Meekness & Hunger for Righteousness

OBJECTIVE

In this module, students will gain a deep understanding of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the eight Beatitudes as instructions on how to live a Christian life to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. In each week, we will focus on two Beatitudes and discuss what they are, what they are NOT, the reward, examples, and applications for seventh graders. Week 1 will focus on Poor in Spirit, and those who Mourn. Week 2 will cover Meekness and Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness. Week 3 will focus on Merciful and Pure in Heart, and week 4 will cover Peacemakers and Those who are Persecuted.

INTRODUCTION - 7 Minutes

Refer to week 1- Review with the students the following points:

  • When was the Sermon on the Mount given?
  • What are the Beatitudes and how many are there?
  • What does the word Beatitude mean?
  • Review the 2 previous Beatitudes.
  • Ask students to report back on how they had applied the first two beatitudes during the past week.

This week's lesson will focus on the next two of the Beatitudes:

  • Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Read Matthew 5:1-12

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 25 Minutes

In this section, we will go through what the beatitude is, is not, the reward, followed by examples. Servants may have the students write each point in a chart for comparison.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

What does it mean to be meek?

  • Being "gentle and lowly in heart"
    • "Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart" Matt 11:29
  • Calm tempered - both internally and externally
  • Voice is neither sharp nor loud
  • Likes to please all people and maintain a good relationship with them
    • Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
  • Selfless
  • Tend be to silent

What is NOT meek?

  • Just being introverted
  • Being defensive. Those who are meek do not force their opinions on others BUT are always ready to defend the faith.
  • Being spiteful. A meek person is not vindictive and does not want anyone to be harmed because of them.
  • Coldhearted
  • Selfish & Self-absorbed
  • Ignorant
  • They are not push-overs that cannot say no, they have the ability to say no, but choose to say yes.

REWARD: Will inherit the earth

  • A person who is meek will not only win the heavenly inheritance, but they will also win people over on earth.
    • Because a meek person wishes to win a person's affection, this is why they will inherit the earth. They will calmly acquire people's love on earth and win heaven as well.
  • A meek person inherits both this earth and the new one:
    • They will win both earth and heaven together: both the blessings of those who live on this earth, and the companionship of those who have departed this life

Example:

  • Saint Athanasius
    • St. Athanasius was meek and humble, but strong as a diamond in defense of the Faith. (Refer to point about defending the faith). He won over many people with his calm, steadfast demeanor.
  • Moses
    • "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3
    • Moses both became the leader of all the Israelites and was highly favored by God.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled

What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?

  • Someone who longs for God because there is nothing more righteous than to be in love with God
  • Eager to be with God
  • A constant desire and craving for God.
    • For example, a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness doesn't go to the House of God merely out of habit or spiritual duty, but because their soul longs to be with him and partake of His sacraments "My soul longs, yes, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Ps. 84:2

What is NOT being hungry and thirsty for righteousness?

  • Physical hunger or thirst
  • One who is filled with worldly affairs

REWARD: They will be filled

  • God is always waiting to fill our hearts the moment we allow Him in
  • Filled with love and the joy of God's companionship
  • Being filled with God actually even helps us not feel physically hungry and thirsty, like during fasting

Example:

  • Monasticism - (e.g., St. Anthony and St. Macarius)
    • Monks are examples of people whose hunger and thirst for God was so strong that they wished to completely detach themselves from the world to be filled with only Him.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

  • Emphasize the concept that those who are meek detach themselves from worldly debates and discussions, but are always ready to defend the faith. They are not pushovers or ignorant.
  • Emphasize that meekness is based on wisdom and gentleness, and is not to be confused with WEAKNESS. One who is meek is not passive, but wisely chooses to refrain from engaging in futile discussions.
  • Draw parallels to "hunger and thirst" and Jesus being the "living water and bread of life"
  • Discuss society's focus on indulgence and how it only provides temporary satisfaction.

APPLICATION (Action) - 5 Minutes

  • What practical benefits do you think a meek person would have?
    • E.g., more positive relationships, etc.
  • What are some indulgences that we are always tempted with?

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

Our society today is all about indulgence. Society is filled with endless debates on meaningless topics (e.g., people engaging in long arguments on social media like "comment wars"). Emphasize the importance of shielding oneself from worldly indulgences. Not only do these indulgences separate us from God, but they can also have negative physical consequences on earth (e.g., overindulging in food, smoking, alcohol, sexuality, etc).

ACTIVITY - 15 Minutes

Water activity

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate what it looks like when we try to live life apart from God.

  • Have students read Jeremiah 2:13: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
  • Place a small tub or bowl on the table, along with a pitcher or large container of water (Optional: add food coloring to water).
  • Hold up a clear plastic cup that has several holes cut out of the bottom. This cup represents what our lives look like when we try to live our lives without submitting to God. This water in the pitcher represents the blessings and good things God wants to give us.
  • Hold the cup over the bowl or baking dish and slowly pour the water into the cup. It should very quickly drain out of the bottom, like a colander. This is what Jeremiah 2:13 means by broken cisterns. Like this cup can't do its job with holes in it, we can't do our job without God in us. We may try, but we will soon find that we are empty, hungry, and thirsty.

Living the Beatitudes

Continue filling in the "Living the Beatitudes" chart for the two covered this week. Remind the students that the following week they will be asked to report back on how they attempted to apply this week's Beatitudes.

RESOURCES

Contemplations on the Sermon on the Mount, by H.H. Pope Shenouda III

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 7 Week 2 Activity (Spirituality).pdf