Matthew 5:1-12
Sermon on the Mount
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
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 be shown 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 because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus tells us that there is something for the outcast, the harassed, and the calloused...Jesus gives something for those who weep and mourn...
I many times feel critical, judgmental, calloused, aloof, apathetic, with feelings of unreality, isolated, and alone...Then I read these quotes by author and Priest Brennan Manning and it helps me with those situations...I understand what he is saying...
Brennan Manning said, “(Much of my callousness and invulnerability has come from my refusal to mourn the loss of a soft word and a tender embrace.)...Blessed are those who weep and mourn.”...The Manning adds, “Blessed are not the enlightened whose every question has been answered and who are delighted with their own sublime insight, the mature and ripe ones whose one remaining action is to fall from the tree...Blessed, rather, are the chased, the harassed who must daily stand before my enigmas and cannot solve them.”...