Reflection
The beatitudes may be the most beloved, and certainly the most repeated, of Jesus’s teachings. Volumes have been written to analyze and explain them by writers far more insightful and eloquent than this armchair theologian.
According to Matthew, these verses are delivered at the very beginning of His teaching ministry. He had been baptized by John, discerned His mission while in the desert, recruited His first followers among the fishermen, and established some credibility with the public by healing the sick. That credibility was important, because He began His teaching with eight radical ideas about how to achieve happiness. (Beatitude derives from the Latin word beatus, which means “happy”.) What a shock the sermon on the mount must have been to those who first heard it!
Just as Moses had gone to a mountain to receive the Old Law, Jesus went to a mountain to deliver a New Law. The Ten Commandments emphasized what “thou shalt not” do, under the threat of punishment.
The Eight Beatitudes emphasized what we should do, with the promise of reward.
If anyone found the beatitudes too vague, Jesus remained on the mountain to flesh out the New Law with lessons on fidelity to the Old Law, anger, vengeance, marriage, forgiveness, money, almsgiving, fasting, prayer, and dependence on God. No wonder the beatitudes are considered the core of Christ’s message.
Obviously, we cannot count on the blessings promised in the beatitudes to provide an easy passage through life. In today’s first reading, however, Elijah is fed by ravens after he believes and obeys the word of God. And today’s psalm, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,” promises that God will provide for all our real needs.
Is it just a coincidence that the word beatitude is pronounced be-ATTITUDE?
Lord, help me change my attitude, so that I can more fully embrace your beatitudes and trust in your loving care!
