You would be very welcome to join me, Alastair, as I follow this walk on Sunday 24th October 2021, starting from South Nutfield village hall at 13:00. Alternatively, use this walk guide . (This website will also have last minute updates.)
I will be leaving a painted stone at each place on the walk. You are every welcome to take or add more stones.
The seventh beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The seventh beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
The sixth beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
The fourth beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
The third beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
The second beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Some bible scholars identity Isaiah 61 1:7 as the passage Jesus had in mind in the beatitudes. That old testament passage has ‘ He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted… to comfort all who mourn…’
At the time of Isaiah the Jewish people were in exile in Babylon and mourning. Psalm 137:1 says
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
By the time of Jesus they were back in Palestine but ruled over by the Romans and awaiting their Messiah. Some thought the Messiah would be a King to make the Jewish people great.
We all have times of mourning when we loose somebody. We may also mourn over events in the world where people suffer through no fault of their own. We are called to be like Jesus and bring comfort to those who mourn.
The first beatitude in Matthew is
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus took his disciples onto a mountainside and began his teaching in what has become known as the beatitudes.