When I was working on my degree at Texas Christian University I took a modern music analysis course, and one of the pieces I analyzed was Arvo Pärt's setting of the Beatitudes. I was so impressed and touched by its beauty, and even more amazed after I analyzed it and found out how absolutely mathematically perfect it is. The entire piece creates a perfect arc, reaching a climactic middle "Amen", after which the organ plays a complete palindrome (mirror image) of all the singing which came before, descending and finally dying away.
The words are from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in the New Testament of the Bible, Matthew Chapter 5. (The term beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful. The word "blessed" in these teachings has been defined as an "exclamation of the inner joy and peace that comes with being right with God".[1] )
Whenever I hear or read the words of Jesus I am so moved by his incredible goodness and wisdom, and I know his words must be true. When he says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," I know that he meant what he said.
Listen to this! :-)
The words are from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in the New Testament of the Bible, Matthew Chapter 5. (The term beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful. The word "blessed" in these teachings has been defined as an "exclamation of the inner joy and peace that comes with being right with God".[1] )
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Amen!
Whenever I hear or read the words of Jesus I am so moved by his incredible goodness and wisdom, and I know his words must be true. When he says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," I know that he meant what he said.
Listen to this! :-)
Link: http://youtu.be/ZJ7SUgvTCh0
[1] "Beatitudes." Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatitudes
