Paul reminded the Corinthians of his authority. They had questioned his apostleship as he had not personally walked with Jesus. Paul had suffered greatly for the sake of sharing the good news of Jesus with so many. He wanted the Corinthians to remember that his transformation from persecutor of the followers of the Way to being a follower of Jesus gave him authority from God. It is important to remember that God's transformative power makes an amazing difference in someone's life. Let's make sure that we ask the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.

Just as Moses brought the Law down from the mountain, Jesus was on a mountain when He delivered the Beatitudes to the people - a mountain is a place of divine revelation. The Beatitudes are the cornerstone of Jesus' teachings.

We will be "blessed" or "favoured by God" if we live by these teachings. We are called to be pure in heart, to be humble, to desire righteousness, to be merciful, to be peacemakers (which is different from peacekeeping), to persevere in this way of living even when mocked and persecuted. These principles are evident in the way Jesus lived and died.