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The Beatitudes and Moral Choices

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The Beatitudes and Moral Choices The Beatitudes and Moral Choices LESSON OVERVIEW Overview Jesus’ central moral discourse begins with Connection to the those famous paradoxical promises, the Catechism Beatitudes, directing the human pursuit of happiness. In the modern era, many have ӹ CCC 580 come to view the world as a subjective ӹ CCC 1716 assembly of events and ideas in which ӹ CCC 1722 there is no universal or objective reality, ӹ CCC 1723 and happiness has been relegated to the ӹ CCC 2053 eyes of the beholder. But happiness is not simply a sentiment; instead, happiness is a Essential Questions conscious decision to will the good of the Are happiness and other over self. Jesus’ love is demonstrated ӹ goodness different? Are in this: “I have told you this so that my they compatible? joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love ӹ Is Christianity simply one another as I love you. No one has a religion that aims to greater love than this, to lay down one’s life help individuals justify for one’s friends.” sadness, rejection, and injustice? ӹ Why is the human heart the central battleground Grade Level between good and evil? HS ӹ What did Jesus do to become victorious, and how is that victory Time ongoing? One fifty-minute class BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES Do not think that I have come to abolish the law Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but the fulfillment of the law. to fulfill. ROMANS 13:10 MATTHEW 5:17 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 147 The Last Judgment BY MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (C. 1536-1541) Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Last Judgment (1536-1541), fresco, Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes The Beatitudes and Moral Choices The Last Judgment, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (c. 1536-1541) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Where can you see this work of art? How long did it take Michelangelo to complete it? 2. Who is the central figure of this masterpiece? What does He seem to be doing with His hands? 3. What is the main contrast you see in this fresco? What are the two kinds of souls, and what is happening to them? 4. Is it possible to understand some truth from this painting even without knowing who all the people are, or what exactly is happening in every part of the painting? If so, what is that truth? 5. This fresco is on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. It is huge — 44 feet by 39 feet, or almost four stories tall. Imagine yourself viewing it in real life, amid the incense, candles, and softly murmured prayers in the chapel. How do you think the scale of the work of art would affect you? 6. The walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are almost entirely covered with beautiful frescoes. You have to crane your neck to see all of them, and even use binoculars to see all the details. They took many years to complete at great expense. Why would the Church go through all that trouble? 7. Look for figures/scenes including the ones below. How do they add to the meaning of this work? ӹ The Virgin Mary ӹ Charon ӹ Sts. Peter and Paul ӹ King Minos ӹ Scenes from Christ’s Passion © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 149 HS Lesson Plan Materials Background/Homework ӹ Background Essay: The Read the Background Essay and answer the questions. Beatitudes and Moral Choices ӹ Handout A: Statements Warm-Up 15 minutes from the Sermon on the A. Read aloud together paragraphs 1716, 1722, and 1723 Mount. from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and/or Psalm 51. B. Write the following questions on the board, and have students choose one and write a brief journal response. ӹ What is the Christian portrait or ultimate illustration of happiness? ӹ Are happiness and goodness different? Are they compatible? ӹ How did the Old Law prepare the way for the New Law? ӹ Did the New Law eradicate or abolish the Old Law? Or, does the New Law perfect and complete the Old Law? C. Ask a few students to share their responses, and lead discussion toward the way Jesus fulfills and perfects the Old Law. “In Jesus, the Law no longer appears engraved on tables of stone but ‘upon the heart’ of the Servant who becomes ‘a covenant to the people,’ because he will ‘faithfully bring forth justice’” (CCC 580). 150 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Activity 30 minutes A. Distribute Handout A: Statements from the Sermon on the Mount. Have students complete it individually or in pairs. Reconvene the class for students to share responses. Discussion Questions 15-20 minutes ӹ What is the connection between the Beatitudes and the Crucifixion? ӹ Why does the Crucifixion illustrate true joy? ӹ Why are the Beatitudes more realistic than unrealistic? ӹ Is Christianity simply a religion that aims to help individuals justify sadness, rejection, and injustice? ӹ Is non-violence the only answer to injustice? ӹ Why is the human heart the central battleground between good and evil? What did Jesus do to become victorious, and how is that victory ongoing? Wrap-Up 5 minutes Ask groups to write down 3 summary statements based on the classroom activities and discussion, and share them with the class. Statements should capture the idea that in Jesus Christ, love is the fulfillment of the law. Enrichment Option St. Ireneus pronounced, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Have students write a 100-word essay in response to the questions: Is it impossible or unrealistic to live out the Beatitudes in order to pursue true goodness? Student responses should mention at least 3 of the main ideas discussed in the lesson. © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 151 BACKGROUND ESSAY The Beatitudes and Moral Choices In December of 2006, Will Smith starred in a film he co-produced entitled “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Chris Garnder (Will Smith), a San Franciscan salesman, struggles mightily to support his son. His girlfriend abruptly leaves, and shortly thereafter Chris and his son Christopher Jr. (Jaden Smith) are evicted from their apartment. Chris cannot find meaningful or financially stable employment, leaving him and his son to stay in homeless shelters and eventually in the bathroom of a metro station. He ultimately lands a position as an intern at a highly competitive stockbroker firm, although still receiving no compensation or salary. Chris rises to become a Wall Street legend but not before he faces losing everything, including his beloved and trusting son. We Are Hard-Wired for Inward Joy The Transfiguration, Raphael. There is an element of the plot line that is universally and inherently attractive to the love shared between the two is the only human spirit. A father nearly forfeits every source of hope as they search for a snippet material achievement to build a stable of steadiness. foundation for his family. He unexpectedly pursues a seemingly senseless unpaid The movie wrenches the human heart internship just so he can crack a door for all of the aforementioned reasons. that could potentially open to lasting But why are humans naturally attracted financial security. In the process, the to stories that illustrate sacrifice and the father descends to such a deprived worldly relentless search for joy? Why does the life position that he cannot even provide a of Chris Gardner tug at the very core of roof for his son. Setback after setback, and the human person? How is it that so-called the father never loses sight of the prize: success stories are more appealing when happiness for his son. The unconditional suffering is co-mingled with absolute love, 152 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS even when the suffering experienced is Moses was called to be God’s chosen the direct result of an almost inescapable instrument to liberate the Israelites from injustice? Maybe Jesus wasn’t totally off his slavery. Shortly after departing Egypt, rocker when he stated, “Blessed are the Moses ascends Mt. Sinai; there God decides poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of to enter into a unique covenant with the heaven.” The radicalism of the beatitudes people of Israel. Now that the Israelites isn’t so impossible if we consider the were free, God anticipated the need for intrigue and unmistakable attractiveness of direction, purpose, and security from false Chris Gardner. The human person is in fact influences. Thus, Moses descended the hard-wired for inward joy, and even though mountain prepared to finalize the covenant injustices forever impede our path toward between God and Israel; but first, the lasting happiness, life is worth living and Israelites had to consent to God’s plan. the pursuit remains possible. The Ten Commandments were given Jesus did not simply preach, “Do unto to Moses on top of Mount Sinai. Moses others as you would have them do unto is pictured as a lawgiver, although the you.” It is commonplace for moderns to directives were received from God. These reduce morality to an absolute rule or directives are famously recorded on stone universal principle that can be applied at all tablets. These biblical motifs are essential times. It is equally as common for moderns if we are to understand Jesus’ moral to believe that “it depends on the situation” teaching.
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