Matthew 5:1-12 Are we REALLY HAPPY?

It is amazing having the Bible to read. Right through the Old Testament, the New Testament and on into the present time, the Kingdom of God is "God's People in God's Place under God's rule and blessing" That includes us now, of course, here in Bexhill.

 

 

Today's reading is part of the Sermon on the Mount which gives us many of things Jesus said to, and taught, the people during his three years or so of ministry. We read that Jesus SAT, which was usual when a Rabbi was teaching. These first few verses are often called the Beatitudes because the Latin word "Beatus" means "Really Happy". They list various circumstances which the people Jesus was speaking to may have found themselves in. We, too, often find ourselves in similar situations.

 

 

During our service, we thought about various short phrases or sentences that might describe the 9 situations that Jesus was describing. My suggestions were:

for verse 3: Know we need to depend on God;

for verse 4: Sad because of death or suffering

for verse 5: Need for humility before God

for verse 6: Eager to do what God wants

for verse 7: Willing to forgive others

for verse 8: Sincere on the inside as well as on the outside

for verse 9: Trying to establish better relationships

for verse 10: Undergoing persecution for our beliefs

for verse 11: Bearing false accusations

 

 

We summarised these teachings with:Trusting God will give us joy despite our circumstances.

 

 

We all go through difficult times but God has told us that if we accept and follow Jesus we will have the Eternal Life he has promised after we die.

 

 

You may like to have a go at producing your own phrases/sentences like we were doing during the service. Why not share them on the blog? It will help us all.

Is it possible to love God without loving your neighbour ?

This week's TFG reflections focused on the Gospel reading for today (Matthew 22: 34 - 39), where Jesus is asked which is the greatest of the commandments, and in reply refused to separate loving God from loving our neighbour.   Elsewhere in the New Testament we are told rather bluntly that 

those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen,

cannot love God whom they have not seen

(1 John 4:20)

We live in a world where for many people religion seems to be the problem not the answer, the cause not the solution, to the violence and injustice around us.

Throughout history - and still today - women and men have killed, marginalised or written-off  other human beings in the name of religion, and so it's hardly surprising that for many people in our world loving God certainly doesn't appear to involve loving one's neighbour as well ...

But Jesus' words remind us very forcefully that it does ! 

So, if what we believe about God is causing us to hurt or undermine other people or the planet in any way, then maybe it is time for us to review what we believe.

After a thoughtful and interesting discussion we listened together to the song "Trellick Tower", which can be heard, alongside a brief commentary, here. 

The question remains for us all, "What do I love when I love my God ?" 

Peter King