Consider Our Own Calling
“Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven.” - MT 5:12a
God’s Words today can be summed up by what St Paul shares with us at the end of his writing today, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord." (1COR 1:31) Why is this important? Because the heart of the message shared by Jesus is that we are called to live a very happy life. Many of us may feel we are but are we really doing so in the way God intends?
The good life which God intends for us is to have true Happiness. The word beatitude literally means happiness or blessedness. The eight beatitudes Jesus proclaims in today’s Gospel is a call to Holiness and Joyfully pursue God’s Will in our lives. Jesus wants us to consider and answer our own calling or vocation by living our life of the beatitudes.
Jesus tells us and shows us that only God alone can satisfy the deepest need and longing of our heart. This is the significance of Jesus' beatitudes, and why they are 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, the vision of God, entering into the Joy of the Lord, and into His rest. 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.
The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to the world's understanding of Happiness and Joy. How can we 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. St Thomas Aquinas said: "No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Is God enough for us or do we find worldly pleasure enough? Do we know and seek the Highest Good? Do we 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."
May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with You and Yours!!
Shabbat Shalom,
Deacon Bob