Catechesis Notes for the Week — Jesus’ Call, the Beatitudes, and His Teaching on Righteousness—Our walk through the Gospel of Matthew continues with Jesus’ Ministry and the Call of the Fishermen to be “fishers of men.” These men were called from their livelihood as fishers to be in fulltime ministry as Jesus’ Apostles. In Jesus’ ministry they observed the power of the divine Word that they were called to preach. Throughout their three years with Jesus, they would learn dependance upon Him. The Sermon on the Mount begins with The Beatitudes which are first a description of Jesus Himself, who is poor in spirit, meek, and merciful, and then a description of what we share in through faith in Him. Faith in Christ is poor in spirit, contrite, meek, merciful, pure in heart, and hungers and thirsts for righteousness. The promise of faith in Christ is that the kingdom of heaven is ours, we shall be comforted, and we shall be filled with righteousness. Every blessing of the Beatitudes is ours through faith in Christ. Christ’s Righteousness Fulfills the Law teaches us that every jot and tittle of the Law is fulfilled by Jesus. He is without sin, and He dies upon the cross to fulfill the Law’s demands for us. This is the righteousness that is “greater than the Scribes and Pharisees” and it is received by faith alone. To counter all notions of pharisaical self-righteousness, Jesus expounds upon You Shall Not Murder, You Shall Not Commit Adultery, and You Shall Not Give False Testimony by teaching us that violation of the Law involves more than the outward act of murder, adultery, or lying. It also involves the heart. Hatred is murder. Lust is adultery. And every deceptive misleading word is of the Evil One. Jesus’ righteousness, received by faith, covers our sin and brings forth the blessed fruits that are described in the Beatitudes. CP230604