“Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain.
And when he was seated his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.”
Matthew 5: 1-13
Lectio Divina. Reread as often as you want, reflect on what stands out most and read my reflection if you wish. Thanks
My Reflection:
Jesus tells the Kind and Suffering ones, or rather He teaches them, that they will be blessed.
We have…
The Poor in Spirit
The Gentle
Those Who Mourn
Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Uprightness
The Merciful
The Pure in Heart
The Peacemakers
Those Who Suffer for Uprightness
Those that are Abused, Persecuted and Spoken Evil Falsely on His Account
Despite their problems the goodness of God flows in their hearts.
So, it looks like if you suffer or work for the love of God you will be rewarded, if not on Earth then in Heaven.
So now I look at the be-attitudes, how I ought to be, and ask myself what applies to me.
Am I poor in spirit, sure to be humble and not want and use more than I need?
Am I gentle, usually but what about always?
Do I weep for the suffering of the world and search for ways to help?
Do I desire and seek to make the right moral decisions?
Do I show mercy to others, even those who may have done wrong?
Do I try to make peace with the people in my life and throughout the world?
Is my heart attached to doing only and always the will of God?
Do I offer up my suffering even when my faith is tested because of the way others are treating my Love?
I can only try to do these things and in my imperfection I fall short of the way I treat others and thus God.
I wonder what it was like to live in the time of Jesus.
Would I have had the faith to follow him from his sermons on mounds and plains to Calvary?
Would I have had the faith to be baptized and to spend my whole life loving Him and seeking His will in spite of how Jesus was treated?
Would I have been too afraid?
Do I become too afraid even now around others with different ideas?
Each of these questions can be dwelt on for hours at a time.
My Prayer After Reflection.
Thank You Jesus for your eye-opening questions.
I know people can do a better job with these and as a Carmelite I am meant to study and live the Beatitudes.
Please forgive my laziness on the topic and help me dive deeper into the meaning thus changing my life all the more.
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