My mum came to visit yesterday and we went to Rochester Cathedral. The artwork in the picture is about Matthew 5. You can’t really see it on the photo, but each of the panels has a verse from Matthew, chapter 5 from The Message version of the Bible, stitched into it. It took me a while to work this out because The Message wording is so different from other, more familiar, versions of the Bible. Also, the panels don’t follow the order of the verses in Matthew 5, as they start with salt and light, then go on the the Beatitudes in a different order from the way they are in the Bible. Maybe someone just put the panels up in the wrong order! Anyway, I liked the art and the translation/interpretation of the words, so I wanted to share them. The artwork was made by Jacqui Frost and Ruth Field.
Here are the words in the order they are on the panels:
- You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth.
- You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world.
- You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of how to compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are and your place in God’s family.
- You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you deeper into God’s kingdom.
- You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you find yourselves cared for.
- You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
- 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.
- 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.
- You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
- 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.
If you want to compare these words with the more traditional ones in, for example, the New International Version, here they are (in the same order as above) :
- You are the salt of the earth. (Matt 5:13)
- You are the light of the world. (Matt 5:14)
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matt 5:9)
- Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:10)
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matt 5:7)
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt 5:8)
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matt 5:5)
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matt 5:6)
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3)
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matt 5:4)
