Devotion 

The Beatitudes

Frances Taylor 

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is one of the most quoted sections of the New Testament. In some translations, blessed is translated as happy. If you read them that way, would they take on a different meaning? After all we all want to be happy! Happy are the poor in spirit. We want to get to the kingdom of God but do we really want to be poor in spirit, or be persecuted? I know it doesn't say "poor." But to be poor in spirit might mean being generous in spirit. We might have to think of others before ourselves, making sacrifices, helping the poor. None of us wants to mourn, but the fact is that unless we die before all the people we love, we will mourn. Jesus is telling us that even though we will grieve, that isn't the end, and if we turn to God and allow him to walk with us, we will find comfort. The world doesn't hold the meek in high esteem, but turning the other cheek takes strength. Acknowledging our weaknesses as well as our strength takes strength. Since Jesus calls us to work for justice, it is part of following Christ that should encourage our hunger for what is right. Those who are merciful, who are able to be compassionate and forgive are the ones that will be forgiven more easily when they fail. And who doesn't want peace? The problem is we need to work for justice if we want peace. We need to refrain from seeing violence as an answer to problems. If we pay attention to the beatitudes, and live them, we will be happy.

Prayer 

Lord, you gave us the commandments to help us learn how to live, and you had your Son, Jesus, give us the rules for happiness. Help us to live them. Amen.