February 2nd, 2020, Carolyne Cathey is sharing her talk on…
9:30 am. The Church of the Red Rocks, 54 Bowstring Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336. Map
The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5, vs 3-12, is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, which we call The Beatitudes.
The 8 Beatitudes, or blessings, or the be-attitudes, are the core of the core teachings Jesus came here to share. What we often don’t realize is the power within The Beatitudes. The Power to change our lives.
The 8 Beatitudes, or blessings, or the be-attitudes, are the core of the core teachings Jesus came here to share, but what do they really mean?
5:10-12 #8 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
This final one might be the most difficult. What does it mean for us?
Note in this last beatitude where the wording shifts from blessed are those, to blessed are you, the only time this happens. It changes from Blessed are those who are persecuted – generic – to a very personal blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you. The reason is because this beatitude isn’t referring to the internal work you go through that you celebrate in the previous statements. This is a head’s up that refers to a potential rejection of you by others when you follow your spiritual path of truth and love; Jesus wants you to be aware of that possibility and not be discouraged or turned off your path, but to stay strong in your faith.
In the last sentence, He said “Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great.” The word for glad means to leap exceedingly. It is the leaping-for-joy runner who overcomes all obstacles in their path and crosses the finish line in truth and integrity.
Why the warning?
The truth is frightening to many people when it is different from what they believe. When frightened, people often persecute those who believe differently, call them names, slander them, try to destroy their reputations, ridicule, express hatred, and even kill. When we embody love no matter what is coming at us from other’s fear-caused reactions, we are strengthened with God-confidence while serving the world in honesty and integrity. Is that not what we all choose no matter the chaos and negativity around us? To stand solid in the Divine Truth?
Again, this is not something we try to do on our own. That is believing in separation, not Oneness. When we surrender to that Inner Authority that knows the truth, shares the truth, we are empowered. This is not something we earn. It is a gift. A gift from God.
So to paraphrase…
Oh the godlike joy when we are persecuted for embodying God’s truth, because when we surrender, emptying ourselves of fear and misperceptions, we open ourselves to receiving Divine Truth which strengthens us to be that which we truly are – love. And when we do, we inspire others to also express God’s love. This is joy.
I pray that the core of Jesus’ teachings expressed in The Beatitudes, touches you in new, inspiring and powerful ways. We are to emblazon these truths on our hearts, and live them.
To summarize…
We celebrate when we:
The Beatitudes are, in reality, about surrender. The only way we can follow these powerful life-changing truths is to merge our desires with God’s so that they are one desire – God’s will. Surrender is the answer to everything.
To share a quote that I received in a Divine message, Jesus said…
Once you get oneness, everything else falls in place.
We celebrate when we surrender everything we are to God that has all of the answers to all of our challenges, knowing that when we are emptied of self, we are filled with the Divine.
This post is the final in The Beatitudes. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. The previous seven are linked below.
Research Sources
Next: #8: Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #8 Blessed are those who are persecuted…
Previous:
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes. #1: Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #2 Blessed are those who mourn…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #3 Blessed are the meek…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #4 Blessed are those who hunger…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #5 Blessed are the merciful…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #6 Blessed are the pure in heart…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #7 Blessed are the peacemakers…
The 8 Beatitudes, or blessings, or the be-attitudes, are the core of the core teachings Jesus came here to share, but what do they really mean?
In Hebrew peace is never only a negative state; it never means only the absence of trouble; in Hebrew peace always means everything that serves one’s highest good. But peace starts within us. So, we could say…
Oh the god-like joy when our own inner warfare is finally over and we make peace within our own heart and in our own soul. Then, along with the Source of Peace, we may serve as peacemakers to bless the world. This is joy!
Research Sources
Next: #8: Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #8 Blessed are those who are persecuted…
Previous:
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes. #1: Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #2 Blessed are those who mourn…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #3 Blessed are the meek…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #4 Blessed are those who hunger…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #5 Blessed are the merciful…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #6 Blessed are the pure in heart…
The 8 Beatitudes, or blessings, or the be-attitudes, are the core of the core teachings Jesus came here to share, but what do they really mean?
The Greek word for pure means unmixed, unadulterated, unalloyed. It requires self-examination. Is our work done from motives of service or from motives of pay or acknowledgment, from being self-less, or from self-display, from a feeling of unity, or of superiority? This is about intent, and perceptions.
It is difficult to see a purity beyond our own flawed perceptions, because we see everything through that flawed lens. The purer our sight, the purer the lens through which we view everything, the more purity we recognize. Total pureness recognizes total pureness.
The only way we can see with such clarity is when we surrender all we are to the Divine and see ourselves and others as God sees us, which is through the lens of love.
So, then, this sixth beatitude might read:
Oh the godlike joy of choosing from pure intentions because when we do, through surrender, we see everything as God sees, which is always through the lens of love. That is joy!
Research Sources
Next: #7: Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #7 Blessed are the peacemakers…
Previous:
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes. #1: Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #2 Blessed are those who mourn…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #3 Blessed are the meek…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #4 Blessed are those who hunger…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #5 Blessed are the merciful…
The 8 Beatitudes, or blessings, or the be-attitudes, are the core of the core teachings Jesus came here to share, but what do they really mean?
There is more to this beatitude than the obvious. The Hebrew word for mercy is one of several untranslatable words where our English is insufficient. It means to see others as God sees them. When we do that, like God, not only do we not judge them, but also we respond with compassion and understanding. Even more, it is seeing ourselves in others, like a reflection. It is being that which we choose to receive. We can only see as God sees through surrender.
So the translation of the fifth beatitude might read:
O the god-like joy when we get right inside other people until we can see with their eyes, think with their thoughts, feel with their feelings, see them as God sees them, for when we do, our hearts open with love and compassion. To be able to see as God sees is only possible through surrender. In doing so, we, too, receive mercy. That is joy!
Research Sources
Next: #6: Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #6 Blessed are the pure in heart…
Previous:
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes. #1: Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #2 Blessed are those who mourn…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #3 Blessed are the meek…
Powerful Life-Changing Beatitudes: #4 Blessed are those who hunger…
Carolyne Cathey 