The gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:1-11

“Sermon on the Mount”

In the gospel of Matthew, chapter five, Jesus delivers the wonderful sermon on the mount. He gives us the eight beatitudes which form the basis of all His teaching. I have written about the beatitudes in an earlier blog (2/16/2010) but this message bears repeating. The beatitudes need to be pondered, over and over again.

Simply stated, the Beatitudes mean holy attitudes or dispositions which empower us to act in the Spirit of Christ. To live by the spirit of the beatitudes is what distinguishes the Christian from others. It is clear from a reading of the beatitudes that the Christian does not strive to set himself apart or above other people.

The first Beatitude: “How blest are the poor in spirit” refers to an attitude of humility from within. This attitude is certainly not a superior one in the sense that one would frown or look down upon another person. But, it is a “superior” attitude in the sense that one eliminates the interior inclination towards pride that everyone possesses; it demands that we humbly repent of our sins to let God’s holy spirit into our lives.

The beatitudes keep the life of the Christian in focus. In other words, they insure that whatever a Christian does in the way of action, is done out of a spirit of Christ-like love. For example, it is not sufficient that a Christian act in a just and upright manner. The Christian must temper justice with compassion and meekness: “Blest are the meek; they shall inherit the land.” “Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.”

To live by the spirit of the beatitudes does not come easy. It is a lifelong endeavor which requires constant openness to the spirit of Christ and a constant awareness of our own limitations and imperfections.

“Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill.” What Jesus appears to be saying here is that those who are open to the spirit of Christ and who acknowledge their weaknesses will have their fill of goodness or holiness in God’s good time.

Please read all the beatitudes in Matthew, chapter 5:1-11. Don’t just read them, but meditate upon them in the silence of your heart.

May we all strive to live by the attitudes of Christ as described in the eight beatitudes.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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