Blog Post #6: The Beatitudes

Blog Post #6: The Beatitudes

A Written Response By Lily Jeffs

1. What were new things you learned about the Beatitudes?

As someone who isn't very knowledgeable about the religion of Christianity, I learned many new things about what the Beatitudes are and what role they play within the lives of the followers of Christ throughout this unit of Living The Gospel. With this, I learned that the Beatitudes are eight blessings recounted by Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount within the Gospel of Matthew that act as a primary list of the things one should do under God. The first Beatitude is "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" that defines as those who are compassionate will receive blessings in return for their work. The second Beatitude is "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth" that means those who are humble will be given the acceptance to make the world a better place. The third Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" that defines as those who are upset will be healed once uplifted by Heaven and God. The fourth Beatitude is "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled" that means those strive for honor through a great passion they hold will be given success later on as a result of this work. The fifth Beatitude is "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God" that defines as those who are respectful with others will be honored for their ways of acting in God’s name. The sixth Beatitude is "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted" that means those have suffered will be cared for and loved by others to make up for this loss. The seventh Beatitude is "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God" that defines as those who are greatly connected to God and are kind and loving to others will later be embraced by his soul and those around them. The eighth Beatitude is "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" that means those who are challenged for what they believe in will have God and others that they love to support them in return. All in all, learning more about what the eight Beatitudes are allowed me to incorporate them more into my day - to - day life as well as this enhancing my relationship with God as a whole. To illustrate this, an image is shown below in which Jesus is preaching the Beatitudes on the Sermon on the Mount to others that ultimately allows his message to be spread and for this group to later make the world a better place.

2. Which Beatitude resonates with you the most and why?

When reflecting on the eight Beatitudes and how they define as, the Beatitude that states "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" resonates with myself the most.  This specific Beatitude means that those strive for honor through a great passion they hold will be given success later on as a result of this work. This greatly relates to my life in which I am always wanting to do the best I can within activities both in and out of school and hope that this hard work will pay off when being admitting into colleges and later having a career. Apart from just wanting to be successful within my own life, when with others, I hold a great passion for what I believe in. With this, if one is disrespectful to others, then I notify them by telling them what they did wrong and how they should instead treat people. All in all, the devotion I hold for the things I love allow me to be successful in life in which I consequently hope that the hard work found within this will be contributed as a result of this adherence. An image that illustrates this Beatitude and the resonation it holds with myself is shown below in which a group of people are similarly striving for their goals in life using the power developed from what they are passionate for. 

3. What were some things you realized during the class discussion?

Many different thoughts and ideas were brought up during the class discussion about what each of the Beatitudes meant and how we can use them within our day - to - day life. Specifically with the Beatitude that states "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God," at first I had trouble defining this and only thought that it meant that those who are caring and welcoming to others will be fully embraced by God's love in return. After speaking about this Beatitude with my classmates, I was also told that this can be incorporated within the relationship we hold with God in which those who are fully devoted to this figure will later be given the opportunity to become closer with him at a spiritual level. Apart from just learning new things from the class discussion relating to a specific Beatitude, as a whole, I realized that although I don't consistently follow the religion of Christianity, I can still use these as a way to guide myself into a successful and positive adulthood. The class discussion ultimately allowed myself and others to further our knowledge about what the Beatitudes are within Christianity and how we can incorporate them within our relationship with God and each other. To illustrate the concepts spoken about within the class discussion, an image is shown below in which the major theme found within the Beatitudes and our life is the love we hold with God and the world around ourselves.

4. How can you display the Beatitudes more in your life?

After learning many different things about what the Beatitudes are and how they relate to myself, I can greatly display them within my own life. Although I am not an avid follower of Christianity, these blessings can be used when I am with others as well as when I am wanting to strengthen my relationship with God and strive for success. Specific actions include caring for and respecting those that go to school with me, especially when they are in need of help as well as holding a great passion for what I believe in such as gender rights within sports. This will consequently allow me to live a happy and stronger life within the arms of God and my family. Other ways that I can display the Beatitudes more in my life is when I spend time with my grand parents in which I will always treat them with love and respect to follow the blessings God has given me as well as being humble when receiving awards such as doing well on a math test. Conclusively, the lesson based on the Beatitudes has allowed me to relate this major part of Christianity into my life within the modern day as well as strengthen the relations I hold with Jesus and others I have met within my current life. To illustrate this, an image is shown below in which one hand represents myself and the other represents those that I love or meet that expresses the comprehensive theme of compassion, respect, and honor found throughout all of the eight Beatitudes.

Works Cited

“The Sermon on the Mount - Jesus Preaches to the Multitudes.” Educational Technology 

Clearinghouse, etc.usf.edu/clipart/187800/187856/187856-the-sermon-on-the-mount-jesus.htm.

Front View Fist Men Reaching Pictures, Images and Stock Photos - IStock, www.istockphoto.com/photos/front-view-fist-men-reaching?excludenudity=true&sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=front%2Bview%2Bfist%2Bmen%2Breaching.

“Cross Heart Jesus God Heart Love Graphics Design SVG DXF PNG Vector Art Clipart Instant Download Digital Cut Print Files Cricut Silhouette.” Zibbet, www.zibbet.com/vectordesign/cross-heart-jesus-god-heart-love-graphics-design-svg-dxf-png-vector-art-clipart-instant-download-digital-cut-print-files-cricut-silhouette.

Two Hands Holding a Heart Icon – Free Icons Download, www.free-icons-download.net/two-hands-holding-a-heart-icon-85798/.

Blog Post #5: Parables

Blog Post #5: Parables

A Written Response By Lily Jeffs

1. What specific things did you learn from your group's parable?

When reflecting on my group's parable, I learned many different things within this religious subject. Specifically, I learned that the story was set during a time in which beggars were mistreated in which this evidently happens to one of the story's protagonists known as Lazarus. After the rich man noticed him, he ignored Lazarus as it was found during this time that the rich would not go near the poor or the sick due to them being thought of as an untouchable. When reflecting on this story, it has taught myself as a reader that the moral of this parable shows that wealth doesn’t fully determine if one goes to heaven or not, and is instead controlled by how much kindness and love they hold for themselves and others. With this, the rich man lived a luxury life with the finest clothing and food soon realized that he was being sent to Hell while Lazarus, the poor beggar who just wanted some of the rich man’s food, was sent to Heaven. I can ultimately incorporate this parable into my life when I see others in need in which I can assist them through acts such as giving them food or clothes so we can both live a happier life later on within God's love that he holds for both of us. One image that evidently reflects my learning experience with The Rich Man and Lazarus is shown below in which the rich man is shown ignoring Lazarus, causing him to later suffer the consequences once he dies.

2. What specific things did you learn from the parables that were presented by the other groups?

As someone who previously wasn't very knowledgable about the religion of Christianity, after completing this project, I learned many new things about the parables found within the Bible that were presented by my classmates. With this, I learned that The Prodigal Son is a story written between 70 - 80 A.D and is about two sons in which the young son is given an early inheritance by his father that allows him to move out and gain a new sense of independence while his older sibling has to stay home and work for his father. This story taught me that we should never doubt or underestimate God and should instead fully love him. Apart from just this parable, I also learned about the Laborers in the Vineyard in which people who worked for different amounts of hours were being payed the same amounts, causing those who worked longer to become upset with their manager. When reflecting on this, it is shown to readers that loyalty is given to all and shouldn't be based on time but should instead be based on presence. Another parable I learned about during these presentations was the Parable of the Sower where Jesus sits out on a boat with a large group of people and tells them the story of a sower whose seeds are either lost, fall on a path, on rocky ground, or placed among thorns until some of them fall on good earth and eventually grow. Within the parable's lesson in which God has a path for everyone, this can be greatly used within my personal life when I am put in certain situations that don't immediately go as planned but eventually occur through the story's message that everything happens for a reason. The last parable I learned about was the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant where a servant is unable to pay off one of his debts to the king so he is exempt, yet later this servant forces another servant to pay off a debt yet they are unable to, causing the king to make this servant pay off the debt he was originally exempt from. Conclusively, all four of these parables play a major role within the Bible through their different morals and plots shown to modern day readers. One image that evidently reflects my learning experience with these presentations is shown below in which Jesus is spreading God's word to people across the world, including the numerous major characters found within these parables. 

3. Which moral/lesson impacted you the most and why?

One moral that impacted me the most was that God has a path for us that will take time but can later lead to the desired success and happiness we want in life. This lesson was specifically found within the Parable of the Sower. I can incorporate this within my life outside of this story through situations such as not getting into a college I really wanted to be accepted into, yet knowing that everything happens for a reason and that this college most likely wouldn't of worked out for me due to God's plan. A more current event that relates to the Parable of the Sower is when I am trying new activities such as a sport and I don't do well but later find a different activity that I fully enjoy as a result of God guiding me to success and happiness within life. This particular piece of knowledge where everything happens for a reason ultimately plays a major role within life through different emotional situations of those who follow Christianity as well as those who do not. One image that evidently reflects my learning experience with this moral is shown below in which God is an almighty figure that plays a major role within my life as well as many others where he guides us through life as we grow and learn. 

4. What do you think it would be like if Jesus were physically in our society today?

If Jesus were physically in our society today, then there would be a greater positive and religious influence throughout the current world. With this, Jesus and God's message would be able to further spread and change many different people's lives. The religion of Christianity would also gain many more followers from diverse areas across the world. Although Jesus' presence would have a beneficial impact on society, others following different religions may become upset due to him being so powerful compared to those that they worship. This could consequently lead to a repeat in violence as shown when Pontius Pilate orders to crucify Jesus. With saying this, Jesus' physical existence could positively effect my life in which I would be given the opportunity to speak with him in real life and though roughly learn more about Christianity from a figure who plays a major role within this specific religion and contact him when I am in need of help. One image that evidently reflects the act of Jesus physically living in our society today is shown below in which Jesus is shown completing a modern day action of walking on the beach whilst preparing to meet with those who need healing.

Works Cited

Brown, Jan. Color Walking on Water, www.zionmilaca.org/ColorWater.html. 


November 7, 2013 · by Jack Scanlan · in Religion, Skepticism. “Question of the Week: Proving/​Disproving the Existence of God.” Young Australian Skeptics, youngausskeptics.com/2013/11/question-of-the-week-provingdisproving-the-existence-of-god/.

“Resurrected Christ Appears to the People | Easter Clipart.” ShareFaith, www.sharefaith.com/image/resurrected-christ-appears-to-the-people.html.


stlukeskck@gmail.com. “‘Use Unjust Money to Make Friends’ | Luke 16:1-31.” St Luke's Lutheran Church, 21 Feb. 2016, stlukeskck.org/2016/02/21/use-unjust-money-to-make-friends-luke-161-31/.