February 17, 2019

6^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Beatitudes-Guideposts of Discipleship

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

The Beatitudes are not mere poetry. Pope Benedict called the Beatitudes “the roadmap for the Church” and the “directions for discipleship.” They demand our attention. St. Matthew gives us eight Beatitudes as part of Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. St. Luke presents them differently—as four blessings and four woes and as part of the Sermon on the Plain. 
 
In both cases, the Beatitudes are a paradox; from a human or worldly perspective, they don’t make sense. The standards of the world are turned upside down. We see this throughout the Gospels: we lead by serving; we come to greatness by becoming small; we are exalted when we are humble; we are strong when we are weak; we find life in dying.
 
“Beatitude” means perfect blessedness or happiness. Our Lord would have us find it in circumstances we would least expect: in poverty, hunger, weeping and persecution. He would have us find sadness where we would least expect it to be: among the rich, the full, the joyful and the popular. Jeremiah helps us see what Jesus is getting at the Beatitudes: “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh...” In other words, lasting happiness cannot be found in material things that are fleeting or even in people who are not so reliable or steadfast. Rather, he says, “Blessed is the one who trusts...whose hope is in the Lord.”  
 
How can these blessings and woes be our roadmap or direct us in our discipleship?  I think the answer is found in the four guideposts Our Lord gives us.  
 
Our Lord first speaks about being poor and being rich. This has to do with our attitude and use of material possessions, wealth and money. While these can be a means for good (care of our family, works of charity), wealth contains spiritual dangers. It can be an obstacle to holiness. Jesus told the rich young man to sell his possessions if he wanted to be perfect. He went away sad. Money can be a cause of misery. Think of how so many jealousies and conflicts occur within families over money and material things. We forget that there are no moving vans in a funeral procession.
 
The second has to do with being full and being hungry. In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the rich man’s sin lay not in his wealth but in his negligence; that he was oblivious to poor Lazarus at his doorstep. A disciple is attentive, open-handed, and generous. We should have eyes and ears open to the needs and sufferings of others.
 
Our Lord then speaks of laughing and weeping. How do disciples react to the events of life? I appreciate Fr. Henri Nouwen’s observation:

“Is it truly possible to embrace with gratitude all of our life and not just the good things that we like to remember? Jesus calls us to remember that joy and sorrow really belong together. The cross is the symbol of our faith and it invites us to find hope where we see pain and to reaffirm the resurrection where we see death. It is so easy for me to put bad memories under the rug of my life and to think only about the good things that please me. By doing so, however, I prevent myself from discovering the joy beneath my sorrow, the peace hidden in the midst of my conflicts and the strength that becomes visible in the midst of my weakness.” (All is Grace, pp. 39-40)    

Finally, Jesus speaks of persecution and popularity. A Christian strives throughout life for humility and courage. When we strive to become like Jesus, we cannot expect always to be understood, liked and admired. We have to be prepared to be rejected and even persecuted. 
 
The Beatitudes present what Pope Benedict calls, “a sort of veiled interior biography of Jesus, a kind of portrait of his figure.” (Jesus of Nazareth, p. 74)  It is a portrait we must keep before our eyes.