| Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages: | ||||||
| Matthew 4 | Matthew 5 | Matthew 6 | Genesis 3 | Genesis 4 | Psalms 1 | |
Jesus outlines the foundation of His teaching, in the beatitudes.
His way turns man's philosophy upside down. While man is continually
concerned for his personal rights, Jesus teaches us to put others first.
It is so drastic He goes so far as to say we shouldn't fight another
over what is ours but instead, if someone takes what is ours, just let
them have it, as He says Matthew 5:40, "As for the one who wants to sue
you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well."
What is with is? I can only imagine it has much to do with what is most important to us. If our concern is for personal rights, our focus is on what is on ourselves and what is ours. It is not on heavenly things or on the source of life and all that comes with it. An argument could be made that since what I have comes from God to whom it all belongs in the first place, and the same can be said for everyone else, then it is all just interchangeable among us all. God shares it freely with us and we should do the same with everyone else. Most of Jesus' teachings in the beatitudes are so counterintuitive to us, as is this one, that we are prone to provide explanations for their meaning other than what they clearly say. We don't want them to mean what they mean and therefore to be expected to actually do what they say. So we give them other meanings. Ones that are more palatable to us.
Psalms 1:1-2 say, "How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night." It is as we meditate continually on the Lord's instruction that His teaching begins to make sense to us and we can begin to live by them.
What is with is? I can only imagine it has much to do with what is most important to us. If our concern is for personal rights, our focus is on what is on ourselves and what is ours. It is not on heavenly things or on the source of life and all that comes with it. An argument could be made that since what I have comes from God to whom it all belongs in the first place, and the same can be said for everyone else, then it is all just interchangeable among us all. God shares it freely with us and we should do the same with everyone else. Most of Jesus' teachings in the beatitudes are so counterintuitive to us, as is this one, that we are prone to provide explanations for their meaning other than what they clearly say. We don't want them to mean what they mean and therefore to be expected to actually do what they say. So we give them other meanings. Ones that are more palatable to us.
Psalms 1:1-2 say, "How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night." It is as we meditate continually on the Lord's instruction that His teaching begins to make sense to us and we can begin to live by them.
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