Gospel values

Gospel Values

Gospel values means the values lived and thought by Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel. Gospel means "good news" of salvation from suffering and sin (Isa 61:1) (Lk 4:16-18)  (Isa 35:4-6)   (Lk 7:22), and good news of God's love "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall have eternal life" (Jn3:16).

1. faith

Faith means belief in God (Mk 11: 22), belief in the transcendental, belief in reality of the soul, and belief in the religious dimension of life. Jesus teaches that if we have faith, miracle will happen in our lives (Lk 17: 19) (Mt 11:23). If we have faith we are saved from sin (Mk 2:5) and sorrow (Lk 7:50). We must have faith when we pray (Mk 11: 24) and when we are in temptation and in crisis (Mk 4: 39-40). Faith is the foundation of all other gospel values.

2. truth

Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"(Jn14:6). Life is a search for truth, truth of the world, of life, and of man. Jesus said "The truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32).  Those who do not uphold the truth are sons of devil, in whom there is no truth (Jn 8: 44).

3. reflection / prayer

Jesus taught us to reflect continuously. He taught us to value silence, tranquility (Lk 4: 42) and reflection in order to look for deeper meaning of all happenings (Lk 12:27; 2:51). Reflection leads to understanding (Mt 13:23) acceptance and action for the values until they bear fruits in many fold (Mk 4:20). Jesus continuously engaged himself in prayer (Lk 6:12; 22:39). He prayed intensely before engaging in important mission (Lk 5:16), in time of temptation (Mt 4:1) (Lk 22:46) and in critical moments (Mt 26: 36). He taught us to pray constantly (Lk 18:1-7).

4. conscience / discernment / courage

Jesus taught us to develop moral courage (Mt 5:30; 18:8), right conscience and discernment, to always choose the will of God, and to be firm in goodness (Lk 18:8), especially to time of thread (Mt 5:10; 24:10, 12-13). 

5. freedom

Jesus said "the truth will set you free"(Jn8:32). Real freedom is freedom from sin that enslaves us. We do our duty out of love, not fear (Jn 14:27) (Lk 5:10).

6. joy

Joy is the fruit of experience of God's love (Jn 16:22). Jesus taught us to live with joy, for our names are already written in heaven (Lk 10:20). Nothing can perturb us (Jn 14:1) because we are in the loving hands of God (Jn 17:13).

7. respect / dignity

Men are created in the image of God, hence children of God (Lk 20:36). Therefore human life is sacred. Jesus taught that every human being has the dignity of the children of God. Therefore we must respect ourselves and respect one another (Mt 10:29-31; 18:10).

8. humility

Jesus invites us to imitate him, "Learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart" (Mt 11:29)  These are his core teaching often stressed by him, "He who humbles himself, will be exalted" (Lk 14:11); "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth (Mt 5:5); " Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:4).

9. honesty / righteousness

Jesus expects that we become men of "new birth" (Jn 3:3), honest man (Mt5:37). New Creature is a man of righteousness, in whom there is nothing false (Jn1:47). Since we live in the presence of God, we always do what is right in the eyes of God (Lk 16:15). Jesus strongly condemned  hypocrisy (Mt 23:13-15; 15:7-8; 23:25). "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much (Lk 16:10). Honest and good heart will bear much fruit (Lk 8:15).

10. simplicity / sufficiency

Jesus lived a life of simplicity. He mingled with the ordinary, the poor. He welcomed all kinds of people, including children (Lk 18:16). He taught us to be free from worries, worries about what to eat and what to clothe, because Providence will take care of our lives (Lk 12:24-27) (Mt 6:32). The foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but Jesus has nowhere to lay His head (Mt 8:20).

11. love

Jesus taught us "agape", charity, true love. True love goes beyond sensuality. Unconditional love is not selfish, expects no return, extends to all without discrimination, and transcends above feeling. Love even enemies (Mt 5:43-45). The basic principle of love is "do to others what we want others do to us" (Mt 22:39). The higher principle of love is "love one another as God loves us" (Jn 15:12). Love is the end values that all other gospel values lead to.

12. compassion

Jesus lived a life of compassion. He is compassionate to all, the sick (Mt 20:34), the hungry, the suffering (Lk 7:13), and the underprivileged ( Mt 9:36). He is sensitive to the needs and feelings of the people (Jn 11:33). He taught us the compassionate God (Lk 15:20). He asked us to be compassionate as the Father in heaven is compassionate (Lk 6:36). He passionately narrated the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:33).

13. gratitude

Jesus praised the cured leper who came back to thank God (Lk 17:16-17). Jesus gave thanks to God at all times (Mt 15:36) (Lk 22:19) (Jn 11:41). He taught us to give thanks to God and to be grateful to those who do good to us (Lk 2:51). 

14. work / duty

Jesus taught us to see true value of work. "The laborer is worthy of his wages" ( Lk 10:7). God will repay every man according to his deeds (Mt 16:27). He said "My Father is working until now, and I too am working" (Jn 5:17). He also taught us that by our work God is honored (Mt 5:16) (Jn 15:8; 17:4). We should  remember that we must work for the food that remains to eternal life (Jn 6:27). We must exert every effort to enter through the narrow door into the kingdom of heaven (Lk 13:24).

15. service

Jesus came to not to be served but to serve (Mk10:45). he taught his disciples that He, who is God, served them, therefore they must serve one another (Jn 13:14). The superior must serve the inferior (Lk 22:26).

16. justice

Jesus taught us to seek justice for others before ourselves (Jn 8:7). Justice calls for openness to the needs of others (Lk 18:3), especially those who are inferior to us (Lk 16:19-21). 

17. peace / reconciliation

Jesus said "My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled" (Jn 14:27). Peace is the fruit of justice. We can spread peace in society by our good relationship to each other. (Lk 10:6) (Mt 5:9), and by avoidance of all kinds of violence. In time of conflict we are ready to take the first step to reconcile (Mt 5:24). Reconciliation is the result of respect and openness to dialogue.

18. forgiveness

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to God " forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us" (Mt 6:12). He narrated the parable of the father who forgave his prodigal son (Lk 15:11-24). Jesus forgave those who crucified him (Lk 23:34). Forgiveness can happen only when we learn to subside our anger and grudges (Mt 5:22). Our forgiving knows no limit as God's forgiveness has no limit (Lk 17:4).

19. unity / community

Jesus taught that all humans are brothers and sisters. All have the same Father in heaven (Mt 6:9) (Jn 10:30). We, therefore, have the duty to build up our community of brothers and sisters (Mk 3:35) in the strong bond of unity (Jn 15:12). Whether we are at home, school, or local community, we must actively contribute to the betterment of that community (Jn 13:35).

20. wonder / conservation

Jesus taught us to look at the beauty of nature, stars in heaven (Lk 10:20), birds in the air (Lk 12:24), flowers in the field (Lk 12:27), and see the glory of the Creator. Seeing the wonderment of nature, we are aware also of our duty, given by the Creator, to protect His creation (Mt 11:27). We exert all efforts to develop ecological awareness and environment conservation.

21. hope 

Hope has foundation on the promise of Jesus that He has come that we may have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10:10). He has come that we may have eternal life (Jn 3:15). Hope makes us patient and committed to the course of goodness. Hope helps us to be positive. We hope in God not in materials (Lk 6:35) (Mt 12:21). Hope is inspiration for perseverance in all other gospel values.