Umberto Eco's book entitled
The Name of the Rose is an interesting and enlightening read. It is a fiction novel about a 14th century abbey where 7 monks are murdered. Eco, who owned a 50,000-volume library, was professor of semiotics at the oldest university in the world, the University of Bologna (pronounced "belonya") in Milan, Italy. Semiotics is a literary device where the author uses signs, analogies, metaphors, etc. to communicate. Eco did this brilliantly in this novel. My favorite part was when William of Baskerville arrives at the wealthy Italian abbey and some monks, who are looking for something, greet him. William, the brilliant monk sent to solve the murders, tells the monks precisely what they are looking for and where they can find it. By acute analysis of his surroundings, such as footprints in the snow, he informs the monks where they can find the horse, the horse's name, and its precise size! The monks were astounded, and William later tells how he deduced everything by the signs that were left in nature and from his vast knowledge of things in general. Eco often mentions something very important, and it is cloaked or disguised, then later, the reader sees it clearly. This book reminds me of the teachings of our Lord in the Beatitudes in His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus makes a statement, but it takes effort to unpack what He says, for there is more there than originally meets the eye. At first, His words seem paradoxical or ironic, but when you investigate, you see the absolute genius of His teachings.
At first glance, we ask, "How can the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and the hungry be blessed at all?" But when we listen further, we understand, and just like the original hearers, we respond with astonishment (
Matthew 7:28).
I am amazed at how the Beatitudes build upon one another. The key to understanding them is the first one: blessed are the poor in spirit. For if we are truly poor in spirit and recognize our need for God and that we are not all-sufficient, then God will reveal to us our sin and need of the Savior, then we will mourn over our sin and believe in Him as our Savior. The Holy Spirit comes within us and conforms us to Christ who was meek, hungry for righteousness, etc.
I am not sure how God is speaking to you through these devotions, but He is speaking to me and blessing, challenging, rebuking, and edifying me as well. This week, we will study the fourth Beatitude, found in
Matthew 5:6,
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Keep reading this week as we seek to find answers to the following questions: Who are the hungry and thirsty? What do they receive? And how do we become hungry and stay hungry for the things of God?
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