Tenth Monday of Ordinary Time

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. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes should be a way of life for us. We should see in these blessings a higher calling and a way to know, love, and serve God and His children more perfectly. They are also a promise by Jesus that when we follow in his footsteps on earth, we build up treasures for ourselves in heaven. If we are humble in spirit, mourn with those who are suffering, submit to God’s Will, hunger and thirst for righteousness, show mercy to others, keep our hearts clean from sin, make peace, and are willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and insulted for our faith in Jesus, then we shall be rewarded. By doing all these things, we become living Beatitudes and instruments of blessing for the whole world, just like Jesus.

Are we living out the Beatitudes? Are we willing to suffer and even die in this life so that we might be rewarded in the next? How can we live lives that are a spiritual blessing to those around us and ourselves?

O Lord, give us the grace to live out the Beatitudes with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.