Category: meditation

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 4 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] What does it mean to make peace. What is the nature of the peace we attempt to make? Is peace the absence of conflict? Is peace like the calm after a thunderstorm where the atmosphere has momentarily … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 4

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 3 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] The past couple of weeks I focused generally on international and religious violence. This week I zero in on more personal contexts of violence – that occurring in families and other intimate relationships. Jesus’ statement that “blessed … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 3

Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 2 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] Last week I went to some length considering how common it is to use violence to try to attain peace, particularly between nations. In many ways it is our default position – that if we cannot peacefully … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers, Part 2

Blessed are the Peacemakers “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”[1] What is a peacemaker? Would President Harry Truman be considered a peacemaker for forcing Japan to surrender, thus ending World War II, by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? It is argued, perhaps correctly, that such an overwhelming … Continue reading Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the Pure in Heart “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”[1] What does it mean to be pure in heart? And what does it mean to see God? These are among the obvious questions this particular Beatitude raises. The heart is often used as a metaphor for our emotions, … Continue reading Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Blessed are the Merciful, Part 2 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”[1] Last week, I cited a couple of examples that seem to indicate that the merciful do not necessarily receive mercy, at least as we understand mercy, contrary to the words of Jesus. The first example was of Mother Teresa, a … Continue reading Blessed are the Merciful, Part 2

Blessed are the Merciful “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”[1] This saying is another of the Beatitudes that has no obvious parallel in Luke’s Blessings and Woes. That those who are merciful will receive mercy may seem obvious to most, but not necessarily to the merciful. Acts of mercy often seem to … Continue reading Blessed are the Merciful

Blessed are the Hungry, Part 2 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”[1] “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.”[2] My mother used to try to guilt me into eating whatever food on my plate I did not like by telling me that … Continue reading Blessed are the Hungry, Part 2

Blessed are the Hungry “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”[1] “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.”[2] This combination of one of the Beatitudes from Matthew and a corresponding Blessing and Woe from Luke is particularly interesting. The latter passage from Luke … Continue reading Blessed are the Hungry