Jesus teaches his followers by offering a series of blessings. The people whom Jesus describes as blessed are certainly not considered so by the rest of the world. Is Jesus redefining what it means to be blessed?

Jesus redefines the word neighbor in a most peculiar and challenging way. Can that person who is wrong about every belief and action in their lives really be my neighbor? How can that be, Jesus?

Those who are truly great among the followers of Jesus will be nothing like the great among the Gentiles. Those who follow Jesus find their greatness in serving others, "Doing small things with great love," to quote Mother Teresa. Would that describe us and those who are considered great among us?

Notice the word "fruit" is singular. If we are not producing all of the fruit of the spirit that St. Paul names here then what are we producing?

Everyone in the world is gifted. Can we help people recognize those gifts and offer them to God by serving God's people? Is this true spiritual formation? If so, how are we forming each other in the faith?

The good religious people foreclose on the houses of widows (the poorest of the poor) while saying beautiful prayers. A widow gives everything to God while other only give a small portion. Who is pleasing to God in this picture?