We have come to see the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 as a list of things that we should aspire to. But if that were so then why did the religious leaders have such a problem with Jesus' message. Could it be that his words were actually subversive and that over time we have managed to misinterpret his meaning? Could it be that the Beatitudes are not a list of what we should aspire to but instead is a description of where we actually are, i.e. spiritually bankrupt? The good news is that the kingdom of heaven is available even to us, as we are.

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-11