Further

A sample of some concepts that we will cover for Matthew Ch. 5 tomorrow:

1. Finish this sentence: Salt is to a meal as the Beatitudes are to___________.
2. Why do you suppose Jesus talks of salt right after teaching the Beatitudes?
3. How righteous does one need to be to enter Heaven?
4. Is the punishment for angry behavior hell? Why?
5. What teaching on purgatory can be drawn from verse 22?

Additional concepts in relation to beatitude

Here are some questions to ponder in preparation for Thursday's discussion of Matthew chapter 5.

1. Which two commandments are the foci of the Beatitudes?
   Hint: Read
   Matthew 22:37-39
2. Which short prayer are you reminded of when you hear the 5th
   Beatitude?
3. Read Galatians 6:1-8. What does this say about mercy?
4. Do you suppose Thomas, called Didymus, is a good example of "clean of heart"? Why?
5. The old saw, "The apple does not fall far from the tree," can be applied to which Beatitude?
6. What parallels can be drawn between the 1st and 8th Beatitudes?

As Mary did, ponder these in your heart and do whatever Jesus tells you, and in the morning we will use these questions for additional discussion.

Last 4 beatitudes

For Holy Thursday, we will have 4 additional beatitudes to study. Be ready and expect the unexpected.

Beatitudes

In Chapter 5 of Matthew's gospel we find the Sermon on the Mount, the first part of which is the Beatitudes. Here are some questions engineered by Kenneth to ponder in preparation to Thursday’s discussion of Matthew chapter 5:

1. What does it mean to be blessed?
2. Which Old Testament list is often compared to the Beatitudes and why?
3. What do you suppose Pope John Paul II meant when he referred to the Sermon on the Mount as “the Magna Charta of Gospel morality?
4. Why is it appropriate that the Beatitudes follow so close to the Temptations?
5. Pop Culture: What insight into the Beatitudes can be had by the quote, "A man’s got to know his limitations" from the film Dirty Harry?
   1. Extra credit: Why was Harry called Dirty.
   2. Hint – think of the 3rd Beatitude.
6. What parallels can be drawn from the 1st and 8th Beatitude?

Blessed Maximilian Kolbe once said, "I must become a saint, and a great saint!" This part of Matthew's gospel is all about that process, as we will discuss on Thursday morning this week.

More of chapter 4

Here are some repeat and some fresh questions, concerning chapter 4 of Matthew's Gospel:

1. In the temptation tests of chapter 4, the enemy keeps saying, "If you are the Son of God..." and Jesus dumps the enemy's test by calling on actions
   1. obedient life by God's word
   2. obediently avoiding show and displays of power
   Was Jesus the only person who could fulfill those actions?
2. Who was intended by God to become ruler over the nations? Why was this a test for Jesus?
3. Was the enemy paying Jesus due respect to use the phrase "Son of God" in these temptations?
4. Was there a legitimate reason for Jesus to
   1. obtain bread
   2. cast himself off a parapet of the temple
   3. bow to the enemy?
5. In this triple testing, who was the hunter? Who was the prey?
6. Will angels minister to us or only to Jesus?
7. The enemy eggs Jesus on for food, safety and riches, but God the Father has a plan for Jesus and for us that starts way differently: chastisement, suffering and death. Can this be kosher?
8. What does the calling of Peter and Andrew in
   1. John 1:35 and following, plus
   2. Matthew 4:18 and following
   tell you about Jesus' skill as a fisher of men?

OK, that is a full plate. See you tomorrow morning for a cup of coffee and some prayer over the 4th chapter of Matthew's gospel.