"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
St. Gregory of Nyssa taught that the Beatitudes build one upon another. A humble person becomes meek, or becomes gentle and kind, and exhibits a docility of spirit, even in the face of adversity and hardship. A person that is meek is one that exhibits self-control. St. Augustine advises us to be meek in the face of the Lord, and not resist but be obedient to him. Obedience and submission to the will of God are certainly not in vogue these days, but they will bring one peace in this world and in the next.
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Blessed are they who mourn.
"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)
If we are humble and appreciate that all of our gifts and blessings come from God, we grow in love and gratitude for Jesus Christ our Savior. But this can only produce mourning and regret over our own sins and the sins of this world, for we have hurt the one who has been so good to us. One also mourns for the suffering of others.
St. Gregory of Nyssa describes another reason to mourn: the more one ascends in meditation of Divine Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and then realize the poverty of human nature; man can only be left in sorrow. When one contemplates that we were made in the image and likeness of God and lived in Paradise, the Garden of Eden, and compare that to our present state after the Fall, one can only mourn our present condition. But the sentence continues that they shall be comforted, by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and hopefully one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mourning in this context is called a blessing, because mourning our fallen nature creates in us a desire to improve ourselves and to do what is right!
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
If we are humble and appreciate that all of our gifts and blessings come from God, we grow in love and gratitude for Jesus Christ our Savior. But this can only produce mourning and regret over our own sins and the sins of this world, for we have hurt the one who has been so good to us. One also mourns for the suffering of others.
St. Gregory of Nyssa describes another reason to mourn: the more one ascends in meditation of Divine Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and then realize the poverty of human nature; man can only be left in sorrow. When one contemplates that we were made in the image and likeness of God and lived in Paradise, the Garden of Eden, and compare that to our present state after the Fall, one can only mourn our present condition. But the sentence continues that they shall be comforted, by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and hopefully one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mourning in this context is called a blessing, because mourning our fallen nature creates in us a desire to improve ourselves and to do what is right!
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
"Poor in spirit" means to be humble. Humility is the realization that all your gifts and blessings come from the grace of God. To have poverty of spirit means to be completely empty and open to the Word of God. When we are an empty cup and devoid of pride, we are humble. Humility brings an openness and an inner peace, allowing one to do the will of God. He who humbles himself is able to accept our frail nature, to repent, and to allow the grace of God to lead us to Conversion.
It is pride, the opposite of humility that brings misery. For pride brings anger and the seeking of revenge, especially when one is offended. If everyone were humble and poor in spirit, there would be no war!
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
"Poor in spirit" means to be humble. Humility is the realization that all your gifts and blessings come from the grace of God. To have poverty of spirit means to be completely empty and open to the Word of God. When we are an empty cup and devoid of pride, we are humble. Humility brings an openness and an inner peace, allowing one to do the will of God. He who humbles himself is able to accept our frail nature, to repent, and to allow the grace of God to lead us to Conversion.
It is pride, the opposite of humility that brings misery. For pride brings anger and the seeking of revenge, especially when one is offended. If everyone were humble and poor in spirit, there would be no war!
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
My reward is with my God.
1 Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.” (Isaiah 49:1-4)
In this passage from Isaiah, Jesus is speaking, and calling the nations of the world to listen and pay attention. He prophetically makes reference to His human birth, being called from the womb, and being named by God while still inside the body of His mother. Of course, we are well familiar with this history, not only because of Christmas, but because Isaiah has already written of this.
This mystery of Jesus birth, death, and resurrection had been alluded to by the prophets, but it was only when Jesus walked the earth that the mystery was made manifest. None of the prophetic passages were really understandable until Jesus was revealed, and the mystery was uncovered. Jesus was his Father's spokesman, the servant of God who did his will no matter what the circumstances and no matter what the consequences.
Do you feel like your situation today is unjust? Like you've drawn
the shortest straw? Like life is not treating you fairly? God has a wonderful blessing and reward waiting for those who endure. Whether the wonderful reward God has for you is in this life or the next, rest assured, there is joy before you, if you keep on keeping on. Endure. Even if you're in this all alone, you're not in it all alone. And there is joy on the way. This attitude enabled Jesus to go to torture, crucifixion, and death. It can help each of us weather our lesser trials.
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.” (Isaiah 49:1-4)
In this passage from Isaiah, Jesus is speaking, and calling the nations of the world to listen and pay attention. He prophetically makes reference to His human birth, being called from the womb, and being named by God while still inside the body of His mother. Of course, we are well familiar with this history, not only because of Christmas, but because Isaiah has already written of this.
This mystery of Jesus birth, death, and resurrection had been alluded to by the prophets, but it was only when Jesus walked the earth that the mystery was made manifest. None of the prophetic passages were really understandable until Jesus was revealed, and the mystery was uncovered. Jesus was his Father's spokesman, the servant of God who did his will no matter what the circumstances and no matter what the consequences.
Do you feel like your situation today is unjust? Like you've drawn
the shortest straw? Like life is not treating you fairly? God has a wonderful blessing and reward waiting for those who endure. Whether the wonderful reward God has for you is in this life or the next, rest assured, there is joy before you, if you keep on keeping on. Endure. Even if you're in this all alone, you're not in it all alone. And there is joy on the way. This attitude enabled Jesus to go to torture, crucifixion, and death. It can help each of us weather our lesser trials.
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
Monday, November 1, 2010
God never fails.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
I believe that in this passage, Paul is not just talking about how Christians should view love. Paul is describing God. These are the characteristics that most resemble God. You could change the word "love" to "God" and you will understand the beauty of God.
God is patient. No matter how often we fail, God will always give us another chance.
God is kind. God only wants to be there for us.
God does not envy. God will always take us back if we turn away from him.
God does not boast. God speaks in a whisper. We need to quiet ourselves in order to hear him.
God is not proud. God will do whatever is necessary to win our love.
God does not dishonor others. God honors each one of us and comes to meet us where we are.
God is not self-seeking. God only wants what is best for us.
God is not easily angered. Despite what many may say about God being vengeful, he suffers alot of abuse and returns it with compassion and understanding.
God does not keep records of wrongdoings. If he did, we would all be in alot of trouble. God forgives and then forgets and continues to hope that we will not continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.
God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God is truth and when we recognize the truth that is God, he and all of heaven rejoices.
God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God wants to be there for us; he trusts in our ability to live our lives as his beloved children; he hopes that we will make the right choices; and if we fail God will always help us to get up and try again.
God never fails. We can always count on God to be there when we need him. There will never be a time when God will turn away from us. There will never be a time when God does not love us. There will never be a time when God will not try to help us find what is best for us.
Thank God that God is God.
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
I believe that in this passage, Paul is not just talking about how Christians should view love. Paul is describing God. These are the characteristics that most resemble God. You could change the word "love" to "God" and you will understand the beauty of God.
God is patient. No matter how often we fail, God will always give us another chance.
God is kind. God only wants to be there for us.
God does not envy. God will always take us back if we turn away from him.
God does not boast. God speaks in a whisper. We need to quiet ourselves in order to hear him.
God is not proud. God will do whatever is necessary to win our love.
God does not dishonor others. God honors each one of us and comes to meet us where we are.
God is not self-seeking. God only wants what is best for us.
God is not easily angered. Despite what many may say about God being vengeful, he suffers alot of abuse and returns it with compassion and understanding.
God does not keep records of wrongdoings. If he did, we would all be in alot of trouble. God forgives and then forgets and continues to hope that we will not continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.
God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God is truth and when we recognize the truth that is God, he and all of heaven rejoices.
God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God wants to be there for us; he trusts in our ability to live our lives as his beloved children; he hopes that we will make the right choices; and if we fail God will always help us to get up and try again.
God never fails. We can always count on God to be there when we need him. There will never be a time when God will turn away from us. There will never be a time when God does not love us. There will never be a time when God will not try to help us find what is best for us.
Thank God that God is God.
Peace and love,
Sue
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. " (1 John 4:9-10)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
