The Eight Beatitudes preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount probably contain some of the most radical and the most inspiring teachings in the Bible.
Countless books and articles have been written to reflect upon the wisdom and truth they contain.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church itself states: “The Beatitudes… shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations…” (CCC 1717)
Considering the troubles we have today, I think that we need to reflect upon these beatitudes more. We need to pray for the wisdom to understand them more deeply. And we need to pray for the grace to be among those to whom these blessings have been promised.
Here are the eight beatitudes and some of my reflections on them:
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
It is often the poor who acknowledge their need for help. And it is the same in spiritual things.
Who are the poor in spirit? They are the ones who acknowledge their desperate need for God. They are well aware of their total dependence upon Him for everything, both for their material and spiritual needs.
They are not like the Pharisees who are proud of their self-righteousness. Rather, they are those who cry out to Him for forgiveness, seeking His mercy and unfailing love.
2. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.”
The world could hardly consider admiring those who are meek. What the world admires are those who are proud!
The proud are the ones who assert themselves. They are the ones who hold positions of wealth and power.
So how can the meek ever inherit the earth?
Jesus seems to signify that the kind of dominance asserted by the proud would only be temporary.
It is the humble who will eventually inherit God’s blessings. And these blessings can never be taken away from them.
3. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
What greater tragedy is there in the human experience than that of grief? How can any person who mourns ever be considered blessed?
But it is Jesus Himself who consoles the grieving. He is the man of sorrows, and He understands our every cry.
He did not consider as blessed those who laugh now and have everything they need.
He instead considered one blessed when one weeps. Because those who weep cry out to Him for relief. They look to Him for hope. And in Him alone, such a hope can be found.
4. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.”
As much as we want to find justice on earth, we know that not everything will be fair in life.
Evil deeds will be unpunished while good deeds may remain unrewarded. Tyrants will continue to rise up. And those who defend the righteous may be trampled upon.
But Jesus gave us this assurance and hope. That our hunger for righteousness will someday be satisfied.
He is the One who will Judge the world. And our every longing for justice will one day be fulfilled.
5. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Some of us have been taught to show no mercy. We may have been taught that every person should care only for oneself and that caring for others too much is just a sign of weakness.
But Jesus teaches us differently. To Him, mercy is something we should all strive for.
He who exercises mercy is not weak, but strong. Only the merciful can one day accept the boundless mercy of God.
6. “Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.”
Where is chastity today? It is a virtue that has long been cast aside. In today’s world, what’s important is pleasure and the will to do as one desires.
With all this freedom, however, the world still fails to secure for itself true happiness. It fails to do so because it has forgotten where true joy can be found.
Our true joy is in God. And only the pure in heart can see Him.
7. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.”
Peace starts within. It comes from being secure and satisfied in God. But where greed, envy and pride abound, there is chaos.
Those who have found peace in God will be called His children. They are the ones who can proclaim to the world that there is a better way. By leading other people toward knowing God, peace is built and violence is cast aside.
8. “Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
How can anyone who is persecuted be blessed? Jesus boldly asserts this truth when He promised them the kingdom of heaven.
For despite our deepest griefs and our most painful sufferings, nothing can match the joy and peace we can find in our heavenly home.
Being persecuted may bring pain. But it will also bring us our eternal crowns.
Final Thoughts
The Eight Beatitudes clearly showed us that despite the difficulties we may be going through, we can still consider ourselves blessed provided that we continue to have faith in God. By living our lives according to our Catholic faith, we know that no struggle will ever be in vain.
We may weep now, but we shall rejoice. We may struggle now, but we shall reap the rewards for our perseverance.
Let all the world declare us foolish and let everyone consider us poor. If we continue to love God and to hope in Him sincerely, no one can ever take away our joy!
Note: Bible verses on the Eight Beatitudes were taken from Matthew 5:3-10 of the Douay-Rheims Bible.
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of 366 Days of Compassion. You may want to start your day by reading this devotional book to inspire you and lead you to prayer.
Where is God? God is with us, but we often do not know where to look and so we do not see. God is there, pursuing us, waiting for us to take the time to call on Him in our helplessness, in the routine of our daily lives. He is the one who will fill our lives with meaning and our hearts with hope and love.
See Jocelyn’s books from other digital stores.
You may also want to read “7 Christians Lessons We May Learn Only From Poverty”.
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