The Gospel
of Matthew: a commentary & meditation
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in
heaven"
Scripture: Matthew Chapter 5 Verses 1-12
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 obtain 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 men
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
men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Meditation:
What is the good life, and the ultimate end or purpose of
life? Is it not happiness, which is none other than the complete good,
the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired? Jesus addresses
this question in his sermon on the mount. The word beatitude literally
means "happiness" or "blessedness". What is the
significance of Jesus' beatitudes, and why are they 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 (Matt.
The beatitudes which Jesus offers
us are a sign of contradiction to the world's understanding of happiness and
joy. How can one 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. Thomas Aquinas said: No one can live without
joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal
pleasures. Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting for God
alone?
"Lord, 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".