"Blessed are you, happy are you" are two common translations of the "Beatitudes", the "blessed be's" of the Sermon on the Mount. Pastor Steve suggested this morning that a better translation would be, "Take heart! You're going in the right direction-- if . . ."
- if you are humble,
- if you allow yourself to grieve,
- if you hunger after justice, if you are merciful,
- if you work for peace, if your greatest desire is to do what God requires,
- if you are pure in heart.
I'd rather not be humble (or humbled for that matter.) I'd rather not grieve. And why do we have to work for justice and peace, over and over and over. Once yes, but, as Roger Baldwin said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," and it is a job that never ends. And what does God require: to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God. Love your neighbor. Easy to say, hard to do.
And purity of spirit, fuggedaboudid. Everyone has their besetting sins. One of mine is resentment. I pray daily to be generous, kind and loving. Pure in spirit. O Lord, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow, the Bible says. The Lord may feel I could be a detergent commercial, I need to be washed so often.
Nonetheless, Jesus says, "Rejoice! Be happy and glad for a great reward is kept for you in heaven."
God help us in the meantime.