THE quick answer to that question is
that they convert
what we usually consider as human disasters or clear disadvantages and
inconveniences according to worldly standards into a source of joy, a
means of our redemption, a path to heaven, narrow and difficult though
it may be.
They expand our understanding of what would comprise as
our true happiness by including those situations which we normally
regard as unsavory and therefore to be avoided as much as possible and
hated.
But, my friends, at these times, these situations are
hardly unavoidable. In fact, they are inescapable, what with all the
growing differences and conflicts we are having among ourselves
nowadays. If we have to be realistic about our life here, we better
take the beatitudes seriously.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they who
mourn, blessed are the meek, those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness or justice, those who are merciful, the clean of heart,
the peacemakers, the persecuted, those who are insulted…There can
hardly be any worse predicament than all these!
Yet Christ reassures us that it would just be fine, and in
fact he promises us a great reward, if not now then certainly in the
life hereafter. And he is not bluffing because he himself underwent
all those disasters and yet he conquered everything with his
resurrection. In short, he has proven the veracity of this teaching
with his own experience.
We need to study well the content and spirit behind the
beatitudes by looking closely at the example of Christ. There we will
have the reassurance that all the suffering and sacrifices that we
have to go through, and the effort that we have to make in this life
would be all worth it.
And to be sure, we can live those beatitudes, because
Christ himself would give us all the necessary graces. We just have to
train ourselves in the appropriate attitudes, skills and virtues.
We have to learn to be patient, which is an integral part
of the virtue of fortitude that in the end can only be animated by
genuine charity. We have to be ready when we are bombarded with
worldly goods that can take us away from God, cool down our piety, and
lead us to sin.
Or when we cannot help but mourn not only because of the
death of someone but also because of some failure we commit or a
misery we cannot shake off. Or when we get misunderstood and provoked
in our daily exchanges of ideas and opinions with others. Or when we
have to rein in our curiosity and raging hormones to keep our heart
pure and in its proper orientation toward God.
Let’s always remember the beatitudes, and continually ask
for the grace to believe and live them to the hilt. Christ’s promises
cannot be denied. We have to strengthen our faith in his word. And
start to live calmly, oozing with confidence and focused on what
really matters in life!
The beatitudes should always be in our mind, heart and lips!
what we usually consider as human disasters or clear disadvantages and
inconveniences according to worldly standards into a source of joy, a
means of our redemption, a path to heaven, narrow and difficult though
it may be.
They expand our understanding of what would comprise as
our true happiness by including those situations which we normally
regard as unsavory and therefore to be avoided as much as possible and
hated.
But, my friends, at these times, these situations are
hardly unavoidable. In fact, they are inescapable, what with all the
growing differences and conflicts we are having among ourselves
nowadays. If we have to be realistic about our life here, we better
take the beatitudes seriously.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they who
mourn, blessed are the meek, those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness or justice, those who are merciful, the clean of heart,
the peacemakers, the persecuted, those who are insulted…There can
hardly be any worse predicament than all these!
Yet Christ reassures us that it would just be fine, and in
fact he promises us a great reward, if not now then certainly in the
life hereafter. And he is not bluffing because he himself underwent
all those disasters and yet he conquered everything with his
resurrection. In short, he has proven the veracity of this teaching
with his own experience.
We need to study well the content and spirit behind the
beatitudes by looking closely at the example of Christ. There we will
have the reassurance that all the suffering and sacrifices that we
have to go through, and the effort that we have to make in this life
would be all worth it.
And to be sure, we can live those beatitudes, because
Christ himself would give us all the necessary graces. We just have to
train ourselves in the appropriate attitudes, skills and virtues.
We have to learn to be patient, which is an integral part
of the virtue of fortitude that in the end can only be animated by
genuine charity. We have to be ready when we are bombarded with
worldly goods that can take us away from God, cool down our piety, and
lead us to sin.
Or when we cannot help but mourn not only because of the
death of someone but also because of some failure we commit or a
misery we cannot shake off. Or when we get misunderstood and provoked
in our daily exchanges of ideas and opinions with others. Or when we
have to rein in our curiosity and raging hormones to keep our heart
pure and in its proper orientation toward God.
Let’s always remember the beatitudes, and continually ask
for the grace to believe and live them to the hilt. Christ’s promises
cannot be denied. We have to strengthen our faith in his word. And
start to live calmly, oozing with confidence and focused on what
really matters in life!
The beatitudes should always be in our mind, heart and lips!
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