In the realm where grace is the currency,
Blessings flow like a river, a gift of mercy.
A profound bond with the Divine, a mystery,
Turns affliction into blessings, a sacred journey.
The Beatitudes, a heavenly decree,
Affirm blessings for the humble and the free.
For those poor in spirit, for those who see,
For the meek, the righteous, the merciful, the glee.
Blessed are the pure, the peacemakers, the persecuted,
In God's kingdom, their worth is undisputed.
Compassion and forgiveness, virtues recruited,
Mercy shown to others, love undisputed.
Honesty and truth, the right path illuminated,
Even when it's difficult, even when it's complicated.
Choosing love, a choice consecrated,
Even in suffering, our hearts dedicated.
Looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises,
In the face of trials, in the face of abyss.
God's kingdom within us, a bliss,
Blessings are a gift of grace, a heavenly kiss.
REFELCTION:
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)
Blessings are a gift of grace. A profound relationship with God turns affliction into a blessing.
The Beatitudes affirm that blessings already exist for those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted.
We are to be compassionate and forgiving, and to show mercy to others. We are also to be honest and truthful, and to do what is right even when it is difficult.
Let us choose love, even in the face of suffering, and to look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We come before You, acknowledging that blessings are a gift of Your grace. We recognize that a profound relationship with You can turn our afflictions into blessings. We are humbled by the Beatitudes, which affirm that blessings already exist for those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted.
Lord, guide us to be compassionate and forgiving, showing mercy to others as You have shown mercy to us. Help us to be honest and truthful, doing what is right even when it is difficult. In the face of suffering, let us choose love, reflecting Your love for us.
We look forward to the fulfillment of Your promises, knowing that Your word is true and Your love is unending. May we live each day in the light of Your grace, striving to embody the teachings of the Beatitudes in our thoughts, words, and actions.
In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Proclamation of the Kingdom
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 5:1-12
Gospel | Matthew 5:1-12
Gospel Acclamation
Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in heaven.
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Background:
Matthew 5:1-12, also known as the Beatitudes, is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, which is one of the most loved portions of the Gospel. This sermon is recorded in Matthew 5-71. Matthew placed it at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, emphasizing that Jesus is the authoritative teacher of God’s people.
The Beatitudes were delivered by Jesus on a mountainside, a well-known posture of a teacher. The traditional location of this “mount” is the low hills behind the region of Capernaum and the other fishing villages on the shore.
Before delivering the Beatitudes, Jesus had been announcing that the kingdom of heaven was near and had been calling for people to repent. He had also called the first disciples, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, who were fishing, and James and John, also fishermen.
The Beatitudes introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is found in the Gospel of Matthew. The events described in Matthew take place in Jerusalem, Judea, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire between 10 B.C.E. and 40 C.E3. The book was likely composed between 50 and 90 C.E3.
The Beatitudes include nine sayings from Jesus about the hearts and actions of people living out his Kingdom reality. These statements are grouped into three triads, concluding with three images: salt, light, and a city on a hill.
The discourse was intended for the nation of Israel, the crowds who had been flocking to Jesus. But it was delivered immediately to the disciples. The Beatitudes, and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole, are written in the literary style of prose discourse.
In essence, the Beatitudes unveil the foundations and character of life in the kingdom of heaven. They point to the quality of righteousness that characterizes life in the kingdom, now in part, but fully in the future. They present an affront to our natural inclinations, explaining that followers of Jesus are blessed no matter their present reality because of the sure future hope that is stored up for them in and by God through Christ.
Learning Lessons:
Matthew 5:1-12, known as the Beatitudes, offers profound lessons for our lives:
Blessings are a Gift of Grace: The Beatitudes affirm that blessings already exist for those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted1. These blessings are not earned but are freely given by God’s grace.
God’s Comfort in Mourning: Those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted1. This implies a profound relationship with God, turning affliction into a blessing.
Character of Kingdom People: The Beatitudes paint a picture of the character of God’s kingdom. As we step into God’s kingdom, we aspire to become more like those named as blessed—more meek, more merciful, more hungry for righteousness, more apt to make peace, and so on.
Community in God’s Kingdom: The Beatitudes bless God’s community, not just individuals1. By following Jesus, we become blessed members of the kingdom community, even though our character is not yet formed in God’s likeness.
Love Your Neighbor: It is our responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are to be compassionate and forgiving, and to show mercy to others. We are also to be honest and truthful, and to do what is right even when it is difficult.
Hope in God: Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:1–12 are meant to remind Christians that their hope isn’t in themselves but in what their great God has done and will do.
These teachings are important, and we should always strive to live by them. They remind us of the humble, generous, and non-violent character of Kingdom people, and the cost and reward of following Jesus. They challenge us to choose love, even in the face of suffering, and to look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises. (Conversation with Copilot)
