Following Jesus

Called to Holiness

Living as a Disciple

•Vocation: Our Call to Holiness•Set apart to do service for God• Discernment: the process of determining what God wants us to do. It is achieved through prayer, study, scripture reflection and discussion.

•Say “Yes”• Live a morally good life•Be a person of prayer•Reveal God’s love through service, social justice

How to Follow Jesus

• Evangelical Counsels: Practices over and above the adherence to the commandments and precepts of the Church• Poverty• Chastity• Obedience

• Beatitudes• Guidelines for living in holiness and for happiness

• Works of Mercy• Corporal works• Spiritual works

• The Sermon on the Mount• A collection of Jesus’ teachings on many important topics

• His parables• Short stories about everyday life that offer the listeners a challenge to a conversion in

their thoughts and actions.

• Jesus and the Rich Man (Mk. 10: 17-22)• Rethink priorities, detach yourself from the wealth of this world and attached

yourself to the “wealth” of the next.

• Commandments• The Mosaic Law, “Ten Commandments”• The Great Commandments, “The Law of Love”

• The account of the Last Judgment• Preferential treatment of the poor• Works of mercy

Jesus Reveals God’s Call to Us

• I am the LORD your God you shall not have strange Gods before me.• You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain • Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.• Honor your father and your mother.• You shall not kill.• You shall not commit adultery• You shall not steal.• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.• You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.• You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

The 10 Commandments

God

Others

• The Beatitudes• Guidelines to live by• Enhancement of the Ten commandments, not a replacement for them.

• Teachings on prayer, almsgiving and fasting• All are important practices• Perform them in private, between you and God

• Teachings on various other practices of the times• Expects more than what has been done

• “The commandments say…but I tell you…”

The Sermon on the Mount

• Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven • Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. • Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. • Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for justice: for they shall have

their fill. • Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. • Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. • Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.• Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice‘ sake, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven.

Beatitudes

• Matthew 5-7• Sermon on the Mount

• Beatitudes• Guide for happiness• Beyond the minimum requirements of the Ten commandments

• Other teachings• Marriage and divorce• Anger and revenge• Fasting, prayer, almsgiving

• Do it without looking for merits• Be humble

Jesus’ teachings

Evangelical Counsels• Poverty• Avoid putting undue value on material things and wealth

• Chastity• Integrate sexuality in to our total person. We are physical, emotional,

intellectual, social, moral and spiritual persons in addition to sexual.• Dress, speak, act, think in a modest way.

• Obedience• Obey God and official authority

• Faith• Be an example of faith by trusting in God and

living the way He asks us to• Obedience

• Obeying God, the Church, parents and authority, civil law, etc.

• Chastity• Living in a way that does not give undue

importance to things of a sexual nature, especially in thought, words, dress, and action

• Poverty• Lived in a manner that is detached from

material things.• Humility

• Act in a way that shows that you understand and acknowledge the fundamental dignity of all humans.

• “Theotokos”• Carry Jesus in your heart and reveal Him to all

people.

• Faith• Devout Jewish woman

• Obedience• Fiat , said YES to God’s plan for her

• Chastity• Lived a chaste life as did Joseph her husband

• Poverty• No focus on material wealth or goods• Lived simply

• Humility • Did not see herself as anyone special or

above anyone else• “Theotokos”

• The bearer of God to all

Mary, the Model of Discipleship

• Prayer• Conversation with God

• Keeps our relationship with God alive• Helps us to bring that relationship to communal worship and strengthens our

bond with the whole Church

• Fasting• Sacrificing to join Jesus in his sacrifice. Used as an act of repentance.

• Almsgiving• A form of social justice that helps those who are in need obtain those

rights that are just because of their inherent dignity.

Praying, Fasting & Almsgiving

Keep it between you and God

A condition of complete surrender to God’s will and a state of love, peace and justice

Matthew 13: 44-52Hidden treasure, Pearl

“Sell all that you have to obtain it”Net

Separation of good and badOld & New

Listen to the old and the newJesus did not come to do away with the old law but to fulfill it

Seek the “Kingdom of God”

• Matthew 22: 34-40• Of God

• Love God above all, with all your soul and all your mind

• Of neighbor• Love your neighbor as you love yourself

Love

The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these Two

Commandments

Works of Mercy• Physical• Feed the hungry• Give drink to the thirsty• Shelter the homeless• Clothe the naked• Care for the sick• Help the imprisoned• Bury the dead

• Spiritual• Share knowledge• Give advice to those who need it• Comfort those who suffer• Forgive those who hurt you• Correct those who need it• Pray for the living and the dead

The account of the Last Judgment(Mt. 25: 31-46)

Aids to Holiness• God provides help to strengthen us• Teachings and example of Jesus• Intellect

• Helps us to see and understand the natural order God has created

• Helps us weigh decisions and evaluate outcomes toward good moral choices

• The Natural Law• Free will

• Allows us to act on those choices• Resist evil

• Grace• God’s supernatural gift that helps us respond to his love and

restore us to original holiness and justice• Helps us to ask for forgiveness

Aids to Holiness• Self-reflection• God given ability and responsibility to engage in self-reflection.

We need to look into our hearts and examine the choices we have made and listen for an follow the voice of our conscience.• a God given sense of the Law of God• Formed and driven by Divine Law

• The Church• God’s greatest gift to us in living holy lives

• Sacraments unite us to Christ and provide the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit

• Members give us strength and support on our journey• Provides the opportunity for prayer, education, community and service