1. Parables of the Kingdom Parable- a story that teaches a moral or religious lesson. Parables often use everyday events and objects to explain important truths. Parable- a story that teaches a moral or religious lesson. Parables often use everyday events and objects to explain important truths. Kingdom of God- God’s reign of peace, justice, and loce, initiated on earth by Jesus and reaching perfect fulfillment at the end of time. Kingdom of God- God’s reign of peace, justice, and loce, initiated on earth by Jesus and reaching perfect fulfillment at the end of time.

2. The Kingdom of God is like… A man who sows good seed. A man who sows good seed. A net thrown into the sea. A net thrown into the sea. A tiny mustard seed. A tiny mustard seed. A burried treasure. A burried treasure. A merchant searching for fine pearls. A merchant searching for fine pearls.

3. God’s Plan for his Kingdom The Church is the beginning of God’s kingdom. Only at the end of time will it be fully realized. The Church is the beginning of God’s kingdom. Only at the end of time will it be fully realized. Christ will come to judge how well we have served God and others. Christ will come to judge how well we have served God and others. Those who follow Christ will enjoy everlasting happiness. Those who follow Christ will enjoy everlasting happiness.

4. The Church, a Sign of God’s Kingdom Jesus is the head of the Church. He taught us how to treat others with love, compassion, and mercy. Jesus is the head of the Church. He taught us how to treat others with love, compassion, and mercy. As members of the Body of Christ, we are united to each other—we all work together to bring about the kingdom. As members of the Body of Christ, we are united to each other—we all work together to bring about the kingdom.

5. Covenants God created and sustanse the universe. God created and sustanse the universe. As a sign of his love, he made a covenant with Noah and his decendents, then with Abraham and his decendents. As a sign of his love, he made a covenant with Noah and his decendents, then with Abraham and his decendents. Through God’s covenant with Moses, God revield his law (the 10 Commandments). Through God’s covenant with Moses, God revield his law (the 10 Commandments). The covenant was fulfilled when God sent Jesus, who saved us from our sins. The covenant was fulfilled when God sent Jesus, who saved us from our sins.

6. A Marriage Blessing Marriage and the priesthood are ways we can live out our vocations. Marriage and the priesthood are ways we can live out our vocations. Holy orders allows a man to serve as a disciple, or follower of Christ. Holy orders allows a man to serve as a disciple, or follower of Christ. Men and women can also live out their vocations as Christ’s disciples through the sacrament of Matrimony. Men and women can also live out their vocations as Christ’s disciples through the sacrament of Matrimony.

7. A Loving Commitment In Marriage, a man and a woman make a lifelong commitment to love and respect one another. In Marriage, a man and a woman make a lifelong commitment to love and respect one another. To be joined together in the presence of Christ, the man and woman must freely choose to marry, promise to be faithful to each other, and to raise their children in a caring Christian environment. To be joined together in the presence of Christ, the man and woman must freely choose to marry, promise to be faithful to each other, and to raise their children in a caring Christian environment.

8. Holy Orders The Twelve were commissioned by Jesus to preach the Gospel and to bring God’s healing touch to others. The Twelve were commissioned by Jesus to preach the Gospel and to bring God’s healing touch to others. Men are called to lead and serve in the Church as decons, priests, and bishops. Men are called to lead and serve in the Church as decons, priests, and bishops. Without Holy Orders, the church as we know it could not exist. Without Holy Orders, the church as we know it could not exist.

9. Pope John Paul II Traveled to more countries in the world than any other pope. Traveled to more countries in the world than any other pope. Called for the writing of a new Catachism to summarize church teachings. Called for the writing of a new Catachism to summarize church teachings.