“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great
in heaven.” (Mt 5:12a)
Today’s Passage: Mt 5:1-12a
Meditation: Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is known as the
magnacarta of Christianity. It gives us also the sum and substance of
Christian religion. It spreads through 5th, 6th, and 7th
chapters of the Gospel of Mathew. According to some exegetes Mathew presents Jesus
as the new Moses throughout his gospel: Jesus gives the law on the mount in
remembrance of Moses’ giving the law on the Mount Sinai; but at the same time
he is superior to Moses, therefore, he is perfecting the laws given by Moses
etc. As we celebrate the feast of all the saints, today’s passage has got a
special significance. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in
heaven.” (Mt 5:12a) Saints are those who have found treasures in heaven. Their
minds were not set on earthly things but only on heavenly things. If we know
the background of this verse well, then we will enjoy this meditation. The
Sermon on the Mount begins with the beatitudes; then in the rest of 5th
chapter Jesus perfects the Mosaic laws; in the 6th chapter he speaks
about the new spirit of Jesus’ disciples; and in the 7th chapter the
character of disciples. Today’s verse is more connected with the 6th
chapter where we find Jesus correcting the traditional Jewish good works;
almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. All these were done in public so that others
may see their good works; but Jesus corrected it by commanding that they should
be in secret (almsgiving in secret 6:2-4; prayer in secret 6:5, 6; fasting in
secret 6:16-18) Jesus insisted that it has to be done in secret for the glory
of God the father, not for the glory of men. Saints are those who have done
their ministries or services for the glory of God; they were primarily
concerned about the reward in heaven not on earth. Jesus says, “Do not store up
riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers
break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where
moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your
heart will always be where your riches are.” (Mt 6:19-21)
Prayer: Lord
God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord Jesus, many
a time we were after the earthly wealth and pleasures. Today we know that they
are not eternal; they cannot give the real peace and joy in our life; and they
make us often desperate and dejected. At times our deeds and words were like
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, not of your disciples. What
we did were not in view of your glory, but for our name and fame before men. Give
us your Spirit and lead us in the right path. Amen!
Greetings: Happy feast to all of you! God is with you! Have a nice
and blissful Saturday…
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