Jesus’ opening teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is referred to as The Beatitudes. They are the Gospel reading commemorating the active witness of every saint on every All Saints Feast Day. Given the active witness of saints, it is therefore at least odd that the Beatitudes are inaccurately translated into the passive voice, … Continue reading “Christian Is An Action Verb”
Tag: Beatitudes
Blessings
A man with lipstick on his collar who smelled of gin stumbled into a mostly empty church and sat next to a priest who was saying prayers in the front row. He took out a newspaper and began reading. “Shay, Father, what caushes arthritish?” The priest, none too happy with his pew partner said, “Mister, … Continue reading “Blessings”
Changing Through the Beatitudes
Jesus is changing the way we human beings can see the world and ourselves. He is overturning the hurtful values in which many of us are raised. He does so on a mountain side as he addresses a crowd. We learn we are blessed in ways we never realized. Blessed are we when poor in … Continue reading “Changing Through the Beatitudes”
What Is the Power of Our Sainthood?
Jesus’ Blessings, or Beatitudes, often go unnoticed as expressions of power (influence with). Power is contrasted with control (rule over). This contrast flows through the Beatitudes. Control is at work among the wealthy who segregate themselves. Jesus teaches the power of interdependence, “Blessed are the poor.” Control is at work when we exert our ego … Continue reading “What Is the Power of Our Sainthood?”
Old and New
The longer version of this Sunday’s Gospel includes a reference Jesus made to the law. Jesus says he has not come to abolish the law and that not the smallest letter of the law would not pass away. He was not however referring to the Old Testament law of Moses. Jesus already abolished that old … Continue reading “Old and New”