Blessed: Matthew 5:5

The beatitudes are an announcement of what life in the kingdom is like. That the proud, arrogant and powerful are not the ones who inherit the world. Where God is king there is a reversal where the meek inherit the earth. Jesus is inviting people into a whole new way of living that not only produces true flourishing in the here and now, but also in the age to come. He does this while declaring some of the most counter-rational statements on what it means to be deeply happy.

Respond:

• In the first century, the earth was held by the emperor, those in power, the oppressors, the opportunists. The original listeners saw Rome crush everything, colonizing like crazy, when rumors of uprising emerged, military force would display their force as a reminder to get in line. Today, what has remained consistent and was has changed in regards to how the world operates today?

• In the life of Jesus, we see him demonstrate strength under control in his encounter with Pontius Pilate, while clearing the Temple, and while dying on the cross. Jesus is described as meek and gentle, how does this bring a fuller understanding on what it is to be meek?