Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes

Contents

1. 1Preaching on a market day, Chromatius offers the beatitudes as pearls for sale and as steps of precious stone leading to the kingdom of heaven.
2. 2Chromatius explains the first two steps: voluntary poverty for God's sake, and meekness, which is possible only for those who have renounced worldly cares.
3. 3Chromatius explains the third step: mourning for one's sins, which the meek soul begins when it examines itself, and which brings God's consolation.
4. 4Chromatius explains the fourth step: after repentance the soul hungers and thirsts for God's righteousness and is filled.
5. 5Chromatius explains the fifth step: one who has received mercy becomes merciful to others, even enemies, and will receive more mercy at Christ's coming.
6. 6Chromatius explains the sixth step: those who have climbed the earlier steps are pure in heart and will see God's brightness without hindrance.
7. 7Chromatius explains the seventh step: the greater peacemaking is bringing pagans, sinners, heretics and divided churches to peace with God.
8. 8Chromatius explains the eighth step: those who live righteously will be persecuted, and Christ leads them to rejoice even in death.
9. 9Chromatius explains the final step, joyful endurance of persecution and death, as Paul climbed to martyrdom, and compares the beatitudes to Jacob's ladder.
10. 10Chromatius closes by inviting his hearers to 'trade' at this spiritual market, offering the virtues of the beatitudes to gain the pearls of the kingdom.