When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
A Reflection On The Beatitudes
In the Epistle from the letter to the Corinthians, we hear: “It is due to him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
In the Gospel, Jesus gives us the wisdom that leads to righteousness, sanctification, and redemption – the 8 Beatitudes. I like to think of them as the 8 ‘B-Attitudes’ – that is, the 8 Blessed-Attitudes. If we have these Blessed-Attitudes in our heart and if they guide our actions, Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven will be ours.
When I reflect on the 8 Beatitudes, I see a list of attitudes that are in sharp contrast to the attitudes this world teaches; the 8 Beatitudes describe how Jesus lived his life.
Jesus was poor in spirit; Jesus, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness.” (PHIL 2:7)
Jesus mourned the sins of those surrounding him, both his disciples and those who were not his disciples.
Jesus was meek – he did not exalt himself, he exalted the Father. Jesus hungered and thirsted for righteousness as when he repeatedly pointed out to the scribes and the Pharisees their need to repent.
Jesus showed great mercy through the many healings he did.
Jesus was clean of heart – he never sinned and he sought to bring all into the kingdom of God.
Jesus was a peacemaker as when he saved the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death.
Jesus was persecuted for the sake of righteousness – he died so that we might live.
Can we expect our life to be a joyous “cake-walk” if we live the 8 Beatitudes? Jesus tells us that if we live the Beatitudes like He did, we can expect to meet much resistance. But: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Come, Holy Spirit! Lead me to live the 8 Beatitudes in this world, so that one day, I will live with Jesus in heaven!! Amen!!!
More Catholic Resources About The Beatitudes
The Cross and the Beatitudes: Lessons on Love and Forgiveness | Bishop Fulton Sheen
Commentary on the Beatitudes | St. Thomas Aquinas
Eight Promises of God: Discovering Hope Through the Beatitudes
Heaven in Our Hands: Receiving the Blessings We Long For
Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children
Beatitudes: Eight Steps to Happiness
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