Jesus' Sermon on the Mount begins with the "beatitudes" (Matthew 5:1-12). Here the dominant attitudes of society are contrasted with the realm of God.
Dominant Attitudes of Society
1. Blessed are those who have all the answers.
2. Blessed are those who can insulate themselves from suffering.
3. Blessed are those who can gain control and power over others.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the accumulation of possessions.
5. Blessed are those who deal harshly with offenders.
6. Blessed are those who try to please everybody.
7. Blessed are those who prevail in battle.
8. Blessed are those who live in comfort and avoid controversy.
The Beatitudes of Jesus
1. Blessed are those who know their spiritual need.
2. Blessed are those who can feel hurt in themselves and in their world.
3. Blessed are the humble who see truth and compassion as power.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God's realm of justice.
5. Blessed are those who extend mercy for all.
6. Blessed are those who speak and live honestly.
7. Blessed are those who make peace.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for following in Jesus' footsteps.
Those who hear and live out the beatitudes of Jesus are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. --Matthew 5:13-16
(Thanks to Peter Ediger and the Pace e Bene Center)
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2 comments:
Last night I saw on CBS News a report by Bob Woodward about our military that are coming home with Post-traumatic stress disorder only to be told by military doctors that they don't have it or just given medication and sent back to the war. I ask myself, are these doctors serving God or serving country. Are they christians who go to church on Sunday, but the rest of the week think only that we need to send more men and women into battle even when they are mentally ill?
Then I watched the movie "The Visitor". Again I was questioning.
Should all illegal immigrants be sent back to the country they came from without considering who they are. The american in the movie who fought so hard for his new friend to me was what a Jesus follower should be.
I don't know how all this fits into "Who is Jesus" but it made me think about Jesus and how he must feel about what is happening in this country and around the world.
Marie
Marie,
Thank you for the integrity and compassion of your observations; I think they indeed "fit" with who Jesus is.
Jesus is the One who joins together and heals our painful disconnects. He is the one who crosses the boundaries we establish for ourselves and who bridges the "great gulf" that can be set between us (Luke 16:19-31).
Also, Jesus makes visible people who have been invisible to us: he opens our eyes (Luke 4:18). Much as he did with the Pharisee and the woman in Luke Chapter 7,challenging the Parisee-"Do you see this woman?" (v. 44), so Jesus calls out to us who find the realities you describe so unpleasant: "Do you see this soldier?"
In each instance, the person being "seen" and the person being challenged are both being delivered by the Lord. Praise God!
Scott
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