DOING A GODLIKE WORK

 “SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”

Daily Spiritual Reflections

7th June 2021

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MONDAY, TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2 Cor 1:1-7; Ps 34:2-9; Mt 5:1-12

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DOING A GODLIKE WORK

In Mathew, there are nine beatitudes, only four of which are found in Luke. The Greek word makarios at the beginning of all the Beatitudes refers to God-given salvation. The English translation “happy are those who…” hardly catches this rich meaning, but “blessed” is perhaps a preferable meaning. “Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” This beatitude is not found in Luke’s Gospel. The man who makes peace is engaged in the very work which the God of peace is doing (Rom 15:33; 2Cor 13:11; 1Th 5:23; Heb 13:20). The meaning of this beatitude has been understood and explained in mainly three ways: 

i. It has been suggested that they are blessed who make this world a better place for all men to live in. 

ii. Most of the early scholars of the Church took this beatitude in a purely spiritual sense and held that blessed is the man who makes peace in his own heart and his soul. 

iii. The Jewish Rabbis held that the highest task which a man can perform is to establish right relationships between man and man. This is what Jesus means. There are people who are always storm-centers of trouble and strife. Wherever they are, they are either involved in quarrels themselves, or become the cause of quarrels between others. On the other hand, there are people in whose presence bitterness cannot live, people who bridge the gulfs, heal the breaches, sweeten the bitterness. Such people are doing a work of God – a Godlike work – for it is the great purpose of God to bring peace between men and himself, and between man and man. The man who divides men is doing the devil’s work; the man who unites men is doing God’s work. 

Thus, this beatitude might read: “O the bliss of those who produce right relationships between man and man, for they are doing a godlike work.” We are called and chosen for this same mission, a continuation of Christ’s mission of reconciliation.

Response: Taste and see that the Lord is good.

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