Jesus came down from the mountain with them and stood on a large area of level ground. A great company of his disciples and a huge crowd of people from all around Judea and Jerusalem and the area around Tyre and Sidon joined him there. They came to hear him and to be healed from their diseases, and those bothered by unclean spirits were healed. The whole crowd wanted to touch him, because power was going out from him and he was healing everyone. Jesus raised his eyes to his disciples and said: “Happy are you who are poor, because God’s kingdom is yours. Happy are you who hunger now, because you will be satisfied. Happy are you who weep now, because you will laugh. Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and condemn your name as evil because of the Human One. Rejoice when that happens! Leap for joy because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets. But how terrible for you who are rich, because you have already received your comfort. How terrible for you who have plenty now, because you will be hungry. How terrible for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep. How terrible for you when all speak well of you. Their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets. (Luke 6:17-26, CEB)
The beatitudes in Luke.
Happy are you who are poor, because God’s kingdom is yours.
Happy are you who hunger now, because you will be satisfied.
Happy are you who weep now, because you will laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and condemn your name as evil because of the Human One.
Usually not things that we think would make us happy. Being poor, hungry, or weeping. These are normally things we associate with being unhappy and down trodded. But is happy the best word here? Usually we read this as blessed. And even society would say that being poor, hungry or weeping is not a sign of being blessed, but does one have to be doing great according to society to be blessed?
You see we get hung up on what society says is best we lose sight of what God has told us. We can be in any state of existence and be blessed. Following after God and being who God created us to be in the world will make you blessed. Maybe not rich, full, and happy, but blessed.
So follow where God is leading knowing that it won’t mean an easy happy life, but a life that is what God has asked us to live and a shining light in a dark world.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 