The Beatitudes for Today

The Beatitudes may seem a strange way to begin a sermon, but they famously open Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" in the Gospel According to St. Matthew. These pithy, paradoxical promises have fascinated Jesus' followers from the beginning of the Church, serving as a kind of manifesto of Christian ethics. "The Beatitudes for Today" is a series of creative and hortatory essays about the eight Matthean blessings. (Luke's Gospel has four blessings and four less popular woes.) It's well-suited for private meditation or group study. James Howell, a Methodist pastor, does a good job of explaining the key Greek words, and he steers clear of many misuses and misinterpretations of the text. Most readers will appreciate his widely ecumenical selection of supporting voices, from John Calvin to Saint Therese of Lisieux. Though the Beatitudes can be seen as attitudes to emulate, steps toward spiritual maturity, and even as a platform for social change, Howell never lets us forget that they are, first and foremost, divine blessings. And that is a good place to begin.

James Howell presents a very accessible and engaging look at the Beatitudes. The book combines straightforward study of the gospels with the insigth of contemporary lives and writings, including Frederick Buechner, Dorothy Day, and even J.R.R. Tolkien. The modern commentary and examples help to give new insight into these long-cherised verses from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Each chapter is followed by three questions for individual reflection or discussion in a group. I highly recommend this book for individuals or for groups discussions in a church or neighborhood setting.