Essay RE - 13:11
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Introduction Pope Francis emphasises the importance of the Beatitudes as a guide for Christian
holiness in the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate. He claims that these lessons,
which Jesus imparted at the Sermon on the Mount. These lessons are more commonly
known as the Beatitudes. They can function as a Christian's Identity Card and offer a
conclusive response to the question, "What must one do to be a good Christian?" In
addition, this essay will also explore the Popes cautions against the dangers of Gnosticism
and Pelagianism. Throughout this essay there will be several references being mentioned to
to emphasise points made. Overall, this essay is examining the profound meaning of the
Beatitudes and their significance in guiding a Christian’s everyday life and impact on society.
What is contemporary Gnosticism and Pelagianism? In contrast, what is holiness?
When someone's faith is wholly subjective and they are solely concerned in a
collection of concepts or seeking a particular experience to comfort or enlighten them, then
they are committing the heresy of Gnosticism (Pope Francis, 2018, Section 36). In the end, it
will keep them confined to their own emotions and ideas, because they assert that they are
intellectual beings apart from God, they also exhibit a low level of Christianity (O'Collins,
2009). Gnostics evaluate individuals based on their capacity to comprehend the details of
scriptures or teachings, rather than admirable attitudes or actions, they search for
intelligence (Van, 2013). These individuals can be any clergy member or layperson in a
parish, as well as theologians and philosophers. On the other hand, Pelagianism is a heresy
in which adherents prioritise their own volition and human accomplishment over Christian
explanations (Pope Francis, 2018, Section 47). They trust their own because they want to be
in power, to experience a sense of superiority over God. They will nevertheless make
commitments to beliefs and guidelines. Although it can be difficult to see at times,
Pelagianism take satisfaction in their own work because they still believe that God's favour is
present in them. They will mistakenly believe that by talking about grace, one can have a
happy life. However, it will still be clear that they support people having control over God in
their lives because their understanding is biased. In comparison, Christianity defines holiness as the quality of being pure in moral and
spiritual matters (Pope Francis, 2018, Section 3). It is living in the image of the qualities that
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the Holy God expresses through scripture and teachings. The Bible underlines that to be
cleansed and changed into the likeness of Christ, Christians must pursue purity (Pope
Francis, 2018, Section 3). This is living a morally and ethically upright life, abstaining from sin,
and following God's commands. The movement of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers
facilitates a lifelong process called as cleansing—growing in faith and obedience Pope
Francis, 2018, Section 3). It is a key idea in Christianity, highlighting the close relationship
between the divine and human, and Christians strive to represent God's holiness in their
relationships, ideas, and deeds. Translate the beatitudes into a “Christian Identity Card”, a summary or creed of what it
means to live a life of holiness, goodness, and reflection.
The Beatitudes are statements spoken by Jesus; specifically, he lists eight blessings in
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 16:19–21) and four in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke
16–17) (Kirby, 2019). In Christian theology and practise, Jesus' Beatitudes from the Sermon
on the Mount have multiple uses. First of all, they provide moral guidance, providing a
structure for good deeds and virtue (Kirby, 2019). These lessons serve as a spiritual road
map, showing the development of values and attitudes that result in a changed and
Christlike image. The Beatitudes highlight virtues like humility, mercy, and righteousness and
show us what the Kingdom of God is all about (Kirby, 2019). Furthermore, these lessons
emphasise principles that go against norms and challenge social conventions, sending an
alternative message. They operate as an encouragement for Christians to actively live out
these values daily. The Beatitudes offer consolation and hope to those who are experiencing
hardship by reassuring them of God's comfort and presence.
A modern take of the Beatitudes which were expressed by Jesus Christ in the Sermon
on the Mount will be rephrased into a summary so they can be more applicable to the
younger generation. Refer to figure 1 to see the reworded Beatitudes and a short summary
of what each is promoting.
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Figure 1 Modernised Beatitudes and Meaning Blessed are those who admit they need help in difficult times, for they will discover a supportive network. That admitting that needing help is a strength and should not be seen as a weakness. Blessed are the merciful, for they will alleviate suffering around the world and promote empathy in all their dealings
Those who show mercy help global suffering, fostering empathy. It emphasises compassionate action and a positive impact
on a global scale.
Blessed are those who live transparent and authentic lives, for they will foster mutual respect and understanding. Being authentically yourself will put you in a
position to meet and interact with people who respect you mutually and allow you the chance to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
justice in a world filled with inequality, they will be the catalysts for positive change.
Justice seekers in unequal world will help start positive movements around them. Blessed are who work towards equality, for they will forge connections in a divided world. Those people who often try and change the
inequality in the world will have a positive effect on the people around them and their environment
Blessed are those who honour forgiveness, for they will enjoy the freedom that comes with not holding grudges. Being able to give people and communities will live a much lighter and happier life.
Blessed are those who are self-aware and reflective of their actions, for they will always be working on their connection and deepen their spiritual awareness. Having the ability to reflect on one’s actions
and acknowledge or change them will allow
for more meaningful connections with people around them and Jesus Christ
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Blessed are those who thrive in the face of challenges, for they will be able to face all kinds of diversity in their lives.
Being able to work through challenging times, will encourage and inspire you to be able to face adversity in everyday tasks
Discuss which two beatitudes especially appeal to you. Discuss then the relevance of
Christian identity, the beatitudes and holiness in the classroom and/or society. The first Beatitude that appeals to me is ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be
shown mercy’ (Matthew 16:19–21). This Beatitude encourages having an empathetic and
understanding attitude towards other people and students (Kirby, 2019). Recognising that
our own acts of kindness contribute to the compassion we get, it urges us to show kindness
and empathy even in difficult situations. To embody this Beatitude, one must deliberately
practise acts of kindness, develop empathy for others, and develop a heart that mirrors
God's compassion. It emphasises how mercy is reciprocal, when we are kind to others, we
make room for kindness to come back to us. To create a life that reflects the divine attributes
of love and compassion, we should follow this Beatitude as we navigate relationships with
an attitude of generosity, forgiveness, and sincere care for the welfare of others, both in and
outside of the classroom (Kirby, 2019).
The second Beatitude that will be appealed to me is ‘Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God’ (Matthew 16:19–21). This idea emphasises how important it is to
develop authenticity and to demonstrate this trait to students. To live according to this
Beatitude, one must keep their heart pure and align their motives with goodness and
righteousness, free from deception, selfishness, and impurity (Witherup, 2015). It entails
reflection to clarify motives and cultivate an authentic and open personality. A pure heart
facilitates a deep spiritual connection and improves one's capacity to perceive and
experience the divine, according to the promise of seeing God. It takes moral integrity,
genuineness, and a dedication to ethical life to live out this Beatitude (Witherup, 2015). It
leads people to pursue an open existence, in which one's heart's inner purity symbolises a
closer relationship with the divine and supports a comprehensive path of spiritual
development (Witherup, 2015).
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Conclusion Overall, this essay has explored in detail the cautions of contemporary Gnosticism
and Pelagianism and how that compares to holiness through the lens of Christianity. The
essay then looked at the Beatitudes, what they are and the specific purpose of them. The
Beatitudes have an important place in society, however as they were stated a long time ago,
some of the younger generation may struggle to find the message in each, therefore in
figure 1, I have rephrased them to related to the contemporary viewers. Finally, this essay
discussed the two beatitudes that appealed the most to me and how they may be applied to
teaching and the education of students. Throughout this essay, there has been reference to
several resources that support the ideas mentioned. In summary, this essay is exploring how
Christians can live in the image and likeness of Christ.
Overall, this essay has explored in detail the cautions of contemporary Gnosticism and
Pelagianism and how that compares to holiness through the lens of Christianity. The essay
then looked at the Beatitudes, what they are and the specific purpose of them. The
Beatitudes have an important place in society, however as they were stated a long time ago,
some of the younger generation may struggle to find the message in each, therefore in
figure 1, I have rephrased them to related to the contemporary viewers. Finally, this essay
discussed the two beatitudes that appealed the most to me and how they may be applied to
teaching and the education of students. Throughout this essay, there has been reference to
several resources that support the ideas mentioned. In summary, this essay is exploring how
Christians can live in the image and likeness of Christ.
ideas mentioned. In summary, this essay is exploring how Christians can live in the image
and likeness of Christ.
ideas mentioned. In summary, this essay is exploring how Christians can live in the image
and likeness of Christ.
ideas mentioned. In summary, this essay is exploring how Christians can live in the image
and likeness of Christ.
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References Kirby, Jeffrey. “The Depth of the Beatitudes: Christ Spells out the Path to Holiness,
Happiness in Matthew 5.” The Priest
75, no. 4 (April 2019): 40–44.
Pope Francis (2018). Gaudete et Exsultate
. Retrieved from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-
francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html
Witherup, R. D. (2015). The Beatitudes in Matthew: They serve well to direct us
toward the Kingdom of God. The Priest, 71(2), 42.
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