Matthew 5: 1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Living the Beatitudes
On a long trip, does your GPS ever take you somewhere, then, after a brief stop, suddenly change routes? I’m never sure if I should trust it- what IS the best way?
With the Beatitudes, you’ve found the way. There’s been a lot said about the Beatitudes by many gifted voices, including St. Ignatius of Loyola. In his Spiritual Exercises 143-146, and 278, he instructs,
“Let those who follow this path seek to help all, first by attracting them to the highest spiritual poverty, and … should God deign to choose them for it, even to actual poverty. Secondly, they should lead them to a desire for insults and contempt, for from these spring humility.
Hence, there will be three steps: the first, poverty as opposed to riches; the second, insults or contempt as opposed to the honor of this world; the third, humility as opposed to pride. From these three steps, let them lead people to all other virtues.”
This is the way that Jesus himself gave us – important enough to be in both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels. It’s a strategy for living, for caring, for justice, for peacemaking. Living the Beatitudes is the route that brings us into the kingdom of God.
—Donna K. Becher, M.S. is a certified spiritual director with the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality in Charleston, West Virginia. Her training is rooted in the Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Prayer
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Longing for their Lord
For God's coming kingdom shall be theirs
Blessed are the sorrowing
For they shall be consoled
And the meek shall come to rule the world.
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord
By the light of truth
To seek and to find the narrow way
Be my way, be my truth
Be my life, my Lord
And lead me, Lord, today.
Blessed are the merciful, for mercy shall be theirs
And the pure in heart shall see their God
Blest are they whose hunger only holiness can fill
For I say they shall be satisfied.
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord
By the light of truth
To seek and to find the narrow way
Be my way, be my truth
Be my life, my Lord
And lead me, Lord, today
And lead me, Lord, today
—Lyrics to “Lead Me, Lord” by John D. Becker ©1987