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Confirmed in Love

We all need to make choices on a daily basis. Sometimes the decisions we need to make are difficult. Jesus tells us that when we are
faced with a difficult choice, we can find help in the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments.
Journal Prompt:
Where do you turn for help in making those important choices? The Beatitudes
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“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beatitudes 4
Blessed are they who mourn,
The Beatitudes are eight blessings that begin the Sermon on the Mount, the first of five teaching for they will be comforted.
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sections in Matthew’s Gospel. Each is a proverb-like proclamation, without narrative but with a Blessed are the meek,
major biblical theme. for they will inherit the land.
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Blessed are they who hunger and
In this sermon, Jesus gives his new interpretation of many of the laws in the five books of the Torah, thirst for righteousness,
which were given to the people by Moses. If we live according to the Beatitudes, we will begin to for they will be satisfied.
experience the Kingdom of God. 7
Blessed are the merciful,
The Beatitudes are not a description of what we should do; rather they are examples of whom we for they will be shown mercy.
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should be, not just as individuals, but as members of a community for whom the Kingdom og God is Blessed are the clean of heart,
both a promise and a present reality. for they will see God.
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Blessed are the peacemakers,
Each Beatitude begins with the Greek word makarios, which can be translated as “happy.” However, for they will be called children of
because the Beatitudes are about the happiness that comes from drawing bearer to the Kingdom of God.
God, “blessed” is the best translation. The happiness we are called to cannot be found in riches, fame, 10
Blessed are they who are persecuted
or any human achievement; it can only come from trusting God. for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Read - Matthew 5: 3-10
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The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments gives us directions of what to do and not to do. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount
describe the path that leads to true happiness. Sustained by the Holy Spirit, we walk the path, step by step, in our everyday actions.
Confirmed in Love

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Called to be Free Christian Service
God created us to be free and we can only be truly happy if we At Baptism we receive the grace that enables us to love and
are free. It is within our power to choose to do or not to do serve others without counting the cost, to see Christ in others,
what is good. Our freedom means that we take responsibility and to avoid hurting others.
for our actions.
Corporal Works of Mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink
Three requirements for any choice to be a good one: to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless,
visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
 What you want to do must be good Spiritual Works of Mercy: instructing, admonishing,
 Your intention must be good (when the reason why counseling, comforting, forgiving, bearing wrongs patiently,
you want to do something is not good, even a kind act and praying for others.
is not the right decision)
 The circumstances of the choice must be __________________________________________________
considered
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Feast Day: September 5)
Conscience: a voice deep within us that helps us know what is
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta worked to serve and help those who
right from wrong and then act on that knowledge. Our
were less fortunate. She became a nun at the age of 18. At the
conscience naturally directs us toward choosing good and
age of 36, she felt a “call within a call” so she moved to the
avoiding evil. The formation of our conscience is a lifelong
slums of Calcutta to take care of the poor and sick. By 1948
task. It begins with our family and continues through following
she formed her own order of nuns called the Society of the
the teaching of the Church, the friendships we build and the
Missionaries of Charity. She
choices we make.
established a hospice in Calcutta for
__________________________________________________ those who were destitute and dying.
In 1957 the Missionaries of Charity
Actions Speak Louder than Words started their work with lepers and
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus the poor in the many disaster areas
responded “You shall love the Lord your God with all your around the world. Mother Teresa
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your received several awards, including
strength. The second is: “You shall love your neighbor as the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in
yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). At another time he said: “I give 1997.
you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved
you, so you also should love on another” (John 13:34).

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