On the Eighth Day of Christmas

..my true love gave to me....

EIGHT maids a-milking
     seven swans a-swimming
          six geese a-laying..
              FIVE golden rings
                  four calling birds
                      three French hens
                           two turtledoves
                               and a partridge in a pear tree


Eight maids a-milking refers to the lessons Jesus gave us in the sermon on the mount.... detailed in the gospel of Matthew 5:3-10.  Eight lessons - know as the Beatitudes.  They are as follows:

1,  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
3.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
4.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
5.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
6.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
7.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
8.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Here is a clear example of Jesus re-framing conventional wisdom.  There is nothing here that suggests that rich people, people in power, strong people... will be blessed! 

Blessed are the humble..... Blessed are the sad and depressed.... Blessed are the innocents... Blessed are the kind and compassionate.

Jesus was a revolutionary.


Dear God,

These Beatitudes of yours - they don't feel right.  They are absolutely NOT the way this world works!  Why is it that your way isn't the way that I want it to go?  Why don't I naturally think like  you?

I need a lot of help with these.  I want to be first.  I want to be strong.  I want to be in charge.  I do NOT want to be sad or lonely or depressed or persecuted.

Yet, I want to yours.  And I want to follow Jesus.

I have heard the Beatitudes described as "BE" attitudes...  Help me take these words of Jesus to heart...  NOT to be sad as much as to be kind and compassionate with those who ARE sad.  Help me fight for justice - NOT worldly justice, but the justice that lives in the LOVE Jesus taught us... the justice rooted in compassion.

Today I will memorize the Beatitudes....  I will remember the EIGHT..  and I will remember that Jesus was a counter-cultural revolutionary. 

If conventional wisdom says one thing, I will use the Beatitudes Jesus taught us as a lens to re-think the issue.  What Jesus said will be my guide.  Amen.