Sacred Scripture Unit Four

  1. Define "beatitude." 

beatitude - supreme happiness; blessedness

  1.  In what does perfect happiness consist? 

There is only one perfect happiness: perfect communion with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

  1.  Do "the Beatitudes" describe different people and different rewards? 

The Beatitudes do not describe different people receiving different rewards. The Beatitudes describe different aspects of that one perfect happiness.

  1.  Who are: 

    1. the "poor in spirit;" 

The "poor in spirit" refer to those who: are humble; recognize their absolute dependence upon God; turn to God in their need and place their hope in Him; are childlike and accept their own helplessness.

  1. the "meek;" 

The "meek" are those who: are mild and gentle; possess self-mastery (roughly: self-control) and face difficulties without acting impulsively, lashing out at others.

  1. those who "mourn;" 

Those who "mourn" are all those who suffer affliction, especially: those who mourn for their sins; grieve over the sins of others; bear all of the sufferings of life with love.

  1. those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness;" 

Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" have a deep desire to do God's will.

  1. the "pure in heart;" 

The "pure in heart" are those who: are single-hearted (single-minded) in seeking God; and love all that is good and noble.

  1. the "merciful;" 

The "merciful" are those who: are patient; forgive the faults of others; reach out to re-establish a relationship with those who have injured them.

  1. "peacemakers;" 

The "peacemakers" are those who: are mediators between family members/friends/countries; properly order their passions, bringing them under the control of reason.

  1. those who "suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness." 

Those who are "persecuted for righteousness' sake" are: willing to live the way of the Beatitudes which involves laying down one’s life; in this life, happiness does not happen without the Cross

  1. In what does "perfection" consist? 

To be "perfect" consists in the perfection of charity (love).  

  1. In what way can a human person be "perfect" as God is perfect? 

In the strict sense, only God is perfect (He is infinite, absolute Love Itself).  Our Lord's words, however, are stated in the form of a command, therefore there must be some sense in which it is possible to be "perfect" and love as God is perfect and loves

  1. What is the first and greatest commandment given by Our Lord? 

The first and greatest commandment is therefore to love God with our

whole being.

  1. What is the second commandment added by Our Lord? 

Our Lord adds a second commandment: "love your neighbor as yourself.”

  1. Whom does the "Good Samaritan" represent? 

The “Good Samaritan” represents God or Jesus.

  1. Who is our neighbor? 

The neighbor is us or sinners. 

  1. What does the "wedding garment" represent in the "Parable of the Wedding Guest?" 

The wedding garment represents being prepared for Jesus. 

  1. On what will Our Lord base His judgment (in part)? See St. Matthew 25:31-46. 

People will be judged based on how they treat others. Those who treat everyone as they would treat Jesus would be let into heaven. Those who treated others poorly would be cast into hell. 

  1. Are the punishments of the wicked and the rewards of the righteous eternal? 

Yes

  1. How is Our Lord like the man who searched for his lost sheep and carried it home? 

Our Lord is like the man who searched for his lost sheep and carried it home because Jesus wants to bring us into heaven with him even if we get lost and stray from Him. When Jesus and the sheep were reunited, he carried it home like Jesus would help us return to heaven. 

  1. What is the meaning of the younger son leaving his father's house in the "Parable of the Prodigal Son?" 

The younger son leaving in the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” symbolizes people falling away from the faith. 

  1. What should one learn from the response of the father to the return of his younger son in the "Parable of the Prodigal Son?" 

One should learn that God welcomes everyone into communion with Him. We should also learn that God is more pleased when someone who fell from the faith returns to Him.  The mercy of God towards repentant sinners is infinite.

  1. Must one forgive his or her neighbor? How often? 

Yes, we, too, are called to be merciful and forgive without limit, as God does.

  1. What are three ways of explaining the third servant's burying of his talent in the earth in the "Parable of the Talents?" 

His act of hiding the talent in the earth may represent sins of the flesh, his concern with earthly goods, or living only for himself.

  1. Does Our Lord forbid us to judge exterior acts? What does He forbid? 

  • Does not condemn or forbid judgment about exterior acts- such judgements are necessary

  • Does condemn judgements about interior things (spiritual state of another’s soul)- this judgment is reserved to God alone


  1. Why did the "Rich Young Man" go away sad? 

The young man departs, refusing to follow Christ, because he was attached

to his material possessions. He failed in charity. 

  1. Why is it impossible for material wealth to make the human person perfectly happy? 

The Rich Man is guilty of a sin of omission (a failure to do what he ought to have done). Riches can lead one to fail in charity towards others (the commandment to love one's neighbor as himself).

  1. How does the teaching of Christ differ from that of other rabbis? 

The crowd “marveled” at His teaching--including the teachers of Law-- and wondered at its source, since He had not been taught in any of the rabbinic schools; Christ teaches with authority.

  1. Does Christ ever claim to be Divine in St. John's Gospel? 

Our Lord reveals that He knows and comes from the Father, Who sent Him--a clear claim to Divinity, which intensifies the hostility of some of the Jews to Him. (in John 7)

  1. List two things that Our Lord says about His relationship with the Father in St. John 8.


  1.  How does Our Lord use the symbols of water and light in His teaching? 

    1. Who is the Source of "living water?" 

      1. Our Lord

    2. What does Our Lord teach about the "living water" that He will give? 

      1. Linked in faith to Christ

      2. Will flow from his heart

      3. Is identified as the Holy Spirit

      4. Will be given upon his glorification (crucifixion)

    3. What is the meaning of Our Lord's revelation that He is the "Light of the world?"

      1. Christ enlightens the world with his truth

      2. He enlightens hearts, enabling men and women to receive His teaching and live according to it

  2. Does Our Lord forgive the woman? Does Our Lord approve of the sin committed by the woman? What does He say to the woman, after He has forgiven her sin? 

  • He forgives the woman

  • Does not approve of the sin she committed 

  • He warns her, “go, and sin no more”


  1. Does God will evil? Why does God permit evil? 

  • God sometimes permits evil (physical or moral) without directly willing it, in order to draw good from it


  1. What are the stages (or the "progression") in the references to Our Lord by the man born blind? 

  • A man

  • A prophet

  • From God

  • Lord

  1. What act does the man born blind perform at the end of the story? 

He worships Christ


  1. Name three things that Our Lord reveals in His discourse on being the "Good Shepherd." 

  • He prophesies that He will lay down His life for His sheep (His Crucifixion) and take it up again (His Resurrection)

  • The “other sheep, that are not of this fold” refers to the Gentiles

  • His sheep listen to His voice (doing as He bids us to do)


  1. What does Our Lord mean when He said that He is "the Resurrection and the Life?" Explain. 


  • He is claiming absolute sovereignty over life and death (belonging to God alone)

  • He is the source of life for those who believe in Him

  • Through His own resurrection, He is the Cause and Hope of the resurrection for all men and women


  1. In what way does St. Martha serve as a model for all Christians, according to St. Augustine? 

  • Praises her as an example of abandonment to the will of God, as she does not ask Our Lord to raise her brother; she only professes her faith in His power to do it, if He wills



  1. How is the raising of Lazarus from the dead a foreshadowing of the Sacrament of Penance?

Those who are spiritually dead through sin may be restored to life by Christ


  1. What is the significance of the anointing by St. Mary at Bethany?

  • Reveals her:

    • Detachment from worldly goods (the nard amounted to one year’s wages for a laborer)

    • Ardent love of Christ