CHAPTER FOUR. Jesus as Moral Guide. Called to Beatitude. Called to Beatitude. beatitude

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1 CHAPTER FOUR Jesus 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. 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. 1

2 Jesus Is Our Moral Norm 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 Teaching Kingdom of God (or reign of God) 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. Jesus Is Our Moral Norm Jesus Teaching metanoia Greek term for repentance, a turning away from sin with the intention of living a Christian life. 2

3 Jesus is Our Moral Norm Jesus 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. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven All we have and all we are is a gift from God. We are totally dependent on God. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted Those who mourn are with God and can move them to lend a helping hand to those who suffer. 3

4 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. People who are humble and treat others with respect, understanding, and compassion. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Christian s desire for high ideals and goals, striving to do God s will. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. We must forgive others, even our enemies. 4

5 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. People who are single-hearted, undivided in their loyalties, without fakery or pretense. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. We are called to work to settle disputes, to root out violence, to forgive and show compassion. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. To stand up for what is right, especially in the face of mockery, rejection, verbal and physical abuse. 5

6 Page 105 Jesus 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. Jesus 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. 6

7 Praying 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. Praying 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. 7

8 Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness A 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. Grace Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness Types of Graces Sanctifying Grace makes us holy Actual Grace God s interventions Sacramental Grace specific gifts that come from particular sacraments Charisms special gifts the Holy Spirit gives to individual Christians to build up the Church Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness 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 8

9 Discipleship discipleship The mandate of all baptized Christians to follow Jesus and participate in his role as priest, prophet, and king. Discipleship Contemplative orders Religious orders that put a focus on living a life centered on the celebration of prayer, rather than on active ministry. Men Benedictines, Trappists, and Carmelites. Women Benedictines, the Poor Clares, Carmelites, and Trappistines. Discipleship Apostolic orders Religious orders that stress apostolic works like caring for the downtrodden and sick, teaching, or preaching. Men Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Franciscans, Salesians, Holy Cross, Christian Brothers, Dominicans Women Sisters of Charity, Franciscan Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Sisters 9

10 Vocabulary Beatitude Kingdom of God Metanoia Justification Grace Sanctifying grace Actual grace Sacramental grace Charisms Discipleship Contemplative orders Apostolic orders 10