Morality: Moral Living With Jesus

  • The Gospel message, the Beatitudes, and Jesus’ like are the model examples of how to live a moral life.

    • Jesus preached the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, calling to embrace:

      • The coming of the Kingdom of God

      • The vision of God

      • Entrance into the joy of the Land

      • Entrance into God’s rest

  • Jesus is the blueprint for living a moral life and the “moral norm.”

    • He is the moral norm because he is God incarnate.

  • Through baptism, you receive the gift of sharing in Jesus’ obedience to the Father.

    • It gives you a new inner life and relationship with God.

  • Jesus lived a humble life and had several qualities that those seeking a moral life should emulate:

    • Compassion

    • Truthfulness

    • Accepting

    • Treat people with equality

    • Sensitivity to childhood innocence

    • Prayerful

  • Jesus was the perfect teacher and his deeds backed up his word.

    • Revealed the way to live a moral life.

  • Through Jesus people formed a community of faith — the Church

  • Through the Paschal Mystery, a new covenant was established between God and humankind.

    • The New Covenant is represented by the New Law.

  • The New Covenant is represented in Mark’s Gospel:

    • “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1:15)

      • The kingdom of God refers to the reign of peace and justice breaking into the world, which is happening both now and yet to come.

        • It is inaugurated with Jesus’ entrance into the world

  • Repentance means you must be sorry for your sins and resolve to not sin again.

    • Avoid sin

    • Give up whatever is keeping you from Christ

    • Tied to two things:

      • Faith

      • Grace of the Holy Spirit

  • Love is the answer to living a good and moral life, and Jesus’ command to love centers around the Great Commandment.

    • Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mt: 22:37)

      • Relates to the first three commandments

  • Another commandment of love is to love your neighbor.

    • Jesus meant love is part of the corporal works of mercy — charitable actions caring for the physical needs of others.

    • Use your talents to serve others.

    • You can grow in love and stay close to Jesus through the Sacrament of Eucharist.

      • At the end of mass, you are sent out to “love and serve the Lord.”