BEATITUDES

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) is the inaugural address of Jesus laying down His vision of life in the Kingdom of heaven. It begins with the Beatitudes which come from the Greek word, makarios, which means blessed, to be happy. Only God can make us truly blessed and happy. The key to achieve authentic happiness is Jesus. He alone is our joy and peace. The beatitudes are attitudes, values, virtues of the kingdom, the core of the Christian way of life. They are the portrait of Jesus himself, the humble servant, meek, merciful, mournful, prince of peace and persecuted. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor in spirit refers to those who have the spirit of detachment not attachment to material things. God alone is the supreme good, absolute treasure and essential in life. It is not to romanticize suffering and poverty. Poor in spirit is to rely on God alone, total dependence on God, the only way to be strong. Poverty of spirit is that inner posture that allows grace to be received without resistance. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. To mourn is a deep sorrow for a Godless world, for the evils and injustices of this world. We are not called to be spectator and indifferent to sin. To mourn is to be in solidarity with all those who are victims of man’s inhumanity to man. God will make things right. His love will ultimately prevail. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. To be meek is to be God controlled person, not self seeking. It is a deep respect and tenderness towards all. A meek person is a strong person because he can remain gentle and respectful of the dignity of others in the face of provocative violence. It is not weakness and cowardice. It is the opposite of arrogance, bullying and violent manipulation. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. It is to have a deep longing for God’s justice so that people everywhere may receive what is due to them for a life of dignity and fulfillment. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Mercy begins with sympathy but moves into action. It is a deep down compassion, empathy, real entering into the pain of others. It is not sentimental pity. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. It is to have an undivided heart, inner singlemindedness that motivates us to serve God joyfully, free of duplicity. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Peace is shalom in Hebrew. It is more than the absence of pain, suffering and difficulties. It is to be active agents of unity, harmony and reconciliation. Peacemakers share the character of God who is the ultimate peacemaker. Blessed are they who are persecuted, insulted because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Fidelity to Christ is deepened by the test of persecution which is integral in the life of the Church. True righteousness invites persecution. We are called to be signs of contradiction, light of the world and salt of the earth.