You're on the right road when...

The Message translation of the Bible is often misunderstood and taken for colloquial interpretation. But when the reader understands the depth of spiritual formation out of which the author, pastor, theologian Eugene Peterson wrote, the words become language in which we encounter something about God we could not know otherwise.

Below is part of the passage from Matthew we know as the Sermon on the Mount, just the beginning which we call the Beatitudes. Beatitude means blessing and comes from the Greek word makarios, the root of which is a journey word. Thus some wise scholars have suggested that an accurate translation of you're blessed here could be "you're on the right road when..."

I hope you will savor this translation and hear these familiar blessings "again for the first time." Consider which of the descriptions on the list touches your self? At this moment in your life which would you consider yourself to be closest to? Journal about it.

Owen and Mícheál “Moley” Ó Súilleabháin are Irish brothers I have followed for a long time. They are musicians, pilgrimage leaders and deeply spiritual Celtic Christians. Their rendition below of the Beatitudes is one of my favorites, so if you have an extra five minutes, you might listen to it.

You’re Blessed

5 ^1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

⁶ “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

⁷ “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

⁸ “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹ “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

¹⁰ “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

^11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.