The Sermon on the Sermon on the Mount
Yet more madness in the Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Fox: Hey, Bärchen! Got a minute?
Bärchen: I’ve got all Eternity for you, my love!
Fox: Hah! I love you too. But I got a favor to ask.
Bärchen: ‘course!
Fox: Would you mind delivering the sermon at a church service?
Bärchen: Oh!…no, I guess I wouldn’t mind… But, wait!… a church service? What are you cooking up, my dear?
Fox: Well, I had this idea for a guest lecture in Human History at Hell University. My old teacher there, Clotho… you know her. We met her at the Well of Wyrd. She’s one of the Fates…
Bärchen: I remember.
Fox: Anyway, she asked me if I could put together a lesson on Human Culture for her class. Couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that. Then I got this idea to do the Mass.
Bärchen: The Mass? This isn’t another Blasphemy you’re about to commit?
Fox: Oh, Heavens!… no??! At least, I don’t think so. And it’s not like the Inquisition has me on a wanted poster…well, not yet, anyway. Oh! And you’ve got to be Priest too… uh, you know all the words already…
Bärchen: Oh boy. Well, I guess so. What do they say how a life of crime sucks you in, little by little, over time.
Fox: Bärchen! I’m not that bad… well, at least I try not to be. But you’ll love it when you hear the Gospel of the Day, from which I’d like you to take the subject for your Sermon, if you don’t mind. It’s Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes are in the first part of the Reading.
Bärchen: Oh!… But, actually… how to say this? I’ve grown a bit wary of the Beatitudes. It seems like the stuff the Powers that Be want us to hear. You know–be “nice” and maybe you’ll get justice, finally, in the World to Come. Not in this World, of course, not now. Except for a few of us, the chosen of God. But we might give you a little in the here and now, if you’re obedient, loyal and thrifty.
Fox: Wow! Really?! They can distort its meaning that easily… hmmm! I’m definitely going to have to include this in my lecture. In fact, we might even have to do this class for Hell’s Propaganda Department. That’s impressive!
Bärchen: Well, what’s your take on it?
Fox: Okay, sweetie, look–you do the translation of the Beatitudes from the original Greek, then we’ll talk. I think once you see the it in words not burdened by subsequent interpretations and some damn good propaganda, what I’m about to say will make a whole lot more sense.
Bärchen: You’re on! Nerd culture on display right here!
Fox: Yes, silly! Go grab your Liddell and Scott!
[… The Translation and the Sermon are reproduced here …]
Matthew 5:1-12
Happy are the spiritual beggars, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Happy are the mourners, because comfort will be given to them.
Happy are the meek, because they will receive possession of the land.
Happy are those who hunger and thirst for justice, because they will get their fill.
Happy are those who show mercy, because they will be shown mercy.
Happy are those whose affections are pure, because they will see God.
Happy are those who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
Happy are those who are persecuted because of [their stand for] justice, because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Happy are you when men hold you in contempt and persecute you and falsely accuse you of terrible things because of me.
Be glad and strut your stuff, for your reward is great in the Heavenly [Realms], because in this same way men harassed the prophets who were before you.
The viewpoint in this Sermon on the Mount appears to be Apocalyptic–these things are so because a new order is about to appear. God is going to make it appear. But we can also see this new order as a metaphor–The Kingdom of Heaven is “in your midst”. It’s the way the Universe works as seen through the eyes of one who has become a citizen of that Kingdom–a Kingdom which has always been present, but heretofore unseen. The difference between these two viewpoints, in terms of what we must do to become citizens of that Kingdom, is negligible.
What kind of new order is the Kingdom of Heaven?
From what is written, it will be a political and social system ruled by “Heaven”, by which Jesus means, well… Let’s take him at his word right here. It is one in which comfort is given to mourners, wealth and power are given to the gentle, justice is fulfilled, and always tempered by mercy, and those who have purified their desires and motivations will see God. (They’ll be best buds!) It will be obvious who is aligned with the Divine Will because they will be the ones who mend relationships, not break them. These citizens will be ones that current regimes persecute because of their stand for justice.
Why is the exact same blessing given to those mentioned first (the “spiritual beggars”) and those mentioned last (the ones persecuted because of [their stand for] justice)?
Spiritual beggars are those who must continually ask for what does not belong to them–spiritual perfection. They know it doesn’t come from their membership in a family, race, political system, or country, nor because they confess a certain religious dogma, belong to a political party, or have worldly power or wealth. They must continually ask for it, and they must ask by continually working for perfection in their own lives. Conveniently, the steps they must take are given here as well. These are shown in the blessings between the first one and the last two, like this:
- If you want to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, then…
… - See the suffering around you and identify yourself with all who suffer.
- Learn radical non-violence so that you are capable of wielding power and wealth aright.
- Make the desire for justice visceral, on the same level with your need for food and water.
- But, mercy must always find a place in your thinking… justice and mercy, both/and.
- So if you want to really understand the principles that make the Kingdom of Heaven what it is, you have to take a hard look at your desires and motivations, and how they may be distorting your understanding of what the principles actually are.
- You’ll know you’re on the right track when your actions contribute to cooperation, not conflict. That’s how the Human Family should work–since Humans are God’s children, all of them, they should act like it.
… - So, again, how do you know you’re a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? People whose loyalties are with the current power structures will persecute you because you stand for justice.
- In fact, be ready to be held in contempt, persecuted and falsely accused because you follow these teachings. [Dare I say, Jesus’ actual teachings, not the b.s. about material blessings in this world if you just promise to hate the people the authorities hate and take a “loyalty oath” to those who claim to be God’s modern representatives.]
STOP! There’s one glaring problem we all have to address–these days, especially, accusations are flying from all sides against all other sides. Who’s correct? Who should you believe? The answer–you can’t possibly know for sure until you work on your own issues. And how will you know you’re heading in the right direction? Look again at the insides of the blessing sandwich–
Are you mourning with all who sorrow?
Are you meek, gentle and non-violent?
Do you desire justice for all, and mercy for all?
Have you begun to purify your motivations and desires so that these things can become natural character traits?
Do you create cooperation rather than conflict? Among all people?
IMPORTANT TIP–Do you call others to repent before you’ve made significant progress in purifying your own heart? If your repentance is not reflected in your actions, thoughts and words, then you haven’t done it right. This applies to the demands which Jesus makes here. To expect forgiveness without making a serious, whole-hearted effort to change is the sin of Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Go to Jail; Go directly to Jail; Do not pass “GO”; Do not collect $200.
Blue Fox Shaman 
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