Mt 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The Beatitudes form the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, and the Sermon forms the heart of the New Testament. It is the heart of the teaching of Jesus. It is based on a blessedness even in the midst of things we might consider curses in this world alone. It represents the way of the cross and resurrection, the way of paradox that finds a greater truth in what the world might consider contradictions. The greek word for "blessed," is, "μακαριοσ makarios," (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off: — blessed, happy (x- ier). Barclay tells us in his well used commentary that this word is used of a particular Greek island. It stands as a symbol of a happiness that does not rise or fall with the seasons or storms in the waters around it. It bases its blessedness independently of the rising and falling of the rough or calm seas around it. Likewise with us. Our blessedness is not dependent on being wealthy in, or well thought of by the world. It is based on the wealth and acceptance that only comes from God. In fact, we find greater joy even in the midst of things that would cause us sorrow in this world without God. With God we are able to be rich or poor, accepted or rejected, and still retain our blessedness, our love, joy, and peace that only Jesus brings. Are we experiencing the blessings of God as preached by Jesus today?
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:34:55 +0000
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