The Beatitudes Revisited

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible classes began working on the Beatitudes recently. The statements of Jesus at the outset of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's chapter five are familiar to Christians but are often foreign to the way we act. How are we supposed to rejoice and mourn concurrently? Who feels good about being mistreated? Philip Yancey translated these teachings as Lucky Are The Unlucky. Our class periods centered around our own translations of these contradictory, to the non-believer, words of truth from the lips of the Savior. Each student was assigned the task of recreating the Beatitudes in ways that made sense to them in twenty-first century Houston, Texas. What follows is a sampling of the theology of my students. Tonight, I'm sharing the thoughts of my fourth period, eighth grade class. Girls are in pink, boys are in blue.

Blessed are the dreamers for their dreams will be realized. 
-Patrick
Blessed are the short for they will always stand up against someone bigger. 
-Lowell
Blessed are those who stumble for Jesus will be their wall to lean on.
-Ostara
Blessed are the elderly for they will run faster and be stronger than Chuck Norris in heaven.
-Michael
Blessed are the single for you will find The One.
-Maggie
Blessed are the Lego builders for they will build the skyscrapers. 
-JustinBlessed are the ugly for God will see their beauty.
-Eme
Blessed are the children of God because they are loved with a love that cannot be comprehended.
-Brady
Blessed are the bullied because they will be popular in heaven.
-Raye
Blessed are the lonely for God will help them find friends.
-Rachel
Blessed are those who move alot for heaven is their stable home.
-Alex
Blessed are the quiet for their voice will become heard in the future.
-Micah
Blessed are the athletes for they will be on God's team.
-A.J.
Blessed are the poor for everyone wins the lottery in heaven.
-Matthew
Blessed are women and girls for they will know modesty.
-Brittany
Blessed are the mentally distressed for they won't understand evil.
-Morgan
Blessed are the shy and quiet for they will shout praises to others.
-Kennedy
Blessed are the lost for they will find their way to heaven.
-Sydney

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com