We read the familiar words of Jesus in Matthew 5.1-12 called the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes begin what is called the Sermon on the Mount. In chapters 5-7, Jesus speaks about life in a way that startled his listeners. Many thought it was a sign of God's blessing to be rich, powerful, and content. They thought it was justified to respond to violence and oppression with violence and oppression.
Jesus' words continue to challenge us today. Pay attention to these hard words of Jesus. Christianity is not always easy, bit it is the only way for all people to live as sons and daughters of God. The challenge for us is to see life more and more the way God does, and then to live that vision!
Use the the commentary below to help you understand the beatitudes and answer the questions below.
Dialogued Prayer on the Beatitudes
1. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Keep us from being overly occupied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice.2. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us.
3. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.
4. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.
5. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.
6. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.
7. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Help us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.
8. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs." Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.Meditation:
What is the good life, and the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is it not happiness, which is none other than the complete good, the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired? Jesus addresses this question in his sermon on the mount. The word beatitude literally means "happiness" or "blessedness". What is the significance of Jesus' beatitudes, and why are they so central to his teaching? The beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness that God has placed in every heart. They teach us the final end to which God calls us, namely the coming of God's kingdom (Matt.