Jesus’ promise of rewards is a future in good, not evil= Hope!
Heaven would seem a long awaited homecoming than a visit to a new place.
The Great Reversal: modern society entails the survival of the fittest. The one who dies with the most toys wins! The best weapons and the largest GNPs. However, Jesus exemplifies the triumph of the victims.
Gates to the kingdom of God are dependence, sorrow and repentance. These qualities are greatly prized in spiritual life. The poor knows the need for redemption, they rest on their security and not on things, they do not exaggerate importance, they expect little and are more realistic knowing that they can survive suffering.
The gospel brings good news instead of a scolding. Prosperous saints are very rare.
Psycho-reality: these qualities benefit us most here in this life. Lust= attraction to unknown creatures and a taste for adventure and chance meetings. Blessed are those who are pure in love, they see God. Impurity separates us from God.
Martin Luther King: Blessed are those who are persecuted. The cross we bear precedes the Crown we wear. The Beatitudes are realistic and pragmatic. The paradoxical key to an abundant life.
We have the consciousness of failure to attain ideal perfection. All we can see is the extent of deviation- Tolstoy.
Legalism: we prefer the law because we always know where we rank. We may find it easier to follow a God who just says obey all my commandments and not believe in me.
Walter Wink: the contagion of holiness overcomes the contagion of uncleanliness.
The emphasis is on mercy(inclusive) rather than holiness(exclusive).
Jesus did not say, “I’m so grateful Rather for choosing me to suffer on your behalf. I rejoice in this privilege.” His sorrow, abandonment , fear, desperation was endured because of His trust in the father’s will and love.
Doestoesvsky: Faith does not spring from miracles but miracles from faith. Jesus knows that excitement generated by miracles cannot convert a life into faith. Miracles arouse suspicion, contempt and occasionally faith.
Miracles done by Jesus never contradict the natural law of creation. God creates the vine and teaches it to draw water from the roots to turn into wine. Antigens and antibodies heal our body everyday, just slower. The spiritual disease is more important than physical ailment because everyone ultimately dies. Jesus came to heal souls. The Messiah does not save the world by miracles, a storm calmed, a cure administered but by His death!
In the old days when calamities happen, we blamed the person. Now we blame God. Tragedies do not happen to those who deserve them. It happens so that the work of God may be displayed in their lives.
