In the third chapter, the main focus is being called to be like Jesus. We are taught in Matthew's Gospel about Jesus' life and teachings. We learn through Jesus how to live our lives in The Beatitudes. When Jesus says "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (MT 5:3), I think that being poor in spirit would be a difficult thing to do. However, some of The Beatitudes I could do easier, like beings merciful or a peacemaker. Jesus, also, had many other teachings, some harder than others. For example, when he said "When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the one to him as well" (MT 5:39), I think that that would be very hard to do since my first instinct would be to hit the person back.
B) Write about two major ideas you want to remember. Write a short paragraph on each clearly stating the idea and then telling why you want to remember it.
One thing that I would like to remember would be the temptations that Jesus had to go through. During the forty days Jesus was in the Desert, he was tempted three times by the devil. Each time he was tempted, he ignored the devil and did not do what he would say. I think that this story is very fitting in this time in our lives. In our high school lives, we will be tempted many times and we must act like Jesus and do the right thing.
The other thing that I want to remember would be The Beatitudes. When Jesus taught The Beatitudes, he taught us the way to live our lives. Being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, thirsty and hungry for righteousness, merciful, clean of heart, peaceful, or persecuted for righteousness we the eight way for us to live and be with God. In my opinion, some of those things seem easier than others, like being a peacemaker. I try to be a peacemaker everywhere whether it is with friends or with family. Other things like being mournful would be difficult. I don't like felling mournful and would choose otherwise.
C) One image that captures the chapter for you.
D) One significant question you have from this chapter. It can be intellectual or personal. Just write out the question. Try to answer it if you want.
How did Jesus get people to listen to him syaing the Sermon on the Mount and for what reason did they belive him?
E) Pick one organization working for social justice today. Describe the organization and what it does. Make sure to provide a link to its web site.
One organization that I found that works for social justice is the National Labor Committee (NLC). The National Labor Committee helps out the workers in many poor countries, who work for 12-14 hours for very little money. The NLC tries to exploit workforces that do this around the world and tries to defend these workers rights. In the last few years, this committee has help spread awareness of these problems to the media, has made companies to be modeled after, and has made many companies, Gap, Wal-Mart, the Walt Disney Company, and many others, raise their conditions to give their workers more rights.