Seeing the Face of Christ in our World--Sunday, April 1

Matthew 5:1-10

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
⁸"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

That’s a lot of blessings!  Called “The Beatitudes”, they are beautiful yet their meanings can be unclear. The bible has been translated into English and many languages and then revised many times.  If I wanted to know the deep meaning ofthese blessings, I could think and pray and think some more, and Lent would be over before I could figure it all out.  So I went to a higher authority, (no, not that one!) a reference book, Willmington’s Bible Handbook for answers.  A biblical scholar, he suggests the following meanings:

They are eight sayings that speak of blessings or happiness.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said genuine happinesscomes when you….

1.       recognize your need for God

2.       mourn over your sin

3.       Submit to divine authority

4.       desire justice or righteousness

5.       show mercy

6.       maintain a pure heart

7.       work for peace

8.       rejoice in the face of persecution

This pretty much works for me, and I can wrap my mind around them.  Yet questions remain:

Do you agree with these meanings?  If not, which ones and why?

Which one do you think would be the easiest for you to do?  (for me it is #1, a universal need)

Which would be the most difficult to do?  (Definitely #8, only for the brave)

In today’s world, do these blessings help or hinder our dealings with other peoples or countries?

With so many different beliefs in the world, can we truly reach others on common ground and still keep our Christian beliefs?

OK folks, let’s hear your questions and comments!

Jody Gache