A beautiful 'send off', a "blessing"?

By José Blanco

 A beautiful 'send off', a "blessing"?

A friend was referring to the Beatitudes, reflecting a couple of present life events, of these days happenings, back to the 'wisdom' of these phrases by Jesus.

 The Beatitudes  This link is from the Kink James Bible (https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/beatitudes_bible/), Matthew 5:1-12 KJV. There are multiple websites and beautiful expressions when one makes a search, and here follows one which is a 'keeper', for its softness and delicate expression, yet, it makes itself present, it doesn't 'melt' away easily from sight.

Ref: https://i.etsystatic.com/10563916/r/il/e2934f/2297466129/il_794xN.2297466129_5fmr.jpg

And definitely, these words are impactful. They impel a nobility, a sense of being gifted something special. The behaviors - and nature - they point to are 'nothing easy', even in those that point to one having the possibility of action, of active stance, and not that of a passive, "you've already been dealt a blow" type.

In a sense they are somewhat of a mystery...there's a hanging sense that there is much more there than what one is reading...

But what is one to do? Does one read and re-read...till its meaning is made apparent, clear, and it evokes some 'thing', an action, a stance, a way of being...? Are these "commandments" in disguise, in soft 'tense', almost like a 'murmur' from Jesus, more like hints...?

Also, as I read and reread, there are instances in which the "the that" as in "this-for-that"  does not really 'jive' with what one had to do or be so as to get the consequence elicited. Take for example "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted". On the one hand, it is great that those that mourn - a state, a moment which is not wished upon anyone for its pain is indescribable, here there's a recognition and a special 'state' (?) as they are called 'blessed'. But this first part of the statement does not take away the pain...one is mourning...but something is added, a mystery, for what is the 'state of being blessed'? 

The second part, "the that", is then a tangible 'thing'...a promise, a "it'll be ok", somewhere along the time duration of the indescribable pain there, is the future promise of a salve, a diminution - maybe, a comfort that hopefully takes the desperation away. So that the pronouncement deals with one of the most significant 'happenings' of the human body:soul:spirit - the suffering of mourning - and presents and endpoint which is not final and relieving of the suffering, but more like a respite, a break: a restorative event at some future time, at some moment. 

The one on mercy follows the same "this-for-that".

But the others...? What does it mean..."theirs is the kingdom of heaven"..."they will inherit the earth"..."they will be filled"..."they will see God"... (wait! even Moses could not look at "Him", what's going on here...?) And "they will be called children of God"? (Isn't that by definition already? Didn't God create us, so therefore, we ARE His children...?). And for those that are persecuted, "the kingdom of Heaven will be theirs"...meaning?

These are beautiful, but...how many interpretative books are needed to understand the "that" for the "if this for that".  But maybe this is one of those things where one ingests and incarnates, makes real within, even though their nature is not really understood, perceived, 'known'. Although one may 'sense', 'hear', intuit the 'holy' nature of them. Like music, art, a moment of wonder, at seeing the majesty of a sundown...yes; along those indescribable lines. 

Leloup (*)  ends a discussion of the Beatitudes - more on that later - with this 'send off' (my term): 

"May each day bring you a little less under the sway of the fears, inhibitions, and lies that are certainly the heritage of your individual and collective past, yet in which, (consciously or unconsciously), you still indulge in the present. And may each day bring you more and more surrender to freedom and love. For these are the fruits of your most beautiful dreams, and of the purest desire, that - consciously or unconsciously, but consciously above all, so, as to savor it fully - you can ever experience in the present."
 
Peace!

(*) Leloup: pp. 76 - 80, "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene"
 


Location: Sarasota, FL, USA

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