When Jesus spoke the Beatitudes to His audience two thousand years ago, many would gasp in surprise. How so? Firstly, is it not strange that Jesus tells those who are poor, hungry, weeping, being hated, insulted and denounced on account of the Son of Man, that they are blessed? Putting ourselves in the shoes of these poor folks, would we feel blessed, or sad and dejected instead? Likewise, is it not strange that Jesus tells those who are rich and filled, those who laugh and have people speak well of them, that they should be lamenting?

It is clear that the Lord has turned the table on things, inverting the values of the world for the values of the kingdom of God. This surprised His audience who were accustomed to think that the poor should lament while the rich rejoice. Jesus is teaching both the rich and the poor not to be carried away by the immediacy of their situations in life, but instead to look further afield in faith and trust that everything lies in the hands of God. For God hears the cry of the poor and those who put their hope in Him. At the same time, those who prosper, if they do not neglect their suffering brethren but share their wealth to alleviate their suffering, will be equally rewarded as well. It is only those who bask in life's comforts without caring for those in need who will find the tables turned on them when the day of the Lord comes.