t, and for this reason they persecute us. They convince themselves that they are better than we are, to avoid realizing that they should give up their old ways and be converted. If we’re not experiencing persecution, we’re not really living the Beatitudes. Questions for Reflection and Discussion 1. Name some of the contrasts between the world and Christianity; for example, lying versus honesty. How does the Christian way show purity of heart? 2. Tell the story of a time when you served as a peacemaker. (No names, please!) How did it reveal Jesus to the people with whom you dealt? If you saw that it made a difference in their spiritual lives, tell about that, too. 3. Describe a time when you were persecuted because of your relationship with God. Perhaps someone misunderstood your faith, or rejected you, or deliberately caused problems for you. Did you feel blessed by it? Did you feel closer or further from Jesus when it happened? Did you grow spiritually or did you loose some faith because of it? Why? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Matthew 5:13 - 16 “You are the salt of the earth.” The word “you” refers to any Christian—including you. What does it mean to be salt? Think about what salt does. It adds flavor to something that lacks sufficient taste. Jesus also says in verse 13, if someone loses his flavor, “with what can it be seasoned?” Reread that as “by whom can it be seasoned?” Only God can renew a flavor that has been lost. The Christian is someone who has been made flavorful—alive in holiness— by Christ. The useful Christian is one who evangelizes by adding the seasoning of Jesus’ love to another person’s life. But beware of trying too hard! What happens when food is over-salted? It tastes terrible; people don’t want to eat it. No matter how good our intentions may be, if we come on too stro...
