Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes are simply amazing. Every time I pray through them there is something that catches my eye and my heart. The thing I noticed today was that throughout the discourse Jesus’ address follows a “blessed are “they”‘ pattern. At the end it changes to “blessed are you.”
Why the change? Am I not merciful? Poor in spirit? Meek? etc? Am I destined to be the only one who is persecuted?
No, the Beatitudes are the marks or signs of sanctity. Those who hold these qualities are those who will be rewarded with the blessings. This is the check list of the saints. I’ve never read about the life of a saint who possessed 95% of these qualities. All of the saints were poor in spirit, mourning, meek, desiring righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and were persecuted for righteousness sake. Blessed were they in all those things. Some were so blessed with those qualities that the final blessing of Our Lord was placed upon them in the form of martyrdom.
FROM THE SAINTS – “We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory.” – Saint Bernard of Clarivaux
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James M. Hahn, Author 