This week we hear from the 5th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the beginning of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. This sermon of our Lord, which covers chapters 5-7 of St. Matthew’s gospel, will be our focus from now until the beginning of Lent, the next four weeks.
The beginning of this sermon is known to us as the Beatitudes. It is striking that just as Moses climbed the mountain at Sinai and delivered to the people of Israel The Law, so our Lord climbs the mountain and delivers to the people of the New Israel the New Law, which tone is set by the Beatitudes.
The word beatitude means “supreme blessedness or happiness; utmost bliss”. So, we see our Lord brings to us a law which is intended to lead us to the joy we all desire; however, the way to that joy is seemingly counter-intuitive: blessed are the meek, the sorrowing, the merciful. And yet, our Lord leads off his greatest recorded sermon / teaching with just this.
Not only are the Beatitudes difficult to grasp from the stand-point of what we might expect in seeking happiness, but the Beatitudes, as enumerated, don’t always make a lot of sense. How do we LIVE them??? I have to admit, I’ve struggled myself to fully grasp their meaning such that I might live them well, that is: live a life of beatitude. It’s no wonder so many often simply slip back to the Decalogue / Ten Commandments. “You shall do this” and “you shall not do that” is so much easier to grasp, but we can find ourselves missing the point when focused simply on what it is we must “do”.
And yet, we are called, “invited” really, to a life of beatitude. Indeed, what is heaven if not supreme blessedness or happiness; utmost bliss? And so the invitation of our Lord is not merely a matter of understanding some concept, but is rather a matter of eternal life!
Happily, there are a number of resources for wrapping our minds on the Beatitudes and reflecting on them. For those who have undertaken the Marian Catechist Basic Course I would recommend reviewing again lesson 9 on the Beatitudes. I review it myself, typically twice a year. The Catechism of the Catholic Church can also be helpful with a relatively brief discussion in paragraphs 1716 - 1723. There is also an after dinner talk by Bishop Robert Barron which I have found helpful and will link on my blog. It’s about 45 minutes and is quite enlightening (and entertaining).
There are also any number of books and articles which have been written over the years. If there is something you found particularly helpful / insightful, let me know. Just remember, our Lord is inviting us to intimacy with Him and the Beatitudes sets the tone for making that journey.
