Isabela Apawo Phiri analyses the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.1-12
In the Beatitudes, Jesus examines the sufferings of his followers. He addresses people experiencing life negatively, those who deserve to be pitied, even in our modern world: the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted because of their righteousness.
Jesus says these people should rejoice now because they will enter the kingdom of heaven, where they will be comforted, inherit the earth, be filled, see God, be called children of God, and receive a great reward.
Although the promise of a better life is for the future, we must begin to rejoice now, in the midst of suffering. Why? Because for followers of Jesus, life is lived by faith. We must have total trust in what he has promised and begin to act upon it even if we do not see it now (Hebrews 11.1-6).
This message of Jesus in the Beatitudes speaks to the realities of the new South Africa. After years of apartheid, the black South African's expectations of a better life are high. People are looking up to the government to alleviate their misery.
Transformation is expected to get rid of past inequalities in politics, economics, religion, society and culture.
While much change has happened since the new government started in 1994, the pace of change has not met people's expectations. New problems have emerged.
The murdering of white farmers is rising. Farm workers are also being killed. The country's currency has dropped, leading to large rises in prices in shops.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In Matthew's version, this verse is for those who feel they have a spiritual need.
How do we measure spiritual need? It is difficult to measure it from outside the person and can only really be described by the person concerned.
The Church is associated with meeting the spiritual needs of people. Most of the Church is made up of women, which may show that they are more aware of their spiritual poverty than men are, and therefore seek help from the Church.
African Christian women's fellowships are such forums where women can have their spiritual needs met. They treat the bible as the Word of God. They study it to answer their spiritual need.
So it's encouraging for such women to hear Jesus say to them that it's alright to be spiritually poor. The reward - the kingdom of heaven - is exciting, especially when you're seen as the lowest element of South African society.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Open mourning for sins is one of the characteristics of black Christian women's fellowships. Through open prayers, women mourn for their husbands, children, brothers and sisters or parents who have not yet accepted the salvation offered by God through Jesus Christ.
I grew up in Malawi in a home where we heard my grandmother, and later my mother groaning in prayer as they presented the name of each member of the extended family to the Lord early each morning. I now know it is my responsibility to wake up early in the morning to pray for my family.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
In Africa, meekness is always linked with women. A good woman performs her duties without fighting for her rights.
I believe this concept is contrary to the example we see in Jesus' life. Jesus was meek, but when he saw the house of the Lord abused, he drove out the Temple salespeople (Luke 19.45-48). With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, African women need to know the difference between aggression and assertiveness.
The Beatitudes are a source of comfort for African Christian women. While Jesus here talks about a future reward, elsewhere he teaches that the kingdom of God is a present reality. So it is with sincerity that we hear prayers like, "Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven."