FAVORITE BEATITUDE

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7

I learned the Beatitudes as a young kid studying in a Catholic school. We memorized it just as we did with the Ten Commandments. But I only got to understand it more when I grew up.

In fact, I had favorite Beatitudes depending on my stage in life. As a teenage idealist who loved St. Francis, my favorite was, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” When I became a Religion teacher and a young preacher, I prayed, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Obviously, I experienced lots of persecutions and drew strength from this Beatitude. Now, my favorite Beatitude is the one on mercy. Because as an adult, and throughout my life, I realize it’s really all about God’s mercy—the most powerful expression of His love and how we, too, should demonstrate this to others.

They say the Beatitudes are the “Be Attitudes”—and the wonderful promises that go along with it.

Read them again today. See what speaks to you the most in your stage in life right now.

Live it and hold on to its promises. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Pick a Beatitude that you want to live by. Apply it for a day, a week, or a month. See how your attitude changes and how its promises happen!

Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful promises in the Beatitudes. May I develop the right attitudes to receive them. Amen.

Blessed Joachima, pray for us.

A crucial aspect of success in life is encouragement. This is one of the building blocks of success that lies either close to the surface or hidden in the depths of our subconscious. It is rare that a person succeeds in a major endeavor without some encouragement from others. Paul knows this and we often find passages such as this one in his letters. Let us encourage one another in faith. Let us support rather than bring each other down.

2 Corinthians 1:1-7

1 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God that is at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, 4 who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 5 For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.

Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

2 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 4 Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 8 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 9 Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

GOSPEL 

The Beatitudes speak to us about the character traits that we need to become more like Jesus. However, these are not absolute nor are they the Law. The Beatitudes are essential for the proper interpretation and application of the Law. These humanize the Law and put flesh to stark rules and regulations. The Beatitudes enable us to personalize the Law for our situation and, thus, guide us to know right from wrong.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in heaven.

Matthew 5:1-12

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

think: “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.” (Matthew 5:5)

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Read the Bible in one year - 1 Kings 9-11   

 

THE PARADOX OF THE BEATITUDES 

All human beings desire happiness, but few are really happy. Real happiness is the most elusive of all human pursuits. Books, which try to show how to become happy or rich, or this or that, easily become bestsellers. But few who read these books become really happy. It is interesting to read that apparently happy people, those who have plenty of money, claim that they are not happy at all. They want more. No wonder, therefore, that the suicide rate among the rich is said to be higher than among the poor. Something must be wrong. Today, we begin to read the Sermon on the Mount, which captures the heart and spirit of Christianity. The first part, our Gospel today, is shocking because Jesus hurls one paradox after the other at us complacent listeners. What the world regards as desirable, Jesus rejects as foolish, and what the world urges to aim at has no value in His eyes. Was Jesus unrealistic? Nobody has ever called Jesus unrealistic. On the contrary, He was so realistic that He often shocked His daydreaming audience.

If we read through the Beatitudes, we find a common element: vulnerability. It is the image of the vulnerable Jesus in His ministry and especially on the cross. So the Beatitudes can be summarized by saying—really happy are those who live like Jesus; really happy are those who have become Christ-like. Jesus was vulnerable because He depended totally on God and loved His Father and all humankind. In this our world, everyone who depends on God only becomes vulnerable to ridicule, insult, and even injury. Those who love allow themselves to become vulnerable. This does not look very attractive. But when we reach the end of our life and stand before our Judge, we will realize that beneath the unattractive surface appearance was hidden a beautiful truth. It is the truth that—depending on the eternal God alone and not on anything temporal in this world—made us reach our goal: to be with Christ forever. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

-------- REFLECTION QUESTION --------

Are you ready for the vulnerability that Christ proposes?

 

Lord, the familiar, beautiful words of the Beatitudes hit me. I am still too complacent to live out Your teaching. But with Your help and understanding, with Your compassion and guidance, I am sure that I will reach the goal: real happiness in Your Father’s house. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________