Hello friends! Today we continue on through the gospel of Matthew and read the beatitudes, one of the most popular and yet challenging things taught by Jesus. I know as I was reading them I know that I would struggle to live up to Jesus standards as I get angry about 1507893469397 times a day over anything little thing. But the beatitudes humbled me to remember that Jesus isn't just the "perfect loving gentle savior" that Hollywood does such a good job at portraying, but Jesus was radical. Jesus was challenging. Jesus was disruptive. It was for these reasons that Jesus was killed. Listening to his commandments I'm humbled to sit at his feet and listen more before I try to speak on his behalf again. That's always a good space to be in. What sticks out to you in these readings?
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What teaching is most challenging? Which teaching is most liberating?
What does this reveal to me about Jesus?
Today I invite you to watch the following video from the Bible Project. This is another video about "skill" development of reading the Bible rather than specific content of the Bible. I hope this helps you build up your tool belt of biblical scholarship!
Praying the Hymns
Our hymn for today is inspired by number 238 in our United Methodist Hymnal - Angels We Have Heard on High. A classic Christmas song as we take our own infancy journey with Christ in the NT. :) I invite you to sing, hum, recite or meditate on the scripture as you grow in your love of God.
1 Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their brave delight.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear? [Refrain]
3 Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing. Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. [Refrain]