Called to Holiness

1. Called to Holiness As revealed to us by Jesus

2. Jesus Reveals God’s Call to Us • 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. • Jesus and the Rich Man (Mk. 10: 17-22) • Rethink priorities • Commandments • The Great Commandments • The account of the Last Judgment • Preferential treatment of the poor

3. The Sermon on the Mount • The Beatitudes • Guidelines to live by • Enhancement of the Ten commandments • 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…”

4. Beatitudes 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.

5. Commandments • 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

6. Jesus’ teachings • 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

7. Praying, Fasting & Almsgiving Keep it between you and God • 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.

8. His parables • What is a parable? • What are the primary themes of Jesus’ parables? • The Kingdom of God • Mt. 13: 44-46, • Lk. 14: 16-24 • Mt. 22: 1-14 • God’s love and forgiveness • Lk. 15 • Challenges to our way of life • Mk.10: 17-22 • Lk. 12: 13-21 • Lk. 10: 25-37

9. Ask for forgiveness • Luke 15 • Lost, found, celebration • Sheep • Coin • Person • All heaven rejoices when someone who was a sinner repents and returns to God

10. Seek the “Kingdom of God” • A condition of complete surrender to God’s will and a state of love, peace and justice • Matthew 13: 44-52 • Hidden treasure, Pearl • “Sell all that you have to obtain it” • Net • Separation of good and bad • Old & New • Listen to the old and the new • Jesus did not come to do away with the old law but to fulfill it

11. Jesus and the Rich Man (Mk. 10: 17-22) As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [g]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “[h]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

12. Love The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these Two Commandments • 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

13. The account of the Last Judgment 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [e]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mt. 25: 31-46)

14. 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