CHAPTER FOURJesus as Moral Guide

Called to Beatitude

beatitude

An attitude guiding us to follow Jesus more

closely in order to achieve holiness and

happiness.

Called to Beatitude

In the Beatitudes, we learn the how of our Christian vocation.

The Beatitudes depict Christ; they reveal his love.

They teach us the goal of our very existence – to become partakers of God’s own divine nature and sharers in eternal life.

Our teacher for learning morality and the way to true happiness is Jesus himself.

God Incarnate

Jesus was truly man. He was

like us in every respect , even

tempted as we are, yet he never

sinned.

Jesus Is Our Moral Norm

Jesus’ TeachingJesus Is Our Moral Norm

God’s peace, justice, and love that was proclaimed by Jesus and inaugurated in his life, death, and resurrection. It refers to the process of God reconciling all things through his Son, to the fact of his will being done on earth as in heaven. The process has begun with Jesus and will be perfectly completed at the end of time.

Kingdom of God(or reign of God)

Jesus’ Teaching

Jesus Is Our Moral Norm

Greek term for repentance, a turning away from sin with the intention of living a Christian life.

metanoia

Jesus is Our Moral NormJesus’ Teaching

The Eucharist celebrates Jesus’ Paschal mystery. Our celebration of it with other Catholic believers enables us to

enter into the mystery it represents for us.

In the Liturgy of the Word, we are challenged to take the good news to heart and live it in the present on our journey to the

Triune God.

In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit prays through us as we thank and praise God for all he has accomplished for us

through Christ Jesus.

At the end of Mass, we are sent to love and serve the Lord.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The Beatitudes

All we have and all we are is a gift from God. We are totally dependent

on God.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

The Beatitudes

Those who mourn are with God and can move them to lend a helping

hand to those who suffer.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

The Beatitudes

People who are humble and treat others with respect, understanding,

and compassion.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will

be satisfied.

The Beatitudes

Christian’s desire for high ideals and goals, striving to do God’s will.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The Beatitudes

We must forgive others, even our enemies.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

The Beatitudes

People who are single-hearted, undivided in their loyalties, without

fakery or pretense.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

The Beatitudes

We are called to work to settle disputes, to root out violence, to forgive and show compassion.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New Moses

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven.

The Beatitudes

To stand up for what is right, especially in the face of mockery, rejection, verbal and

physical abuse.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New MosesThe Beatitudes

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The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New MosesJesus Is the Fulfillment of the Law

Jesus fulfills the Mosaic Law by emphasizing its spirit and intent rather than stressing a strict interpretation of the “letter” of the law.

Jesus perfects the Old Testament Law by intensifying it and by setting a higher standard – the law of love.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New MosesJesus on Good Works, Prayer, and Trust

Jesus calls his followers to perform religious works of almsgiving, praying, and fasting.

We should do these actions humbly and with the purest of motives.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New MosesPraying the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father – Jesus invites us to call God Abba (Daddy), to address God with childlike trust. We are God’s people and brothers and sisters to one another.

Who Art in Heaven – God’s way of being, God’s majesty. We are in union with Christ in heaven.

Hallowed Be Thy Name – We pray that everyone on earth will regard God as holy.

Thy Kingdom Come; Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven – We are to live, experience, and work for God’s Kingdom right now.

The Sermon on the Mount: Jesus, the New MosesPraying the Lord’s Prayer

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread – We ask for physical life, psychological life, and spiritual life. We pray for our needs and the needs of all people.

And Forgive Us Our Trespasses As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us – We ask God for forgiveness and we also forgive others.

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation – We ask God to spare us the path that leads to sin.

But Deliver Us From Evil.– We pray to God to manifest the victory Christ has already won over Satan and sin.

Amen – So be it.

Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness

Justification

The Holy Spirit’s grace

that cleanses us from our sins

through faith in Jesus Christ and

baptism. Justification

makes us right with God.

Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness

GraceA free and unearned

favor from God, infused into our

souls at Baptism, that adopts us into God’s family and helps us to live as

his children.

Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness

Types of

Graces

Sanctifying Grace

– makes us holy

Actual Grace – God’s

interventions

SacramentalGrace –

specific gifts that come from

particular sacraments

Charisms – special gifts the

Holy Spirit gives to individual Christians to build up the

Church

Merit and Holiness

We must cooperate with the many graces God gives to us to live upright, holy lives so we can merit the reward God has in store for us.

The source of all merit is the love of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice has won us everything.

Christ calls everyone to holiness.

Holiness requires self-denial and prayer

Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness

Discipleship

The mandate of all baptized Christians to

follow Jesus and participate in his role as

priest, prophet, and king.

discipleship

Discipleship

Religious orders that put a focus on living a life centered on the

celebration of prayer, rather than on active ministry.

Contemplative orders

Men – Benedictines, Trappists, and Carmelites.

Women – Benedictines, the Poor Clares, Carmelites, and Trappistines.

Discipleship

Religious orders that stress apostolic works like caring for the downtrodden and sick, teaching, or

preaching.

Apostolic orders

Men – Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Franciscans, Salesians, Holy Cross, Christian

Brothers, Dominicans

Women – Sisters of Charity, Franciscan Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Sisters

VocabularyBeatitudeKingdom of GodMetanoiaJustificationGraceSanctifying graceActual graceSacramental graceCharismsDiscipleshipContemplative ordersApostolic orders