and the Catholic Church – their job is to bring people to God. | Jesus showed people how to be faithful to God and sacrificed himself for the forgiveness of sins, so humans could reconcile with God. |
King | The ruler of a kingdom – their job is to lead others through word and deed and use their talents to advance the kingdom. | Jesus was God on earth with responsibility for those in his care. |
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| Call God chooses the person and makes himself known to them. |
| Message Having chosen and called the person, God gives them a special task they need to do. |
| Fulfilment The promise of the prophecy will come true, even if it isn’t in the prophets own lifetime. |
1. The Prophecy Candle: to symbolise hope and the messianic expectation. It is a reminder of the prophets who foretold the birth of Jesus, in particular the prophet Isaiah.
2. The Bethlehem Candle: to symbolise faith. It is seen as a reminder of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, Where Mary gave birth to the foretold Messiah.
5. The Christ Candle (WHITE): to symbolise purity. It is a modern addition and is thought to represent the sinless nature of Christ, sent as the saviour. It is lit on Christmas Eve and kept alight through to the Epiphany.
4. The Angel’s Candle: to symbolise peace. It is seen as a reminder of the peace the Messiah is foretold to bring, and the message of peace on earth the Angels brought to the shepherds.
3. The Shepherd’s Candle (PINK): is thought to symbolise joy. Priests wear rose-coloured vestments to reflect the joy experienced at the birth of Jesus.
Key Word | Definition |
Advent | A time of waiting and preparation for the season of Christmas. The start of the Catholic Church's liturgical year. |
Amos | An unlikely prophet called by God to speak his message to the rich and wealthy of the kingdom of Israel about their impending destruction. |
King | The ruler of a kingdom – their job is to lead others through word and deed and use their talents to advance the kingdom. |
John the Baptist | Jesus’ cousin, the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus by baptising those who believed God’s message. |
Las Posadas | ‘The Inns’. A religious festival; celebrated in Spain commemorating the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. |
Divine Office | A set of prayers, Psalms and readings said at set times each day – priests say them daily as part of their ministry. |
Consecrated | Made holy and marked out for a special purpose. |
Prophet/ Prophecy | Prophets are inspired to bring God’s messages to his people, prophecy is God’s messages for the world, warnings, encouragement or predictions |
Covenant Fidelity | Being faithful to the covenant made with God and his people. |
Messiah/Messianic | Many Jews interpret the ‘Messiah’ to be a future leader of the Jewish people who will rule with kindness and justice; for Christians the Messiah is Jesus; the word ‘Christ’ is the Greek form of the word Messiah. Messianic is of or about the Messiah. |
Nicene Creed | The Christian statement of belief. |
Elijah | The Father of the Prophets. He worked hard to turn the Israelites back to God after they began worshipping false idols. |
Call, Message and Fulfilment | The Pattern of the Prophets: the call from God, the special message or task they must do and the fulfilment of the prophecy, even if it isn’t in the prophet’s own lifetime. |
Caritas | Latin for love |
Remnant | A small piece of something left behind in it’s original way. In the Bible, the group of people who remained faithful to God |
Priest | Someone who dedicates their lives to God and the Catholic Church – their job is to bring people to God. |