Beatitude
#8 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for there is
the kingdom of heaven. KJV
Blessings to those
who are dislocated for the cause of justice; their new home is the province of
the universe. Neil Douglas-Klotz
Beatitude
#9 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Renewal when you
are reproached and driven away by the clamor of evil on all sides, for my sake…
Beatitude
#10 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Do everything
extreme, including letting your ego disappear for this is the secret of
claiming your expanded home in the universe.
We are all affected by a culture that contributes to obesity and ill health.
Consider the foods that take up space in an average grocery store.
Although we know that our diet should consist MOSTLY of fruits and vegetables,
you would not be able to tell that by looking a modern grocery store. Television commercials entice us to eat
and there is constant advertising of unhealthy food choices to adults and to children. We are urged to consume foods containing white flour, white sugar, salt, high fructose corn syrup, transfats, MSG and other preservatives. Think for a moment
of the type of items on most restaurant menus and the portion sizes. Start to notice how easy and convenient
it is to purchase unhealthy food vs the time and effort that is required to
prepare healthy daily menus. Add to this to the pace of modern life, the allure
of sedentary forms of relaxation vs. activities that require exertion. Not to
mention, daily hassle stress and the additional stress-causing “burden” of
being a minority in the U.S. and you can begin to understand what we are up
against when we determine to live a healthy life style.
The first seven Beatitudes have the
potential to produce radical changes in the way we think of our health. Bringing
our health regimen more in line with the Five Basic Health Habits (be positive,
normal weight, no smoking, at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per
day and 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week) requires adjustment on all
levels; spiritual emotional mental and physical. We now understand through much
of the right brain activities introduced in this Sacred and Fit program that
there are spiritual, emotional, mental and physical reasons that we haven’t
already fostered the Five Basic Health Habits. By examining the issues underlying unhealthy choices and making
their resolution a part of our spiritual development we will slowly change our beliefs,
attitudes and behaviors. An ideal weight and healthy life style habits will
inevitably result. Our bodies, just like any temple, will express on the outside, the sacredness and reverence we hold on the inside. Our own life will be infused with the Christ's presence.
However, in the last three Beatitudes, Jesus
the Christ explains what will happen when a person takes on a spiritual
commitment to “grow deeper.” It is not good news. In the Textual Notes of
Beatitude #8, Neil Douglas-Klotz says “society does not easily tolerate the
prophetic spirit” A deeper spiritual walk that exposes a need for change is not
necessarily a message that is welcomed by our society or quite possibly by the
Church. However change is
certainly needed according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.
·
African American women have the highest rates of
being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S.
·
About four out of five African American women
are overweight or obese.
·
In 2007, African Americans were 1.4 times as
likely to be obese as Non- Hispanic Whites.
·
From 2003-2006, African American women were 70%
more likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic White women.
·
In 2003-2004, African American children between
ages 6 -17 were 1.3 times as likely to be overweight than Non-Hispanic Whites.
Smoking is the leading cause of premature
death in the U.S. Obesity is now the second. With the majority of African American
women being overweight there is a tacit acceptance of it. A decision to pass up
the fried chicken and mashed potatoes at the Pastors Appreciation dinner or to
suggest that the Bereavement committee contribute to a fruit basket instead of
sending baked goods may not put you in good stead with other parishioners. Eating
is a huge part of our cultural expression but eating healthy is not….not
yet. The Bible shows us many
examples where the prophet’s message is rejected at first but then slowly,
eventually there is a shift.
This final week is a culmination of the
first seven Beatitudes in which we have created intentions and affirmations concering our health habits. My personal intentions and affirmations are below. Based on the past seven weeks of study of the Beatitudes, I believe that I have now
1.
Linked myself to Spirit for the purpose of
affecting change in my health habits
2.
Tuned myself to the Source so that I may cease
my confusion and bring my health habits into the spiritual domain .
3.
Softened those rigid areas of unforgiveness,
bitterness or stress by shifting my attitude and asking for forgiveness when necessary.
4.
Committed myself to allowing the transformative
grace of God to infuse my every act around my health. In so doing, I see myself
as a child of God.
5.
Received mercy grace and compassion to grant to
myself and I am therefore able to grant mercy grace and compassion to others. I love myself
6.
Received the ability to see the spirit of God
everywhere, I love others.
7.
Received the peace of God. I am at peace.
My affirmation for Beatitudes #8, #9 and #10
8.
I now am willing to consider that identifying
myself internally and primarily as a child of God may have me look at my place
in the universe differently.
9.
I am willing to be excluded or reproached by
those who don’t yet see themselves as children of God.
10.
I fully expect that the reward for “growing
deeper” is experiencing a closer and more intimate relationship with the Christ
presence within me.
If you so choose, create your own Affirmations
for the final three Beatitudes and use them this week along with your translations.
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