It’s too bad for the poor in spirit,
for they’ll be ignored most of the time.
It’s too bad for those who mourn,
for they should just get over it and move on.
It’s too bad for the meek,
for they’ll never get ahead in life.
It’s too bad for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they’ll eventually starve to death.
It’s too bad for the merciful,
for they’ll be taken advantage of.
It’s too bad for the pure in heart,
for they’ll miss out on a lot of life’s pleasures.
It’s too bad for the peacemakers,
for they’ll be the first to get hacked down by men bent on war.
It’s too bad for those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for they’ll eventually sell out and cave in.
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Sometimes I like to take a familiar passage of scripture and shake it up like a snow globe. I have found that I can learn a great deal by turning the well-worn words and phrases inside out or upside down, looking at them from behind, pulling them apart. It helps me to catch some of the hidden intricacies and ironies of the text. The funny thing is that if you were to stop a random fellow on the street and read these backwards beatitudes side by side with the real Beatitudes from Matthew 5, he would probably say that the first ones make a lot more sense. “That’s just life,” he might remark. “Meek people don’t get the promotion. Merciful people do get taken advantage of. And if you’re trying to find a pub that serves righteousness during happy hour—huh, good luck.”
In Jesus’ world—Matthew calls it the kingdom of heaven—things are so wonderfully different from said fellow’s world. From the very first blessing of His inaugural sermon, it is clear that Christ’s eye is on the least of this world. He is crowning them the kings and queens of his world. He is drying the tears of those who have been jackknifed by tragedy. He is pouring oil on the panhandler’s head. He is promising a feast to the famished and an heirloom to the wallflower. To all those who cannot take care of themselves, He lifts His hand in blessing, and to the poor—those who may be seen as deserving nothing, having nothing, being nothing—He offers everything. Now see if you can read these words with fresh eyes:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:3–10 (NKJV)
