GOSPEL, Matthew (5: 1-12)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
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 receive 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 for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
The Beatitudes are the concrete way for the transformation of this world into a world of love, justice and peace. In today’s gospel (vs. 1-12) the Evangelist S, Matthew presents the Beatitudes in a synthesis drawn from the teachings of Jesus, a new Moses on a new Sinai.
With his messianic authority, he transmits the new evangelical law of the Kingdom for all members of the new people of God: A sure path to happiness, although new and paradoxical.
The Beatitudes page is the most revolutionary in the gospel, because in it Jesus establishes a total inversion of the worldly criteria for happiness. Every man and woman wants to be happy; consequently, they seek to achieve it, through wealth and money, success and social position, security, love, power and pleasure…
He declares the poor and the hungry happy, as are those who weep and suffer, the merciful who know how to forgive, the upright and pure in heart, those who promote peace and exclude violence, those persecuted for their fidelity to God.
Jesus pronounced the beatitudes for every man and woman willing to follow his teachings.
Jesus embodied the Beatitudes in his person: Poor, persecuted and rejected, he created peace and reconciliation.
Inherent in ‘The Beatitudes’ are a personal and effective commitment to poverty and human suffering in all of their manifestations. Through detachment and patience, sincerity and justice, rejection of violence, love, unity and solidarity among all nations, the chance for a lasting peace is possible.
May the Lord grant us enough faith, love and courage to understand the beatitudes, assimilate them and live them with Christ.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord Jesus, by proclaiming us blessed, You have given back dignity, hope and a Kingdom to those who are last and most unhappy in the world. You were the first to carry out this initiative, and your example encourages us to follow you to the end. You are our strength. Blessed are you forever, Lord! Amen.