Textual Notes for the First Beatitude
The first of the Beatitudes was translated as "Blessed are the poor in spirt; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Aramaic word meskanaee (poor) encompasses the images of a solid home base or resting point, of a fluid, rod, luminous enclosure, and of devotedly holding fast to something , as if one were "poor" for lack of it. The word "ruche" (heaven) may be translated as "spirit," "breath," "soul" or as whatever moves, stirs animates and links us to life.
The Greek translators appear to have been at a total loss with these seemingly different meaning united around the image of the entire universe filled with one cosmic breath of life, the rukha d'qoodsha or Holy Breath. "Poor in spirit" is a traditional Aramaic idiom meaning "humble" according to Dr. George Lamsa (1936). Behind this, the roots tell us that when ones attended through the berate to God, one does not put oneself forward inappropriately. One's readiness for action rests in the eternal silence of God's Name.
As we saw in the Lord's Prayer malkutha is a word that Jesus used often. It is the "I can"-queendom and kingdom of the universe, from the personal through the cosmic. In this case, the "I can" extends through all realms of light, vibration and name; dashmaya is another grammatical form of d'bashmaya, found in the first line of the Lord's Prayer (who art in heaven).
******************************************************************************
New Eating Habit (to be practiced with all of the Beatitudes)
1. From the 7 translations that you copied of the Greek versions of the first Beatitude OR the creation of one new translation that you took from the 7 translations OR from the Aramaic possible interpretations choose ONE verse that speaks to you, that encourages you, that moves you emotionally..not just intellectually.
Write that sentence down on a clean sheet of paper in your notebook AND on something that you can post where you eat or at your work desk or in your wallet.
2. Bring a sacred intention to each meal and snack by linking a time period of the day to a moment of Lectio Divina. Any food consumed during the Moment of Lectio Divina becomes a reminder to make the moment sacred. The following instructions are borrowed from the Ancient Art of Lactio Divino
Any food/drink consumed before 10:00a.m.- Lectio
Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day. As part of Sacred and Fit, through Lectio, we bring the First Beatitude to our meals, even if only in our minds, if only one time in the morning. We read or recite our chosen verse or passage while eating or drinking before 10:00 am.
Any food/drink consumed between 10:00-2:00- Meditatio
Once we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19). For us today these images are a reminder that we must take in the word - that is, memorize it - and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. This is the second step or stage in lectio divina - Meditatio. Through meditatio we allow God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels. As part of Sacred and Fit through Meditatio we slow down the busy noon day rush by eating thoughtfully and chewing on what the First Beatitude personally means.
Any food/drink consumed between 2:00-6:00- Oratio- Oratio is prayer. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences around food and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase we have consecrated in our lectio and meditatio. In this oratio, this consecration-prayer during the time we are winding down after work and preparing the evening meal we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God. We remember to eat and pray, to eat as prayer. As part of Sacred and Fit through Oratio we learn to keep our minds on the First Beatitude and a desire, a true desire for our relationship with food to be changed.
Any food/drink consumed after 6:00p.m.- Contemplatio- simply rest in the presence of the One and trust that transformation is happening. Your prayers are being answered . No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition - contemplatio, contemplation. Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God. As part of Sacred and Fit, through Contemplatio, we cultivate a sacred inner stillness that carries us into the evening and is with us as we lay down to sleep. Within that stillness it is easy to be appreciative and be grateful for our bodies, right now, as they are. We are also grateful for the vision of health and vitality that is coming into reality each day. We end our day with gratitude and with a greater and deeper understanding of the First Beatitude- "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment