It was suggested that we start a thread offering catechism subjects. I thought this was a great idea, so I'll go first and offer this one:
This is from The Faith of The Saints:
By Bishop (Saint) Nikolai Velimirovich
On The Beatitudes, (or How To Be a Christian 101)
"Our Lord Jesus Christ went up into a mountain and taught His disciples saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.'
The poor in spirit are those who consider themselves as nothing compared to the tremendous majesty of God, and crave only for the riches of God and His kingdom.
'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted'.
Those who mourn in this passing world are like the Son of God who never laughed but often mourned because of men's ignorance, sins and suffering.
'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth'.
The meek are humane and kind and long-suffering. Because of His meekness Christ has been called the Lamb of God. The arrogant and angry are the opposite of the meek. They grasp quickly but also loose quickly. In the long run, the meek gain. The Christians were persecuted by the heathens and almost exterminated, yet today they have dominion over the earth.
'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled'.
The people who hunger and thirst after righteousness are those who painfully deplore all the injustices in the world. They shall see the victory of the risen Christ over all the powers of evil and their hearts shall be filled with satisfaction and joy. They shall also see the triumph of the persecuted Church and they shall rejoice.
'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'
The human heart is the real eye for seeing spiritual realities: in the first place is God. By long excercise and by God's grace, the heart may be purified from all sinful impurities as the Lives of the Saints testify. Evil thoughts and desires make a heart impure and blind.
'Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.'
Christ was called the Prince of Peace. He gave peace to His disciples. One gives what one has. If we have peace inside our soul, we can give peace to others. Peace of mind, of heart and of will- a threefold peace in unity-is a real, divine peace in the soul. An unbalanced soul however, cannot have peace.
'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.'
To be persecuted for righteousness sake means to be like Christ and His apostles. The Eastern Orthodox Church produced numberless martyrs for righteousness' sake, who peopled Christ's kingdom in heaven. St. Peter writes, "It is better, if the will of God be so , that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing." 1 Peter 3:17.
'Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.'
Christ speaks here more extensively of the sufferings of His followers for His sake. They will be reviled, slandered and persecuted. But they ought to endure all that with unshaken faith and hope in Him who shall come in due time as the final Victor and Righteous Judge. He will then separate forever the righteous from the unrighteous.
"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in Heaven!"
In weeping, rejoice; in suffering, rejoice; in dying, rejoice. For the best in mankind, who travelled the same thorny path as you, are now awaiting you in the world beyond, where Christ regins and where there are no sighs, no sadness, and no sufferings, but life and joy eternal."
This is from The Faith of The Saints:
By Bishop (Saint) Nikolai Velimirovich
On The Beatitudes, (or How To Be a Christian 101)
"Our Lord Jesus Christ went up into a mountain and taught His disciples saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.'
The poor in spirit are those who consider themselves as nothing compared to the tremendous majesty of God, and crave only for the riches of God and His kingdom.
'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted'.
Those who mourn in this passing world are like the Son of God who never laughed but often mourned because of men's ignorance, sins and suffering.
'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth'.
The meek are humane and kind and long-suffering. Because of His meekness Christ has been called the Lamb of God. The arrogant and angry are the opposite of the meek. They grasp quickly but also loose quickly. In the long run, the meek gain. The Christians were persecuted by the heathens and almost exterminated, yet today they have dominion over the earth.
'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled'.
The people who hunger and thirst after righteousness are those who painfully deplore all the injustices in the world. They shall see the victory of the risen Christ over all the powers of evil and their hearts shall be filled with satisfaction and joy. They shall also see the triumph of the persecuted Church and they shall rejoice.
'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'
The human heart is the real eye for seeing spiritual realities: in the first place is God. By long excercise and by God's grace, the heart may be purified from all sinful impurities as the Lives of the Saints testify. Evil thoughts and desires make a heart impure and blind.
'Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.'
Christ was called the Prince of Peace. He gave peace to His disciples. One gives what one has. If we have peace inside our soul, we can give peace to others. Peace of mind, of heart and of will- a threefold peace in unity-is a real, divine peace in the soul. An unbalanced soul however, cannot have peace.
'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.'
To be persecuted for righteousness sake means to be like Christ and His apostles. The Eastern Orthodox Church produced numberless martyrs for righteousness' sake, who peopled Christ's kingdom in heaven. St. Peter writes, "It is better, if the will of God be so , that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing." 1 Peter 3:17.
'Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.'
Christ speaks here more extensively of the sufferings of His followers for His sake. They will be reviled, slandered and persecuted. But they ought to endure all that with unshaken faith and hope in Him who shall come in due time as the final Victor and Righteous Judge. He will then separate forever the righteous from the unrighteous.
"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in Heaven!"
In weeping, rejoice; in suffering, rejoice; in dying, rejoice. For the best in mankind, who travelled the same thorny path as you, are now awaiting you in the world beyond, where Christ regins and where there are no sighs, no sadness, and no sufferings, but life and joy eternal."
