Blessed are

Readings for Monday June 8, 2009

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12


"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)

In today's gospel reading we hear the teachings of our savior, known as the beatitudes. These beautfiful, yet very radical teachings, show us the character traits that are truly important for us to possess and demonstrate. Our world does not teach that those who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry, merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, and persecuted are blessed in any sort of way. In fact our world will typically teach that these types of people are unsuccessful, boring, weak, lazy, are just sad excuses for people. If our world had its own version of beatitudes, the list might look something like this: blessed are those who are arrogant, flamboyant, rich and successful, unforgiving, lustful and indulging, rioters, and popular. Our world certainly teaches character traits and virtues that are very opposite to what our Lord teaches.

The teaching of the beatitudes was as radical in Jesus' day as it is in ours. The beatitudes are the ways in which we should live if we want to make it to heaven. We are not called to a luxurios and lavish lifestyle, and we are not called to live out all our desires and fantasies; we are called to live a life for and with Christ. A life that will be hard and will go against the culture of today. But if we seek to live out the teachings of our Lord, to be among the clean of heart, the meek, and the merciful; then we can truly be blessed with an eternity in paradise with our Lord.

I pray that we all seek to know and understand the beatitudes more, and to let these traits and ways of living manifest in our lives. May we all strive to be among the blessed.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and give you all praise and glory in our lives. Lord, give us the strength and courage to live out your beatitudes and to seek nothing more than your will. Lord, you know what is best for us and we trust in you. We pray for all those in need of conversion and that all political leaders can come to values life at all stages. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.