My Thoughts on 08/06/2020

The short reading for Morning prayer today is from Jeremiah 15:16

“When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, Lord, God of hosts.”

Each day we are given God’s word in the readings at Mass for us to chew over, or devour.

This week we are beginning the fifth chapter of Matthew and today is the beginning of Jesus sermon on the Mount when he teaches his disciples the Beatitudes. These 9 beatitudes can give us plenty to chew over for all the week. Our lectionary uses the word “Happy”. The Greek word is Makarios which I am told if not easy to translate. Henry Wansborough OSB in the New Revised Jerusalem Bible published last year uses the word “Blessed”. Nicholas King S.J. in his translation uses the word “Fortunate”. Blessed refers to our standing in God’s eyes. Fr Sylvester O Flynn says in his commentary

“The people most open to God’s blessings were the poor and the powerless, those who mourned for past misdeeds, those who strove for justice and mercy, the pure in heart who see things from God’s point of view, and those who are persecuted on account of their Christian ideals. Blessed are they, for God’s reward awaits them.”