Let Us Resolve

The Beatitudes, a series of blessings bestowed on the humble, the merciful, the righteous, open the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), a concise summary of the Christian ethic and a model for The Work of Christmas. 

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.   

In the face of today's toxic "us vs. them" society, where the gospel of discontent, anger and hatred dominates, the beatitudes' call for decency, kindness and empathy seems almost quaint. 

One prominent public figure has declared: "decency is for suckers".  New Testament ethics just get in the way.

I beg to differ. 

But maybe some Old Testament directness is needed.

I am imagining the beatitudes transposed to the Law of Moses.  

   

Deuteronomy perhaps. 

3 Thou shalt not be a billionaire

   for they travel the heavens on the backs of minimum wage ill-begotten gains

4 Thou shalt not mourn with thoughts and prayers 

   for they do nothing to prevent the continued slaughter of the innocents. 

5 Thou shalt not be obstinate

   for they endanger fellow citizens lives in the name of personal freedom

6 Thou shalt not be sanctimonious

   for they attack the beliefs of others 

7 Thou shalt not be ruthless

   for they use deceit to withhold equal rights and the blessings of liberty

8 Thou shalt not be an exploiter

   for they profit while destroying the earth

9 Thou shalt not be a warmonger

   for they insist on ever increasing spending for weapons of war

10 Thou shalt not be a persecutor

     for they support cruelty and treat diversity a threat

11 Thou shalt not insult, mock or speak all kinds of falsehoods.  

12 Thou shalt not malign the poor but rather help them out of poverty

     for there but for the grace of God go thee

In 2022

   Let us resolve together to rekindle kindness and practice decency. You know - that Golden Rule thing that seems to have so fallen out of favor.

Copyright ©  2022  Dave Hoplin