bless us, o lord?
“He began to teach them.” —Matthew 5:2
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, today’s reading of the Beatitudes is the first time Jesus teaches His disciples. Jesus, the great Teacher, knows a strong first impression and solid introduction are critical. So Jesus’ initial teaching is something very important: how to be blessed.
The word “blessed” that Jesus speaks in the Beatitudes can also be translated “happy” (see Mt 5:3-11). In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches a way to happiness and blessedness. Many books in today’s culture that promise happiness are big sellers. With such a large market for happiness, you’d think that Bibles would be flying off the shelves of bookstores, Bible study groups on the Beatitudes would be standing room only, and our parishes would have hundreds of new Catholics coming into the Church each year.
This isn’t the case. The logical explanation is that most people don’t believe Jesus when He tells us how to be blessed and happy. It’s as if people read the Beatitudes and think, “If being meek, sorrowing, and persecuted is how I have to live to be happy, then I’d rather not be ‘blessed.’ ”
In what do we put more faith: the voice of the secular culture or the message of Jesus? Look at Elijah in today’s first reading. He was persecuted by the government for his prophetic message and forced into hiding for years (see e.g. 1 Kgs 19:2). Yet he was blessed, for God miraculously fed him each day (1 Kgs 17:6).
Don’t live a half-life (1 Jn 3:14), settling “for what fails to satisfy” (Is 55:2). Have faith in Jesus (Jn 14:1). Live the Beatitudes.
Prayer: Jesus, may I never take Your place and try to manufacture my own blessings. Grace me to daily live the Beatitudes.
Promise: “My help is from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” —Ps 121:2
Praise: Father Jim’s parish prioritized reaching out to unchurched people within their parish boundaries. Last year, fifty people converted to Catholicism and joined the parish.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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