Matthew 5:1-12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Rejoice And Be Glad”
“I’m no Saint!
I’ve made some mistakes.
I’d do some things differently.
I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.
I’m no Saint!” Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.
Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints. In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint. It means you are not in touch with real life. As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”
This is a gross contradiction! A saint is someone who is very human.
A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it. Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life.
A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven. Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend. Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right. Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others. Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.
A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.
“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”
We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary. A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa. A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.
We don’t often think of ourselves as saints. Yet this is what we are - all of us!
Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints! We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture. See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7
This is what we are - saints! Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.
Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.
The Beatitudes are our marching orders.
“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.
“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.
“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.
“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.
“pure in heart” - living from the inside out; genuine; trustworthy; real.
“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.
“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict; a dangerous calling!
God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling. Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!
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