Beatitudes....
Beatitudes....
Beatitudes…
On the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we begin to read the famous Sermon on the Mount, which begins in the 5th chapter and continues through chapter 7 of Matthew. Until Lent, we will be at the Sermon on the Mount. It is the proclamation of salvation, beginning with the Beatitude, which is the center of the good news.
In Exodus 19-24, Moses brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. Jesus, the new Moses, ascended the mountain and summarized the Law of the New Covenant in the Sermon on the Mount.
Saint Augustine, in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, says that the mountain signifies the higher precepts of righteousness, for precepts given to Israel were lower. God gave lesser laws to those requiring the bonds of fear, but higher laws to those ready to be set free by love. The higher precepts are for the kingdom of heaven, just as the lower precepts were for a kingdom on earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the beatitudes “the heart of Jesus’ preaching.”
Let us look at each one of them. The poor in spirit: we recognize our need for God and grace. St. Gregory of Nyssa compared poverty in spirit with humility. The one who lives this beatitude will be rich and acquire full possession of the kingdom at the final judgment.
Those who mourn: It includes those who suffer for the faith, those who suffer out of love for others, and those who weep for their own sins. They receive comfort in the presence of God, who wipes away every tear (Revelation 7:17).
The Meek: The meek possess an inner strength to restrain anger and discouragement during adversity. They may appear powerless and insignificant in the sight of the world. Meekness is exemplified in the life of Moses (Numbers 12:3) and especially in Jesus (Matthew 11:29, 21:5). They imitate Jesus by showing kindness and gentleness towards their neighbors.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Their priority is to seek the Lord’s kingdom and righteousness. They see the urgency of both living the Gospel and spreading it to others. Ultimately, they will be satisfied in eternal life (Matthew 25:46).
The merciful: They imitate Father’s mercy (Luke 6:36) by overlooking and forgiving others (Matthew 18:21-22,33). The merciful are patient and understanding in bearing with others’ faults, and they are compassionate with respect to the suffering, defects, and needs of others (Matthew 6:2-4; 25:34-40). At the final judgment, they will receive mercy that lasts forever (Matthew 6:14).
The pure heart: They act with integrity and serve the Lord unselfishly. The heart is the center of one person’s thoughts, words, actions, and emotions. They have the purity of intention to associate their wills and minds with God’s. They will avoid evil thoughts and be chaste because it is a liberating virtue that leads to contemplative prayer and charity (Matthew 5:27-30). They find treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). In eternity, the pure in heart will see God as the angels do even now (Matthew 18:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Rev 22:4).
The peacemakers: They not only seek their own reconciliation with God and their neighbor but also seek to help others to reconcile and instill peace in all relationships (CCC 2305, 2330). The Gospel of Matthew 5:45 says peacemakers will be called children of God.
Those who are persecuted: They persevere staidly in the faith and suffer for their faithfulness to Christ (CCC 886, 1967). They are targets of the world’s hatred (John 15:18-19) because of their commitment to the Gospel (1 Peter 3:14). They will receive a great reward in the coming kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:12).
We can see the perfection of the beatitude in the life of Christ. He invites us to follow his example.