Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Matthew 5:3-5
Over the next few days, we will be reading from one of the most famous sermons ever preached: The Sermon on the Mount. In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins his sermon by giving us the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are a series of statements that each begin with the Greek word μακάριοι (makarioi), which means blessed or happy, so we can understand the Beatitudes as a series of keys to happiness. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” we can understand this to mean “happy are those who are not attached to their possessions”. Our deepest desire is meant to be for God, not material possessions that will inevitably pass away. Likewise, when Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn,” we can understand this as saying, “Happy are those who are not attached to good feelings.” Following God’s will can sometimes be painful, but if we cling too tightly to comfort, then we might try to resist God’s will and experience even greater suffering. Similarly, when Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek,” we can understand this as saying, “Happy are those who are not attached to worldly power.” Human authority fades, but God’s will is far more powerful than that of any earthly office. If we follow the wisdom of the Beatitudes, they will lead us to a happy life.
Reflection by Br. Augustine Kroeze, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections