Sunday Musings, December 17, 2023
Today I continue my reflections on the Beatitudes. The sixth beatitude from Matthew 5:8 is: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” On the surface this beatitude presents two potentially confusing issues: (1) none of us humans are free from all impurities of our hearts and (2) most of us will not honestly be able to report that we have literally “seen God”.
Jesus never claimed that we were less or more than human and although he did suggest that our perceptions and understanding would change, he did not suggest we would physically see God in this life journey. We also know that Jesus sometimes spoke in parables. Let us explore this teaching.
The Greek word katharos “literally means free from the admixture of anything that soils, adulterates or corrupts, hence clean, pure.” (studylight.org). I do not believe Jesus is suggesting that we humans can be completely free of any thoughts or feelings which conflict with His basic teachings. Certainly, this human is never completely free of any unkind, judgmental, or objectifying thoughts for more than a millisecond. I can, however, own and recognize such thoughts or feelings for just that – thoughts or feelings which requires no action or feeding. They are just thoughts or feelings. Consequently, if we humans want to approach a state of purity, we can be still, breathe and consciously allow, for the moment, those thoughts, or feelings to float away. If we notice that we have done something unkind we quietly notice and invite ourselves to come back to ourselves.
The Greek word for heart is kardia. It can mean the physical organ which pumps blood through the body which is essential for physical life. Thayer Greek Lexicon also suggests that kardia can be used to denote the center of all physical and spiritual life. Thus, to be pure in heart can denote or suggest that we are intentionally opening ourselves to the possibility that we can love our neighbor as ourself; we can love our enemy; we can refrain from judging or throwing the first stone; we can accept that we are no better or worse than anyone else; we can accept that we always get what we need to grow spiritually. We can allow the heart to lead.
If we are doing our best to be spiritually centered this teaching suggests we will see God. What could it mean in actual practice to see God?
The Greek word herein used for “seeing” is horao which may be used to denote literally or figuratively seeing. (Christiancourier.com). Many including D. R. Dungan suggests “the term refers to recognizing God in all the wonders of His creation.” (Hermeneutics, 18).
I suspect we humans, if we are honest, have judged an insect or a plant as just a pest only later to discover it has a role in the cycle of the universe. I also suspect most, if not all, of we humans have adversely judged another human based on statue, perceived age, gender, costume/dress, or general appearance only to find out we completely misjudged who the person was. I certainly have. To “see” God than might mean to see beneath our learned prejudices, categories, expectations, etc. Recently I nearly misjudged two different people when I was at the laundromat only to then discover underlying gems.
This beatitude reminds us to relax and be present to the sacredness of all that is. This includes our own humanness; to just notice our tendency to experience life through our fear of ourselves, others and much of nature; to trust that it is safe to let go of the belief that we or others need to prove our worth; to trust in the paradox that Grace (God’s unconditional love) frees us from the perception that we need to prove our worth though power, possessions, knowledge, degrees, talent or costumes.
This teaching assures us that it is enough to be our authentic selves which then allows us to fulfill our part in the interdependence of all that is.
Blessed is the pure in heart; For they shall see God; for they shall dance.
Written December 17, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Today I continue my reflections on the Beatitudes. The sixth beatitude from Matthew 5:8 is: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” On the surface this beatitude presents two potentially confusing issues: (1) none of us humans are free from all impurities of our hearts and (2) most of us will not honestly be able to report that we have literally “seen God”.
Jesus never claimed that we were less or more than human and although he did suggest that our perceptions and understanding would change, he did not suggest we would physically see God in this life journey. We also know that Jesus sometimes spoke in parables. Let us explore this teaching.
The Greek word katharos “literally means free from the admixture of anything that soils, adulterates or corrupts, hence clean, pure.” (studylight.org). I do not believe Jesus is suggesting that we humans can be completely free of any thoughts or feelings which conflict with His basic teachings. Certainly, this human is never completely free of any unkind, judgmental, or objectifying thoughts for more than a millisecond. I can, however, own and recognize such thoughts or feelings for just that – thoughts or feelings which requires no action or feeding. They are just thoughts or feelings. Consequently, if we humans want to approach a state of purity, we can be still, breathe and consciously allow, for the moment, those thoughts, or feelings to float away. If we notice that we have done something unkind we quietly notice and invite ourselves to come back to ourselves.
The Greek word for heart is kardia. It can mean the physical organ which pumps blood through the body which is essential for physical life. Thayer Greek Lexicon also suggests that kardia can be used to denote the center of all physical and spiritual life. Thus, to be pure in heart can denote or suggest that we are intentionally opening ourselves to the possibility that we can love our neighbor as ourself; we can love our enemy; we can refrain from judging or throwing the first stone; we can accept that we are no better or worse than anyone else; we can accept that we always get what we need to grow spiritually. We can allow the heart to lead.
If we are doing our best to be spiritually centered this teaching suggests we will see God. What could it mean in actual practice to see God?
The Greek word herein used for “seeing” is horao which may be used to denote literally or figuratively seeing. (Christiancourier.com). Many including D. R. Dungan suggests “the term refers to recognizing God in all the wonders of His creation.” (Hermeneutics, 18).
I suspect we humans, if we are honest, have judged an insect or a plant as just a pest only later to discover it has a role in the cycle of the universe. I also suspect most, if not all, of we humans have adversely judged another human based on statue, perceived age, gender, costume/dress, or general appearance only to find out we completely misjudged who the person was. I certainly have. To “see” God than might mean to see beneath our learned prejudices, categories, expectations, etc. Recently I nearly misjudged two different people when I was at the laundromat only to then discover underlying gems.
This beatitude reminds us to relax and be present to the sacredness of all that is. This includes our own humanness; to just notice our tendency to experience life through our fear of ourselves, others and much of nature; to trust that it is safe to let go of the belief that we or others need to prove our worth; to trust in the paradox that Grace (God’s unconditional love) frees us from the perception that we need to prove our worth though power, possessions, knowledge, degrees, talent or costumes.
This teaching assures us that it is enough to be our authentic selves which then allows us to fulfill our part in the interdependence of all that is.
Blessed is the pure in heart; For they shall see God; for they shall dance.
Written December 17, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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