This chapter contained the key idea that Jesus� teachings at the Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes, form the basis of Christianity. This idea is important for many reasons. The most obvious reason is that it would be important to know the teachings that formed Christianity. These teachings formed Christianity because it called Jesus� followers to change to have a new outlook on their lives and actions opposed to their old values, like �an eye for an eye�. This outlook caused people to change their legal ways of thinking into a more compassionate understanding. More importantly however, following the Beatitudes and Jesus� other teachings challenge us to be more like Him, by acting as how God expects us to live with one another. Jesus� teachings at the Sermon on the Mount challenged the old views of the Jewish community, but also continues to challenge the values of society today by calling us to be more like Him.
2) Two major ideas I want to remember.
The first of two important ideas that I want to remember is how the Christian Church broke off of Judaism. After Jesus� death, Jesus� followers were not known as Christians, but as simply another Jewish group. However, after the Jewish revolt against the Romans, the Pharisees excommunicated the Jewish-Christians for refusing to support the armed conflict. From that point on the Christians became their own religion. This is important to understand because it depicts an important stage in the forming of Christianity where the Christians begin to break off from Judaism.
The second idea I wish to remember is the similarity between the Sermon on the Mount and when Moses received the Ten Commandments. Both events occur when two new revolutionary leaders, Moses and Jesus, go on a mountain where a new law is brought forth. Jesus� new law was the Beatitudes while Moses� new law was the Ten Commandments. I want to remember this idea mainly because it is an important connection between the Old and New Testament I had never considered before.
3) An image that captures this chapter.
4) One significant question I have from this chapter
"What are some of the main differences between the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes?"
5)An organization that is living the Gospel in today's world.
I have chosen the Karen House Catholic Worker House as an organization that is living the Gospel today. Karen House is located in North St. Louis and it is an organization that houses homeless women and children. Although Karen House is small and has no official website it has continued to help the homeless get back on their feet for the past thirty years. Karen, the founder of Karen House, had given all her money, time, and effort toward the creation and managing of Karen House. By taking in the homeless, feeding them, clothing them, and caring for them, Karen House has been a perfect example of an organization that is living the Gospel in world today.
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