The Beatitudes in Jesus' Life
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CATECHIST RESOURCE The Beatitudes in Jesus’ Life 5–8 Luke 15 a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he The Parable of the Lost Sheep had freely spent everything, a severe famine The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing struck that country, and he found himself in near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the them he addressed this parable. “What man pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave among you having a hundred sheep and losing him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How one of them would not leave the ninety-nine many of my father’s hired workers have more in the desert and go after the lost one until he than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned arrival home, he calls together his friends and against heaven and against you. I no longer neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me deserve to be called your son; treat me as you because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he in just the same way there will be more joy in got up and went back to his father. While he heaven over one sinner who repents than over was still a long way off, his father caught sight ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran of repentance. to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against The Parable of the Lost Coin heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to “Or what woman having ten coins and losing be called your son.’ But his father ordered his one would not light a lamp and sweep the servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put house, searching carefully until she finds it? it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals And when she does find it, she calls together on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter her friends and neighbors and says to them, it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin this son of mine was dead, and has come to life that I lost.’ In just the same way, I tell you, there again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then will be rejoicing among the angels of God over the celebration began. Now the older son had one sinner who repents.” been out in the field and, on his way back, as he The Parable of the Lost Son neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the asked what this might mean. The servant said to younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father me the share of your estate that should come has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has to me.’ So the father divided the property him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and between them. After a few days, the younger when he refused to enter the house, his father son collected all his belongings and set off to came out and pleaded with him. He said to his 430 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, you never gave me even a young goat to feast on “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second with my friends. But when your son returns who time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He swallowed up your property with prostitutes, said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do everything I have is yours. But now we must you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and dead and has come to life again; he was lost and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you has been found.’” know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you Luke 19:1-10 were younger, you used to dress yourself and Zacchaeus the Tax Collector go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone He came to Jericho and intended to pass else will dress you and lead you where you do through the town. Now a man there named not want to go.” He said this signifying by what Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and kind of death he would glorify God. And when also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So Luke 23:33-34 he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in The Crucifixion order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked When they came to the place called the Skull, up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down they crucified him and the criminals there, one quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus And he came down quickly and received him said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what with joy. When they all saw this, they began they do.”] to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood Luke 23:39-43 there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save and if I have extorted anything from anyone I yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, to him, “Today salvation has come to this for you are subject to the same condemnation? house because this man too is a descendant of And indeed, we have been condemned justly, Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek for the sentence we received corresponds to and to save what was lost.” our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me John 21: 15-19 when you come into your kingdom.” He replied Jesus and Peter to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you SESSION 29: THE FIFTH THROUGH EIGHTH BEATITUDES 431.