Matthew 5:1-12, The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Comments

The “beatitudes,” these eight blessings of Jesus, are the attitudes that disciples of Jesus are to adopt because they reflect him. The last and nineth “blessed” deals with insult and slander, the forms of persecution Christians have always experienced. Since this happened to Jesus, we should not be surprised when it happens to us. Persecution should make us glad, because it shows we are faithful servants, but rarely do we adopt that attitude!

Application/Reflection

Have you ever tried to impose the ethic of the beatitudes on someone else? How did that go? Remember, Jesus calls us into discipleship that we might willingly follow him. He does not impose but invites.

Prayer

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis, (BCP, p. 833)