“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will seek God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (NRSV)
Thoughts for the Day: In 2006 the Mennonite Central Committee (www.mcc.org) adopted a new statement. Looking back to the past statements they’ve made and even those of other denominations including the Disciples of Christ, a lot of the language is very similar. In it they denounce war, seek to transcend boundaries of race, religion, class, gender, and even sexual orientation. Many will say that this is all dreaming, non-Biblical, even sinful. But don’t the Beatitudes mirror the basic philosophy of the Mennonites? It’s time we as a Church stop our hateful rhetoric towards those who may differ simply because one might think Moses wore a brown robe and another church thinks it was purple with pink polka dots.
Maybe it’s time we worried about where we can hang the Beatitudes in places like courthouses instead of fighting over where the Ten Commandments.
Prayer: Peaceful and Merciful God, forgive us when we simply don’t get it. Open our eyes to peace, infuse our hearts with love, and cleanse our souls of hate. Amen.
Daily Devotion: March 21, 2020
Scripture:Matthew 5:3-11 (Condensed)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will seek God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (NRSV)
Thoughts for the Day: In 2006 the Mennonite Central Committee (www.mcc.org) adopted a new statement. Looking back to the past statements they’ve made and even those of other denominations including the Disciples of Christ, a lot of the language is very similar. In it they denounce war, seek to transcend boundaries of race, religion, class, gender, and even sexual orientation. Many will say that this is all dreaming, non-Biblical, even sinful. But don’t the Beatitudes mirror the basic philosophy of the Mennonites? It’s time we as a Church stop our hateful rhetoric towards those who may differ simply because one might think Moses wore a brown robe and another church thinks it was purple with pink polka dots.
Maybe it’s time we worried about where we can hang the Beatitudes in places like courthouses instead of fighting over where the Ten Commandments.
Prayer: Peaceful and Merciful God, forgive us when we simply don’t get it. Open our eyes to peace, infuse our hearts with love, and cleanse our souls of hate. Amen.