[Pearls Ep 156: Preparing for Sunday.]
This Sunday’s Gospel reading presents Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount.
Not just the Sermon on the Mount, but the Beatitudes.
The Sermon on the Mount is the pinnacle of Jesus’ teaching, and Beatitudes are the pinnacle of the Sermon on the Mount.
So, this Sunday we get the Pinnacle of the Pinnacle.
But the beatitudes are mysterious to many people. Truly, they are mysterious for ALL of us because they extend into the very heart of who God is and who we are created to be.
Be that as it may, we dive fearlessly into the mystery in this week’s Pearl’s episode.
We look at the overarching theme of generosity in the beatitudes, how they unfold in our interior life, and how we can cultivate them.
We also discuss wheels of cheese.
Here’s one interesting observation to ponder. Each beatitude comes with a blessing, for example, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” and, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.”
But the very first beatitude is “Blessed are the poor” and it comes with this blessing – “theirs is the kingdom of God.”
Well – the “Kingdom of God” is summit we hope and strive for – the whole enchilada. It begs the question – why need there be any other blessings after that? Once we have the kingdom, what’s left?
That and more is the topic of this week’s Pearls of the Interior Life and our follow-up messages.
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: The Beatitudes – Mt 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”