Throughout my experience as a Catholic, I have heard that the Beatitudes were hard to understand. Honestly, I think we have made an attempt to make it overly complex to pat ourselves on the back. For example, we could focus on how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses that He would send a prophet even greater than Moses rather than focus on what Jesus is actually saying. It is time to allow Jesus’s gift of His Holy Spirit to teach our souls as well as our minds. What do I mean by that? Simply to give space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to teach us and give us greater freedom. Before we dive in, I would like to point out that the word ‘blessed’ means happy or joyful.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we give room in our hearts for greed, we start to justify ourselves and give ourselves license to sin. Jesus is saying, ‘happy are those who are free from the burden of having enough to feel secure because in the kingdom of heaven there is abundance.’
“Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” There is the assurance that if we follow Jesus to the grave, we will follow Him to Resurrection. There is hope that we will hold our loved ones again.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Happy are those who have self-control over their own powers and allow the justice and mercy of God to be a Father to our brothers and sisters by correcting them and giving us good gifts in His timing when we have been wronged.
“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Jesus longs to satisfy our need to be grounded in truth, beauty, and goodness. It looks like a person who is at peace with themselves and others. It does not look like a person who stands in judgment and self-righteousness.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Often, we have a tendency to make excuses of why we are justified in still being hurt or bitter. It is a trap, and asking for and giving God’s mercy is the only way out.
“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Jesus showed us that even on earth he could see God. Every Eucharist, we are given the opportunity to have a heart transplant, my heart for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Our God rewards us as His little children when we fight with peace with God to co-create a world that is peaceful.
“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” This is only possible with radical love and allowing Jesus to be our shield.
My hope is that we will not deceive our hearts but allow room for the Holy Spirit to help us clear out the clutter and make room to experience the kingdom of heaven and the joy of seeing the face of our God who loves us.
A lo largo de mi experiencia como católica, he escuchado que las Bienaventuranzas son difíciles de entender. Honestamente, creo que las hemos hecho más complicadas de lo que son para darnos palmaditas en la espalda. Por ejemplo, podríamos centrarnos en cómo Jesús es el cumplimiento de la promesa de Dios a Moisés de que enviaría un profeta aún más grande él en lugar de centrarnos en lo que Jesús realmente está diciendo. Es hora de permitir que el don de Jesús de Su Espíritu Santo enseñe nuestras almas y nuestras mentes. ¿Qué quiero decir con eso? Simplemente para dar espacio en nuestros corazones para que el Espíritu Santo nos enseñe y nos dé mayor libertad. Antes de sumergirnos, me gustaría señalar que la palabra “dichosos” significa felices o gozosos.
“Dichosos los pobres de espíritu, porque de ellos es el Reino de los cielos”. Cuando damos cabida en nuestro corazón a la avaricia, empezamos a justificarnos y a darnos licencia para pecar. Jesús está diciendo: ‘felices los que están libres de la carga de tener lo suficiente para sentirse seguros porque en el reino de los cielos hay abundancia.’
“Dichosos los que lloran, porque serán consolados.” Existe la seguridad de que si seguimos a Jesús hasta la tumba, lo seguiremos hasta la Resurrección. Hay esperanza de que volvamos a abrazar a nuestros seres queridos.
“Dichosos los sufridos, porque heredarán la tierra.”. Felices aquellos que tienen autodominio sobre sus propios poderes y permiten que la justicia y la misericordia de Dios sean un Padre para nuestros hermanos y hermanas, corrigiéndolos y dándonos buenos dones en el momento apropiado cuando hemos sido agraviados.
“Dichosos los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia, porque serán saciados”. Jesús anhela satisfacer nuestra necesidad de estar cimentados en la verdad, la belleza y la bondad. Parece una persona que está en paz consigo misma y con los demás. No se ve como una persona que se encuentra en juicio y justicia propia.
“Dichosos los misericordiosos, porque obtendrán misericordia.” A menudo, tenemos una tendencia a poner excusas de por qué estamos justificados para seguir estando heridos o amargados. Es una trampa, y pedir y dar la misericordia de Dios es la única salida.
“Dichosos los limpios de corazón, porque verán a Dios.” Jesús nos mostró que incluso en la tierra podemos ver a Dios. Cada Eucaristía, se nos da la oportunidad de tener un trasplante de corazón, mi corazón por el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
“Dichosos los que trabajan por la paz, porque se les llamará hijos de Dios.” Nuestro Dios nos recompensa como sus pequeños hijos cuando luchamos con paz con Dios para co-crear un mundo que sea pacífico.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Kolosyuk, unsplash.com/photos/4R6pg0Iq5IU
Arthur Richardson is married to his wonderful wife, Gabby Richardson. Most of his work experience is in ministry. He was a retreat missionary in Wisconsin for two years and a youth minister for three years. He is now the Web Project Manager here at Diocesan, and loves it!
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