The Sunday Gospel [January 30, 2011]
Matthew 5:1-12a
The Beatitudes
1When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He began to teach them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven./ 4Blessed are they who mourn,/ for they will be comforted./ 5Blessed are the meek,/ for they will inherit the land./ 6Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,/ for they will be satisfied./ 7Blessed are the merciful,/ for they will be shown mercy./ 8Blessed are the clean of heart,/ for they will see God./ 9Blessed are the peacemakers,/ for they will be called children of God./ 10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven./ 11Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Reflection
“Blessed are in the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
1When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He began to teach them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven./ 4Blessed are they who mourn,/ for they will be comforted./ 5Blessed are the meek,/ for they will inherit the land./ 6Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,/ for they will be satisfied./ 7Blessed are the merciful,/ for they will be shown mercy./ 8Blessed are the clean of heart,/ for they will see God./ 9Blessed are the peacemakers,/ for they will be called children of God./ 10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven./ 11Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Reflection
“Blessed are in the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The Beatitudes or “Be-Attitudes” as some theologians call them is not about 8 groups of different people with different attitudes or behaviors. They are overlapping behaviors which we are asked to imitate. The Christian life is not just about avoiding sin (10 Commandments). We are also challenged to grow in the Christian virtues which Jesus taught in the Beatitudes. Jesus says only by being “poor in spirit” can we follow the Beatitudes. That means we are to depend on God and not on our abilities and resources. He also calls us to be a people of mercy, integrity and justice; to work for peace; and to welcome persecution and suffering. By doing so, we will be richly blessed. We will inherit the kingdom of God. More people will be evangelized and we will pave the way for the second coming of our Lord.
Note: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/)
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