Matthew 5:1-12

Meditation: What is the good life which God intends for
us? And how is it related with the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is
it not our desire and longing for true 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 heart of Jesus' message is that we can live a very happy life. The
call to holiness, to be saints who joyfully pursue God's will for their
lives, can be found in these eight beatitudes. Jesus' beatitudes sum up
our calling or vocation – to live a life of the beatitudes. 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 (Matthew
4:17), the vision of God (Matthew 5:8; 1 John 2;1),
entering into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21-23)
and into his rest (Hebrews 4:7-11).  Jesus' beatitudes
also confront us with decisive choices concerning the life we pursue here
on earth and the use we make of the goods he puts at our disposal. God
alone satisfies. Theresa of Avila's prayer book contained a bookmark which
she wrote:  "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you;
All things pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for.
Whoever has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices." Is God enough for
you? God offers us the greatest good possible – abundant life in Jesus
Christ (John 10:10) and the promise of unending joy and happiness with
God. Do you seek the highest good, the total good, which is above
all else?
The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to
the world's understanding of happiness and joy. How can one possibly find
happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? Poverty of spirit
finds ample room and joy in possessing God as the greatest treasure possible.
Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit.
Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from
the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. God reveals to the humble
of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises
his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the
troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said:
"No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual
joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering
and thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads
to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you above all else and
find perfect joy in doing your will."
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2012, whose website is located at http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings