As we discussed the Beatitudes lesson for All Saint's Day two things became clear to me that had not been clear before. The first is that, in his life, Jesus lived out each and every Beatitude.
1. He was broken in spirit in the Garden of Gethsemane (he was poor too)
2. He mourned for his friend Lazarus
3. He was meek (humbly patient while under pressure) during his "trials" under the hight preist and Pilate
4. He hungered and thirst for righteousness each and every day (he was hungry and thirsty in the desert too)
5. He was constantly merciful
6. He was, by definition, pure in heart
7. He was, most of the time, a peacemaker
8. He was persecuted for righteousness' sake and hung on a cross
9. He had all kinds of false evil utter against him
He has walked the road of suffering that each of us who follow him walk every day, and he has made it holy. He has turned tough times into blessings because he, God himself, lived those tough times.
The second thing I noticed was helpful for reading this lesson on All Saints'; the Beatitudes can be broken down into three parts. Part one consists of Beatitudes #1-4 - they are the sufferings of the faith life - broken in spirit, mourning, meek, and hungry and thirsty for righteousness. Part two is make up of Beatitudes #5-7 - they are the ambitions of the faithful - mercy, purity, and peace. Part three is what happens to people who embrace parts one and two - they are persecuted, slandered, and, in the fullness of time blessed beyond understanding.
I think my second observation will make preaching All Saints' easier because of my Protestant understanding that the saints are all who confess with their lips and believe in their hearts that Jesus is the Son of God as it balances with my Catholic understanding of Saints who have lived Beatitudes 1-7 with special conviction and attention. As saints, we all have a standard, given by Jesus, to live up to, Saints have done it such that they can serve as an example for the rest.
No comments:
Post a Comment