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Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12a
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to 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. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 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 sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven
Meditation: What is the good life which God intends for us? And how is it related with the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is it not our desire and longing for true happiness, which is none other than the complete good, the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired? Jesus addresses this question in his sermon on the mount. The heart of Jesus' message is that we can live a very happy life. The call to holiness, to be saints who joyfully pursue God's will for their lives, can be found in these eight beatitudes. Jesus' beatitudes sum up our calling or vocation - to live a life of the beatitudes. The word beatitude literally means "happiness" or "blessedness".
God gives us everything that leads to true happiness
What is the significance of Jesus' beatitudes, and why are they so
central to his teaching? The beatitudes respond to the natural
desire for happiness that God has placed in every heart. They
teach us the final end to which God calls us, namely the coming of
God's kingdom (Matthew 4:17), the vision
of God (Matthew 5:8; 1 John 2;1), entering
into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21-23)
and into his rest (Hebrews 4:7-11).
Jesus' beatitudes also confront us with decisive choices
concerning the life we pursue here on earth and the use we make of
the goods he puts at our disposal.
Jesus' tells us that God alone can satisfy the deepest need and
longing of our heart. Teresa of Avila's (1515-1582) prayer book
contained a bookmark on which she wrote: Let nothing disturb
you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass - God never
changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God
lacks nothing -God alone suffices.
Is God enough for you? God offers us the greatest good possible - abundant life in Jesus Christ (John 10:10) and the promise of unending joy and happiness with God forever. Do you seek the highest good, the total good, which is above all else?
The beatitudes are a sign of contradiction to the world's
way of happiness
The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction
to the world's understanding of happiness and joy. How can one
possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and
persecution? Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in
possessing God as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the
spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit.
Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful
freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression.
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."
Psalm 146:5-10
5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in
the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in
them; who keeps faith for ever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the
hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD
lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD
loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds
the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he
brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign for ever, thy God, O Zion,
to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Perfect blessedness is humility of spirit, by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD)
"'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.' The Lord taught by way of example that the glory of human
ambition must be left behind when he said, 'The Lord your God
shall you adore and him only shall you serve' (Matthew 4:10). And
when he announced through the prophets that he would choose a
people humble and in awe of his words [Isaiah 66:2], he introduced
the perfect Beatitude as humility of spirit. Therefore he defines
those who are inspired as people aware that they are in possession
of the heavenly kingdom... Nothing belongs to anyone as being
properly one's own, but all have the same things by the gift of a
single parent. They have been given the first things needed to
come into life and have been supplied with the means to use them."
(excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 4.2)
Scripture quotations from Common Bible:
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright
1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the
Division of Christian Education of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Citation references for quotes from
the writings of the early church fathers can be
found here.
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