CHAPTER FOUR Jesus as Moral Guide

Prayer: Return, Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Lord, my sins have caused pain for me and for others. May my prayers, works of mercy, and fasting during Lent be cause for healing as I seek to come closer to you. Amen.

“We have all read in scientific books, and, indeed, in all romances, the story of the man who has forgotten his name. This man walks about the streets and can see and appreciate everything; only he cannot remember who he is. Well, every man is that man in the story. Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord the God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are. All that we call common sense and rationality and practicality and positivism only means that for certain dead levels of our life we forget that we have forgotten. All that we call spirit and art and ecstasy only means that for one awful instant we remember that we forget.” G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

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.

Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness Grace 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.

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

Acts 9: Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

How do we see the good in our lives? How are we directed towards the good. Where does the good come from? Perception  Illumination  Awareness  Action

Romans 4: 1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 6 So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”

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 Justification, Grace, Merit, and Holiness

Discipleship The mandate of all baptized Christians to follow Jesus and participate in his role as priest, prophet, and king. discipleship

Discipleship Religious orders that put a focus on living a life centered on the celebration of prayer, rather than on active ministry. Contemplative orders Men – Benedictines, Trappists, and Carmelites. Women – Benedictines, the Poor Clares, Carmelites, and Trappistines.

Discipleship Religious orders that stress apostolic works like caring for the downtrodden and sick, teaching, or preaching. Apostolic orders Men – Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Franciscans, Salesians, Holy Cross, Christian Brothers, Dominicans Women – Sisters of Charity, Franciscan Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Sisters

Exit Journal Please define the following terms Metanoia Justification Grace Sanctifying grace Actual grace Sacramental grace Contemplative orders Apostolic orders