Living with Strength and Kindliness
The Beatitudes
When you look at the word ‘beatitudes’ it looks a lot like the word beautiful. I often have to pull myself up when I am writing the word because it is easy to just write the word beautiful without thinking about it.
Last weekend we celebrated two very important dates in the liturgical calendar: All Saints Day and All Souls Day. All Saints Day fell on Sunday the 1st November and the main reading for the Mass on this day was The Beatitudes, taken from Matthew 5: 1 -12.
The Beatitudes were delivered in a very famous speech made by Jesus; this speech is also referred to as The Sermon on the Mount (the Mount is real place by the Sea of Galilee in Israel) . This sermon is often recognized as the most thorough set of instructions handed down by Jesus in his ministry. The Beatitudes have been described as more than just words of encouragement for us all, through the centuries has been acknowledged that this sermon is a profound call to action from Jesus.
The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. They are like a list of what is to be done if you are to be considered a witness to the Christian faith.
The use of the word blessed is also a highlight of the Beatitudes; each of the lines of the scripture passage begins with this word. In fact, in this context the word ‘blessed’ becomes a synonym for ‘holy.’ It expresses the fact that those faithful to God and his word, by their self-giving, gain true happiness.
Here they are (using some modern terminology to make them relevant to our contemporary context).
The Beatitudes as we see the world today:
- Blessed are those who live from the depths of their being. They will see, radiate and attract goodness and know true freedom.
- Blessed are those who recognise that our earth is mourning because of human abuse and destruction. They will comfort it.
- Blessed are those who recognise their littleness in the whole of the cosmos. They shall share in the co-creation of an unfinished universe.
- Blessed are those who live in right relationship with all of life. They will bring about change in the world.
- Blessed are those who are merciful. For they will know the heart of God.
- Blessed are those who are so in God’s love. They shall know it is God who lives and acts in them.
- Blessed are those who live in harmony with all earth’s creatures. They will come to experience a deep peace within themselves.
- Blessed are those who seek out justice for people who are treated as throw-aways in our society. They will know the true worth of all creation.
(From: Mirp Group – Sisters of Mercy – Brisbane Congregation.)
It has been stated that The Beatitudes are hard work and take many of us outside of our comfort zones. I think this could be true. They are to be taken as a cohesive whole and it can be hard to say I am good at one but not good at them all and leave it at that. Jesus presents us with Beatitudes, taking us outside of our comfort zones and calling us to look at ways we can work to develop all of the virtues that are presented to us in Jesus’ sermon as a way for renewal for ourselves and our world.
Not sure if The Beatitudes scripture reading fell on All Saints Day for a reason ( it’s very likely that there is a good reason) but there sure is a call for us to live more like God’s saints on earth today, living in the present and bringing the good work of all the saints who have gone before us to fruition in our time.
Check this out! The Beatitudes Song. It’s great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxs5wFpnGg
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity Leader
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Link: https://www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au/item/1747-pathways-for-families-2021
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