Reproduced from https://www.heedthespirit.com/the-sermon-on-the-mount-the-spiritual-wisdom-of-the-beatitudes/
Table of Contents
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – The Spiritual Wisdom of the Beatitudes
In Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 51:16), he declared to the crowd which gathered to listen to him, a number of “Blessed are” statements. These statements have been called “The Beatitudes”; and the spiritual wisdom which Jesus is giving to the crowd is quite profound. In fact, I often wonder how many people truly understood what he was saying. For, we have to remember that Jesus was speaking as a fully enlightened being; someone who knew God intimately and recognized that his life came from God. Therefore, these statements should be meditated on and analyzed not from a physical point of view, but rather from an elevated spiritual consciousness.
Also, their deep spiritual advice can be of help to any of us walking the spiritual path, whether we are a Christian or not. For, truth is truth, no matter which path it comes from or where it is heard. Therefore, the beatitudes are as follows:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- 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.
Over the next few days, we will take a look at each beatitude individually and go into them in depth so that we can fully understand their spiritual benefit. But for now, just read them over again and see how they resonant within your own heart & soul. See if you can fully comprehend the advice & wisdom which Jesus was sharing with the crowd. For, Jesus came as a prophet and a witness to our God & Creator. He came to earth to remind humanity that God is the Father of all; and he came to show His children the way back to Him. Therefore, an understanding of his words can truly help a seeker to attain God.
May God bless you as you travel along your own spiritual path & remember to – Always Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/beatitude-1-the-importance-of-being-unattached-to-things/
♦ The Spiritual Importance Of Being Unattached To Things (Beatitude #1)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:2-3)” — Jesus
Welcome to our discussion of the spiritual wisdom of the beatitudes. The first of the beatitudes is very often misinterpreted; because it is often only read superficially & understood on a physical level. Like most of the beatitudes, it is not contemplated or comprehended at the more spiritual level from which these “blessed are…” statements were spoken. Therefore, this is frequently one of the verses which people quote to claim that Jesus was against wealth, money, or riches.
However, this is not the intended meaning of the verse. For, the verse says “POOR IN SPIRIT”; and to be “poor in spirit” means that one’s inner self or soul is emptied of all desires and attachments to materiality, earthly possessions, and selfishness. To be “poor in spirit” doesn’t truly mean that we must be a pauper; or that we can’t have wealth or anything nice. It just means that we are unattached to the things that we do have.
Jesus was teaching his followers to be “poor in spirit” because if we have a desire for, or a love of, anything, which is greater than our love for God, then there is no chance for us to enter into God’s Kingdom. Unless we let go of physical / material attachments then there is no possibility of attaching ourselves to God. It is only through this type of inner renunciation of worldly things that we purify and empty ourselves enough for God to fill us. Therefore, Jesus is ultimately saying that it is not wealth or possessions that hinder us spiritually, but rather our attachment to them.
Now, Buddhists & Hindu’s also believe that it is our attachment to things which is a great obstacle to our spiritual life. They believe that it is our attachments which cause our suffering and misery; and even hinders the attainment of nirvana. For, our attachments keep us bound to this world; and unless we are unattached we cannot be truly free.
When we become unattached to worldly objects and recognize our desires for things to be misleading and destructive to our souls, then we, in essence, break the chains which keep us bound to a life of misery and suffering. It is only then that we will begin to find true peace, joy, and happiness in our lives. It is in a life of simplicity, detachment, and by seeking only the things of God, that a seeker is ultimately rewarded and inherits the kingdom of eternal blessedness. It is by living in this manner that we DISCOVER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. And this is why Jesus says that the “Kingdom of Heaven” comes to those who are “poor in spirit”.
Therefore, heed the advice of the first beatitude and be “poor in spirit” so that you can break down any walls which shut you off from God’s Kingdom. And remember that the person who succeeds in spiritual living is “the one who remains inwardly unattached” (Bhagavad Gita 3:7). When we learn to become unattached, we empty ourselves of physical desires and needs which allows God to fill the void with His Spirit. Then, let His Spirit manifest through you in all your words, thoughts, and deeds so that God’s light may shine forth and uplift all the people that cross your path.
I will leave you with this little bit of advice: one of the best ways to remain unattached is to realize that all of creation belongs only to God. Therefore, all of our “possessions” are only on loan from Him. What He has blessed us with He can take back at anytime.
May God bless you and protect you as you walk your own spiritual path & remember to — Always Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/to-know-god-we-must-mourn-over-our-loss-of-him-beatitude-2/
♦ To Know God We Must “Mourn” Over Our “Loss” of Him (Beatitude #2)
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)” — Jesus
As we continue on in our spiritual discussion of the beatitudes, this second beatitude is another which may be hard to comprehend because the sorrow which we suffer, & tears we shed, over the loss of a loved one, many take us weeks, months, or even years to get over. In some cases, the mourning we go through never leaves us until we succumb to death ourselves. However, Jesus was not speaking about the mourning over the loss of life or material possessions.
I will remind you again that these beatitudes were spoken from an exalted spiritual consciousness and therefore they all have a deeper spiritual meaning to them. We should be reminding ourselves that Jesus came to declare to humanity that God is our Father; and his mission was to show the world the way back to God. Therefore, when we read or hear any of the beatitudes, we should be saying to ourselves: “how can any of these verses help me to know, find, & / or experience God in my life?”
The “mourning” which Jesus says will be comforted is the “mourning” which our soul goes through after recognizing or “awakening” to the consciousness of being “separated” from God. In truth we are never really separated from God, for if we were we couldn’t exist. So, we never truly lose Him, we just lose sight of Him. And it is the pursuit of selfish desires which have caused us to fall from an elevated spiritual consciousness into a lower more material one.
Selfishness has caused us to “have died” spiritually and makes us feel disconnected or separated from God. Once we become “Enlightened” we regain or “awaken” to a higher level of consciousness and come to know how intimately united to God we truly are. But, until we reach that point, our soul, which is buried within us, is deeply yearning and desiring to be reunited with it’s Beloved Maker. And when we love God above all other things, and cry out from our soul for Him, then He will respond to us & comfort us.
In fact, this is one of God’s many promises (Jeremiah 33:3, Qur’an 40:60). But, our calling cannot be just lip-service. Only when we cry out to God, with all our hearts, “mourning” over the “loss” of knowing Him, as we would mourn the loss of a parent or child, will He come to us. For, as our soul yearns for God and draws closer to Him, the attractive force of love, draws God closer to us; and He comforts us with the bliss & love of His presence.
Think of it this way, is it the child who is happily playing alone in the yard, or the continuously crying child, who will attract a response from its parent?
In the same manner, it is the soul, which continuously cries for God & spiritual knowledge, who is comforted by the embrace of God and has his / her tears wiped from his / her face.
In fact, what Jesus is teaching in this second beatitude he repeats in the parable he spoke about “The Persistent Neighbour” (Luke 11:5-8). If we don’t stop calling out to God; if we keep crying to Him from the depths of our soul, and continually seek Him, then one day our efforts shall be rewarded & our sorrow shall be comforted by His coming to us.
Therefore, as you walk your spiritual path, allow your soul to “cry” over the loss of knowing God. If you “mourn” over the fact that you have lost intimate contact with Him, you shall eventually be surprised & comforted by His presence. So, know that truly blessed are all of you who are crying & mourning for God now. For, by this yearning you shall attain Him and rejoice in the knowledge of Him throughout the rest of eternity.
God bless you on your journey & remember to – Always Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
♦ Blessed Are the Meek: For They Shall Inherit More Than The Earth! (Beatitude #3)
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)” — Jesus
Thank you for continuing to follow our discussion on the spiritual wisdom of the beatitudes.
The modern world favors those who are strongly competitive and assertive. These people are the ones who receive recognition and rewards. Because of this, meekness has become associated with weakness, and so, it is no longer a characteristic valued by society. Therefore, how can Jesus claim in this third beatitude that the “meek shall inherit the earth”?
What we need to understand is that meekness is not weakness. And living spiritually never calls us to be spineless. Living a spiritual life requires that we always have moral courage & a backbone to show strength when it is called for. In fact 10 times the Bible calls us to “be strong & courageous.” (Deut: 31:6, 31:7, 31:23; Joshua 1;6, 1:9, 1:18, 10:25; 1 Chronicles 22:13, 28:20; 2 Chronicles 32:7).
Also, the Bible tells us, that besides Jesus, “Moses was very meek, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). And would we describe Moses as weak? Moses never backed down from anyone; nor did he run from a fight when it was called for; and neither did he hesitate to order the execution of the thousands who worshipped the golden calf while he was received the 10 commandments on the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:25-28).
Therefore, the spiritually meek person stands strong against evil. Being meek never means that we allow ourselves to be used as door mats & walked all over by others. And it also doesn’t mean that we must bend, break, or cower in the presence of a stronger individual.
However, meekness is a condition of the heart & mind which does show gentleness. Someone who is meek in spirit reacts according to what they discern is God’s will within all circumstances. And while the meek will resist evil in defense of God, they will react with patience, kindness, and gentleness. They will not react irrationally, but with control they react at the right time & in the right way.
Now, the meek will inherit the earth because in the big picture good shall overcome all evil. The Light shall always drive out the darkness. And so, those on God’s side are inevitably destined for victory. Also, meekness means that we are humbly patient in regard to what happens to us; and it is by our patience that we possess our souls (Luke 21:19).
Therefore, expanding on what Jesus said in this beatitude, if we possess our souls we actually inherit more than just the earth; we inherit eternal life. And it is through eternal life that we ultimately inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
May God bless you on your journey & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
♦ Thirst For God As You Would A Cold Drink In The Sweltering Summer Heat (Beatitude #4)
Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness; for they shall be filled” (Matthew5:6) — Jesus
As we continue our talk about the spiritual wisdom of the beatitudes, many have commented that these verses can be found in both the Gospels of Matthew & Luke, and asked why I am only quoting Matthew?
This is because Matthew’s Gospel expresses the true spirituality of these words spoken by Jesus; while Luke’s Gospel, which was written many years later, seems to slightly miss the mark.
For example: in Luke’s gospel, this 4th Beatitude reads, “Blessed are you which hunger now; for you shall be filled” (6:21). And starting from the very first, which says “blessed are the poor…” rather than “poor in spirit”, Luke’s gospel gives his reader a limited understanding; and causes them to think only at a physical level. He doesn’t fully pass along the spiritual wisdom they contain. And again, you don’t have to be a Christian, to benefit from the spiritual knowledge which Jesus imparted in the beatitudes.
So, a reader of Luke may think that Jesus is actually referring to someone who is hungry or starving for food. And then contemplate that with all the people around the world dying from starvation that this fourth beatitude makes no sense. However, Jesus is not referring to any type of hunger for physical food or thirst for physical drink. What Jesus says is “blessed are those who hunger & thirst for – RIGHTEOUSNESS”.
So, what is righteousness?
It is uprightness, morality, justice, & virtue. A righteous person is someone who seeks to follow the will of God and walk in the Light of His Law.
Therefore, Jesus is using the words “hunger & thirst” in order to give his listeners a reference for how passionate they must be about their spiritual living. If we long to experience, know, and reunite with God; then we must yearn and desire Him just as someone who walked for miles through the desert would desire a glass of water. If
we want to be filled with God’s Spirit, then we must desire it as someone who hasn’t had a meal in weeks would desire a piece of bread.
We must understand that having all of the scriptures memorized will not guarantee us a place in heaven; and prayers which are said with just the lips alone will not gain a response from God. We have to have more passion, feeling, and intensity in our spiritual life in order to draw God to us; and be filled with His love. It is only when we have such an intensity that we “hunger & thirst” for what is right & good that we show God just how much we love Him. He responds to that love by filling us with Himself; Who is all Good & the epitome of Righteousness!
Therefore, we in essence, attain salvation when we have a hunger for God & thirst for Spiritual things. God will not hold anything back from those who desire Him with all their hearts & soul. And it is the truly devoted soul, who yearns for God, that ultimately becomes blessed with the experience of knowing Him intimately & entering His kingdom.
Those who seek to be filled by anything other than God will always be in lack & never truly be satisfied; for, material things cannot satisfy a spiritual desire. Our souls want nothing other than to rediscover the relationship they had when they were first created. We long to be reunited to God. And eternal happiness and complete satisfaction is only obtained by those who passionately desire Him.
Therefore, if you fully comprehend this 4th Beatitude you shall swiftly move along the spiritual path. For, just as Jesus as declared, the Bhagavad Gita, also says, the righteous shall be filled:
“The righteous, who worship Me [God] & cling to Me, become the true knowers of Me; and filled with My presence.” (7:28-30)
So, when you long for knowing God, as you would a cold drink, on a scorching summer’s day; be certain that your thirst will be quenched. When you desire God’s love, as you would a meal, after a week of fasting; rest assured that you will receive so much that it will overflow to all those around you. Therefore, know that truly blessed are you who hunger and thirst; for what can be better than being filled with God?
God bless you on your journey & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/mercy-a-divine-quality-which-brings-us-close-to-god-beatitude-5/
♦ MERCY – A Divine Quality Which Brings Us Close to God (BEATITUDE #5)
“Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7)” — Jesus
Today, in our Spiritual Wisdom of The Beatitude Series we are talking about mercy. The spiritual wisdom found within this 5th Beatitude is two-fold:
- Mercy is a Divine Characteristic.
- This verse teaches the Law of Karma (what goes around comes around; & as we sow, so shall we reap).
Is there anyone who truly believes that our God is not merciful? Just think of the wrongs you have done and ask yourself have you received the penalty & punishment which you truly deserve?
Therefore, you have experienced though your own life that mercy is an intrinsic quality of God’s Divine Nature. And God, Himself, has said, through the prophet Hosea, “I desire mercy & not sacrifice” (6:6). So, wise children of God seek to cultivate this characteristic within themselves. For example, look at Jesus’ own life.
Jesus came as a witness to our God who is so gentle, merciful, & loving. It was the love & mercy of the Father, which Jesus showed to the world, when, instead of condemning the woman caught in adultery, he sought to pardon her; it was the mercy of our Lord, which Jesus showed, through his healings and forgiving of people sins; and it was the mercy & love of God, which he showed when instead of condemning, judging, or cursing those who would crucify him, he asked for their forgiveness.
God doesn’t desire the death nor receive any pleasure from the punishment of any of wrong-doers. God is merciful and wishes that a sinner would repent & live (Ezekiel 18:23). God looks upon us as a loving father looks at his young children. If a young child strikes you, you don’t want to hit them back in vengeful retaliation. You gently and calmly correct the child for what he / she has done, because they don’t fully understand the wrong. Well, God looks at the sinner in the same way.
Think of it this way: When you were children how many of you fully understood the reasons for the rules your parents had set? Many of us may have had curfews or household rules which we had to follow; and at times perhaps we thought that our parents were being tyrants or overly strict by these rules. But the truth is that they had set these rules because they loved us. The wanted to protect us, keep us safe, and help us mature into good men & women. Yet, many of us may have broken the rules; i.e. snuck out of the house, because we didn’t truly understand the reason for them. This is the way God sees us. He is merciful because He sees sinners as children who don’t fully comprehend Him & / or the goodness of His ways.
Now the second aspect of this beatitude speaks of the Divine Law of Karma; also expressed as “what goes around comes around” & “as we sow so shall we reap”. If we are merciful; we shall receive Divine mercy for ourselves. If we are friendly; we shall have friends. If we are loving; we shall bring more love into our lives. This Law is Truth; and it never fails.
Therefore, as this 5th beatitude says, if we desire to receive Divine Mercy then let us be merciful. Let us all try not seek to correct others through condemnation & criticism. And let us not judge others for any errors which we may see. The spiritually wise are merciful because they see all people as children of God. They don’t judge or condemn others because these children deserve sympathy & help because of their ignorance. The wise see sinners as children who simply need guidance because they have gone astray. The spiritually ignorant are still children of God and all need help and understanding from merciful souls. And those of us who are able to cultivate this Divine quality with us shall be bonded in love to the heart of God.
May God continually bless you during your own spiritual walk & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/to-see-god-we-need-a-pure-heart-beatitude-6/
♦ We Need A Pure Heart To See God (Beatitude #6)
“Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)” — Jesus
I thank you for following us so far in our discussion of the spiritual wisdom of the beatitudes. Today we shall discuss the joy of seeing God; and ultimately the goal of every spiritual person should be the direct experience of God. For, how can we properly give honor and worship to something that we don’t truly know?
Jesus tells his listeners in this 6th beatitude that in order to see God we need to purify our hearts. And in truth, all scriptures agree on this fact.
For example, The Bhagavad-Gita, India’s scripture & guide to God-union, says:
- “those great souls who love Me [God], merge into My spirit” (Bhagavad Gita 8:15)
- “I [God] am impartial, to all… Those, however, who give Me their hearts’ love are in Me, as I am in them” (Bhagavad Gita 9:29).
Now, God is perceived not with our physical eyes but with the EYE of the soul. Our true essence knows God and has seen Him. But, our spiritual senses have become diminished and distorted by our attraction to other things and our reliance on the physical senses. The restoration of our divine sight begins with the purification of our heart. And when we wake up to the Truth of who we are, we set our selves free from the chains of this illusion and begin to once again see God all around us.
Therefore, what does “pure in heart” mean?
It means we move away from loving the world and our attachments to it, and begin to attach ourselves to God. A pure heart is one that loves God above all else. It is a heart that seeks & desires His Will rather than our own. And it is a heart that is without SELFISHNESS, because it has become purely SELFLESS.
It is only with a purified heart that one is able to receive and reflect the Light & Love of God. And it is upon such a heart that God bestows the power to reclaim its true heritage as His child. Yes, we are all made in the image & likeness of God; & yes, we are technically all His children, but not all of us have fully claimed this birthright. For, a true child is always given access to their parent and a true child of God sees Him at all times. But hearts which are restless with desires and churning with emotions such as anger, greed, and jealousy become blind to God and are truly children of the world.
Therefore, if you wish to spiritually evolve to the point of actually seeing God, then follow the advice of this 6th beatitude and seek your hearts purification. For, we need to be purified in order for contact to occur. And it is only through the heart that we can gain such an intimate closeness.
God bless you on your journey & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
♦ We Show Ourselves To Be Children Of God By Creating Peace Within (Beatitude #7)
“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)” — Jesus
As we continue our Beatitude Series discussions, we come to the Divine trait of Peace. Peace, like Love & Mercy, is part of God’s nature. Therefore, those of us who can nurture peace within ourselves and commune with the God of Peace, within the temple of our body, are by this relationship, God’s true children.
Most of us are longing for some form of peace. It may be peace of mind; peace in our lives & relationships; peace in our cities; peace for our nations; and / or peace in the world. Yet, as many great men & women throughout the centuries have said:
“We cannot have peace in the world until we have peace within ourselves.”
So how can we generate inner peace?
By following a daily spiritual practice. For, spiritual practices and rituals help to connect us to the peace that is already within us. And once we experience the peace of God we will want to have that peace continually manifest in our lives, homes, cities, and among all peoples.
Now, any soul who brings peace anywhere in the world has in effect made God manifest there. Also, anyone who creates peace between individuals has in effect opened their hearts to, and connected their souls through, the Peace of God. And this is what identifies such a soul as a child of God.
God doesn’t desire any type of conflict or fighting between peoples. We are all His children; and He is seeking unity & peace within His family. God loves us all; regardless of where our physical incarnation has caused us to be born or what religion we practice. And since we are all made in His image and likeness, He desires that we have the same consciousness as Him. God wants us to have love for all beings. Therefore, anyone who causes dissention between brethren, regardless of how spiritual or religious they may appear to be, is a traitor to God’s spiritual family.
So, the challenge for all peacemakers is to seek to live in a consciousness of love. That means that “while you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart” (St. Francis of Assisi). Peacemakers must strive to see the divine within all people and things. If we all live in such a way we could eradicate all prejudices, conflicts, and wars. By doing so, we can effectively bring the Kingdom of God into full manifestation on earth. Then, we shall be fully living the wisdom of the 7th Beatitude & proudly proclaiming to the world that we are indeed children of God.
God bless you on your journey & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/blessed-are-you-when-you-are-persecuted-for-righteousness-beatitude-8/
♦ Blessed Are You When You Are Persecuted For Righteousness (Beatitude #8)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)” — Jesus
Welcome back to our discussion on the spiritual importance & wisdom of the beatitudes. This 8th Beatitude speaks about the importance of doing what we know to be right, regardless of how our actions are being received by friends, and even, enemies. We should not care what others may think, or say, about our decision to live a spiritual life; and we should pay no mind to the persecutions which are brought against us for trying to walk the straight & narrow path. If doing good brings us criticism and condemnation, so be it; let us stay strong & do good anyway. For, the love of God is showered upon those souls who endure, with self-control & even-mindedness, the unjust criticism of friends & enemies, for doing what is right & choosing not to follow society’s unhealthy habits.
A righteous soul will not give into the peer pressure from others and conform with society just because the majority of humanity may think something is ok. Righteous souls will not compromise their beliefs or morals even when others mock them for their nonparticipation or for going against the grain. Their standing firm in righteousness may bring ridicule and persecution, but in the long run their action leads to blessings & the perfection of their soul. For, the righteous soul chases what is most beneficial for them. They are wise builders creating mansions for their selves to eternally live in; and when they enter the kingdom of heaven their place shall be firmly established.
Yet, the worldly individuals who prefer living by indulging in their desires and chasing after earthly pleasures are quite foolish; for they shall have nowhere to lay their heads, and by ignoring what is right, shall have to face the consequences of their choices. Therefore, the souls who are able to detach from this world, and peacefully endure the persecution of others for their choice, shows they are ready to be given citizenship in God’s Kingdom. And the eternal joy & happiness which is found there is reserved for them.
Now be conscious of the fact that Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, is not a place we must wait till death to enter. It is a state of eternal joy, happiness, peace, and abundant love which can be attained while still in the body & living in this world. In fact, it has been attained by many enlightened beings, saints, & holy peoples throughout history.
Therefore, do not wait! Seek the kingdom of heaven now! And know that if you wish to enter that through the wisdom of this 8th beatitude you have been given a key. For, by steadfast righteousness, a soul is showered with the love of God and merges with His Bliss. And when this occurs “the Kingdom of Heaven truly is theirs”.
God bless you in your own journey to the kingdom & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
https://www.heedthespirit.com/we-are-blessed-when-persecuted-for-our-spirituality/
♦ We Are Blessed When Persecuted For Our Spirituality (Beatitude #9)
“Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so they persecuted the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)” — Jesus
Thank you for following this discussion on the spiritual wisdom of the beatitudes. Now please don’t feel that after reading this last one that you must run out and acquire a group of haters, revilers, or persecutors in order to secure yourself a place in heaven. Although, if you are already living spiritually, then you know that this wouldn’t be very difficult; because the worldly soul becomes very uncomfortable around those who are spiritually unlike them. You see someone who does wrong becomes uneasy around someone who does good, because it reminds them of their wrong. Therefore, no matter how much good we do, the arrows of persecution can never be totally eliminated.
Therefore, in this verse Jesus is encouraging his listeners and followers to not be disheartened if while walking a spiritual path they find that worldly people do not understand or even become turned off by them. In fact, this beatitude goes hand in hand with the previous one; for Jesus is saying that those who can pass through life without giving into the peer pressure to “fit in”, and who can without reaction endure any persecution that comes their way will ultimately gain the eternal happiness which comes from God.
It should be considered no real loss when haters and false-friends no longer welcome you within their company. In fact, this beatitude says, that the persons who are rejected & persecuted for their spirituality are actually blessed. For, in truth, our souls can become tarnished by the company we keep. And so, by being separated from such people, and influences, our souls are allowed to mature and make better progress on their journey.
The Bhagavad-Gita also speaks of how such souls are blessed when it says:
“He who is calm before friend & foe alike, equal to honor & insult…that person is dear to Me [God] (12:18-19).”
Therefore, no matter what comes at us, we must learn to follow & adhere to what we know to be right. Also we must not be swayed from our spiritual path no matter how much we may be mocked or hated on. It is in cultivating the divine qualities, such as patience, compassion, & mercy, which are needed to endure such persecutions that the spiritual aspirant finds true happiness & blessings.
However, we must also learn to stay humble as these virtues are cultivated. Spiritual souls must not get a big ego thinking that because they are enduring persecution for their spiritual living that they are in anyway better than anyone else. Yes, blessed you are when you prefer to walk in the light of God rather than stumble on in the darkness of worldly ignorance; but our haters have eternity to get to the place that we are at. Eventually, we will all return to God, some of us just get there sooner than others.
At the end of this verse, Jesus reminds the listeners to think about their forefathers who reviled the prophets who came before him & to contemplate the reward the prophets received from God for the persecution which they endured at the hands of ignorant souls. These persons refused to bend in their beliefs even with the threat of death. They also refused to hate their persecutors and demonstrated God’s forgiving love and infinite grace. And if we desire to be perfect, the best thing we can do is pray for our persecutors to be forgiven and ask that they move speedily along on their own spiritual journey. In this way we make our own life a beacon of light which can help guide wayward souls back home to God.
God bless you in your walk & may you always remember to – Heed the Spirit,
Anthony
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♥ About
♥ Our Purpose & Mission
Help awaken humanity to its spiritual greatness & assist spiritual aspirants in learning how to “reunite” themselves with God.
God is not an ancient superstition. God is a real and living entity, consciousness, force, energy; etc.… Therefore, an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP & DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH GOD IS POSSIBLE IN THIS LIFETIME.
Heed The Spirit teaches that this relationship can be built through:
- Having a sincere intention (or desire) to know God;
- Having a pure heart;
- By an awareness of our thoughts, words, and the motivations behind our actions;
- By learning to stay present in the moment;
- And by scheduling time for daily spiritual practice
In fact, we encourage and promote daily spiritual practice as natural ways to enhance the quality of our lives & our minds.
♥ Our Vision
By providing the knowledge needed for both personal & global transformation we seek to help create a world of Peace, Love, & Unity. For, ALL IS ONE!
Everyone & everything are interconnected through the essence of “Life”.
♥ A Note From Our Founder
Hello & Welcome!
My name is Anthony Profeta, and I’d like to personally welcome you to Heed the Spirit. I am a spiritual advisor, meditation teacher, writer, & speaker. I created this site because a message needs to get out to the world – both our planet & humanity are out of balance. We can see the restlessness & instability all around the globe. Citizens of many countries are in protests & uprisings; the hearts of humanity are filled with greed, corruption, violence, the pursuit of power, and all kinds of selfishness.
All these things are happening because we have de-evolved from a spiritual society and slipped into the darkness of a materialistic / politically-correct one. We have forgotten who we really are and where it is we have come from. And therefore, we have strayed from the truth and turned our backs to God & His Law.
Until we relearn these things we will not be able to create a more balanced & better world for ourselves or our children. Until we create peace within, we cannot have peace in the outside world. And we need to comprehend that we shall always be restless until we again reunite our souls with God.
God is NOT an ancient superstition. The concept of God may need some updating, but it is a real and living Entity. God loves us very much & wants a relationship with ALL OF US. In fact, He offers us the possibility of entering into a close relationship & having a direct experience of Him, right here and now.
We do not have to wait to reach heaven in order to know God personally. The only thing we must overcome in order to have direct contact with God is – our self. We stand in our own way.
So, many of us feel disconnected & think of God as some external Entity. But, the truth is God is very near to us. He dwells in all things which He has made, and He dwells within the heart of each & every one of His children. We truly are temples of His spirit. And though we may feel “disconnected” the truth is we are NEVER really “separated” from God. If we were we could not exist; for God is the origin of all life. He is the essence of Life itself. He is the ‘Life” which resides in each & every one of us and is the “Life Force” which animates our bodies. The only reason we feel “disconnected” is because we are lacking spiritual awareness.
Therefore, here at Heed the Spirit we are devoted to helping people of any religion regain that awareness of God and build a more intimate and personal relationship. We want everyone to know just how loved they are by God, and directly experience His unconditional love for themselves.
We seek to raise humanity’s consciousness so that we may begin to rise above any limited thinking and reconnect ourselves to the Divine. WE ARE SOULS, WHICH TAKE ON A BODY! We are spiritual (soul) entities having a physical experience. And we hope to reawaken this memory within you so that you can reach your true potential and re-evolve back into the spiritual entities that God created you to be.
We do not seek to convert anyone from the path they have chosen, but instead, respect differences, and believe that each group can learn from one another. For, we are all members of the same family who just worship our God / Creator in different ways. Therefore, we look for similarities and celebrate the TRUTH, which, if deeply searched for, can be found at the core of all Religions.
Remember, ALL OF US WERE CREATED BY THE SAME-ONE-GOD; and His Truth is always the same regardless of where it is heard.
We hope that by providing knowledge & tools, for both a personal and global transformation, that we can help you see the underlying oneness of all things and assist you in bringing the “soul self” (the part of us made in the image & likeness of God) into manifestation during your daily living. This way we can create together a world of Love, Peace, & Unity.
I’ve learned that the most important thing we can do is share the knowledge we have. Therefore, I hope that you find this site helpful for your own journey.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. In fact, I’d like to invite you to get involved by commenting or sharing a post of your own. And I thank you ahead of time for any of the wisdom & love that you share.
You can also stay connected by following Heed the Spirit on Twitter. And don’t forget to introduce yourself to our community on the Heed the Spirit Facebook Page. We are a very welcoming, peaceful, & loving group who are seeking a direct experience and intimate relationship with God; and we strive to be of help and / or service to anyone in any way that we can. By coming together as ONE we really can make a difference & create a heaven on earth!
May your days always be filled with love, happiness, & peace! God bless you always!
And remember to always — HEED THE SPIRIT,
Anthony Profeta
Heed the Spirit – Founder
