And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said : "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
"Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."
The Word in other words
In the seminary we have an interesting prayer which we usually pray on a first Friday juxtaposing today's Gospel on the Beatitudes with the "worldly beatitudes."
The world says: Blest are the rich; power and money rule the world. But you say: Blest are the poor in spirit; the reign of God is theirs. The world says: Blest are the pleasure-seekers; they are happy ones. But you say: Blest are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled.
The world says: Blest are those greedy for power and fame. They shall rule mankind. But you say: Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill. The world says: Blest are the cold-hearted proud; they will dominate their fellowmen. But you say: Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.
The world says: Blest are those who crush all opposition with force. But you say: Blest are the peacemakers; they shall be called the children of God. The world says: Blest are those who know how to swindle and get ahead by lies and cheating. But you say: Blest are the single-hearted, for they shall see God.
The world says: Blest are you when men flatter and applaud you; for they will esteem you highly. But you say: Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you, and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Worldly, earthly, secular, mundane, temporal, base, unspiritual- these adjectives describe the "blessedness"of today's world. However, these worldly blessings of power, money, fame, and self-indulgence are deceiving. They effectively bewitch us with their intoxicating effects and, as a result, exploitation, manipulation, and discord wreak havoc on everyone and on every relationship.
The true blessedness proposed by Jesus is being poor in spirit, meek, merciful, righteous, single-hearted and persevering in persecution and difficulties. For there is one encompassing motive in living out Jesus' beatitudes- the Reign of God. However, this reign of God is not relegated to the end time. In fact, living out the Christian beatitudes in our day to day life will bring down power and pride, make money an instrument to rebuild the lives of the poor and marginalized, and make fame irrelevant. If this begins to happen, then the reign of God is truly at hand.
- Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (DWST, Tagaytay City)
