The values of The Kingdom

Matthew 5: 1–12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.

Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

Music Meditations

Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Blessed Are They
Come to the Water
You Are My Hiding Place
Don’t Be Afraid, My Love Is Stronger
Lead Me, Guide Me—CCAS choir livestreamed

Opening Prayer

Dear Jesus, how hard it is to remember, that beatitudes are a call of hope for me and a challenge to see the world a you see it.

Give me the insight and the courage to look at my life, imperfect as it is, and those around me, flawed as they are, and the world we all inhabit, crazy as it seems, and try to mirror your compassion for a person on the margins, even if that person on the margins is me.

Companions for the Journey

From Good Enough, by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie:

We live in a culture of blessing. We live in a culture of #Blessed.

Partially nude bikini shot? #Blessed. Christmas card professional photo shoot where everyone is looking directly at the camera wearing matching chambray tops? #Blessed.

As Christians, we cross-stitch our blessings on pillows, hand letter them in whimsical fonts and tattoo them on our bodies, forgetting perhaps, that Jesus turned the idea of what makes us blessed upside down. His blessings would leave some people wide-eyed, and others with tears of relief running down their cheeks. (p122)

That having been said, sometimes we read those gospel beatitudes in Matthew and think that most of those don’t really apply to our everyday lives. So I am attempting here, without great theological explanation, to “translate” those beatitudes into everyday language. Here are the eight Matthew refers to in everyday language:

Blessed are those who are dispirited, who have lost confidence in themselves, in the world, maybe even in God, and press on anyway, hoping that by simply hanging in there, they can make a difference. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who mourn lost friendships, lost opportunities, lost moments they will never get back and refuse to give in to despair. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who don’t always think of themselves first, who let others’ issues take precedence, and work for harmony and peace and do not always have to be “right”. Theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are those whom justice and fairness and left behind, leaving them powerless in the face of the cruelty or ignorance of others, and continue to work for a better situation, a better relationship, or a better world. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who are merciful, even to themselves, who know that we are all imperfect and do not judge others, and rely on the justice and mercy of God for themselves and others. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who know their imperfections, who know their own venal, self-serving little hearts, and work against self-serving behaviors. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who work to heal divisions in their family, in the world, in themselves, and extend the hand of forgiveness to even the most undeserving. Theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are those who stick their necks out in the boardroom or the classroom, in the kitchen or in the bedroom, who are laughed at, mocked or attacked for their naivete or their fervor, and get up and stand up for what is right.

Ok, folks, I am on a roll! Here are some extensions of those basic eight, (and there are many more you could add) which sometimes is where “Gum-chewing Christians” like myself meet our God:

Blessed are those who are weary, the worn out-—those at the end of their tether. They discover that God’s arms are strong enough to hold them.
Blessed are those who find contentment in what they have, who find joy in the ordinary, who do not covet what they cannot have. They will know that God is enough.
Blessed are those who struggle the best they can with the negative events in their lives. They know God sees their effort.
Blessed are those who do not judge or ignore those who do not seem able to cope with life, who realize that others’ problems are real, whether they exist in their minds or in reality. They have hope that God’s mercy will be theirs.
Blessed are those who struggle to understand that they are loveable, not because of what they do, not because of that they look like, and sometimes in spite of the kind of persons they are. They will know God’s love.
Blessed are those who show the wounds of living—crow’s feet from aging, lines from worry, body dysmorphia of any kind, eyes strained with fatigue, nervousness from anxiety, physical and mental disorders of any kind, those who remember we often fall short. They are beautiful in God’s eyes.
Blessed are those who face giving up what they love: life they have known, a family, a relationship, a career, their youth, a dream. They will know God’s comfort;
Blessed are the lonely. They, too, will know God’s comfort.
Blessed are those who try to live the here-and-now, who treasure joyous and poignant memories, and the small charms of the everyday, who look forward to living every day, even if life is imperfect. They will experience God’s true joy.
Blessed are they who ask for spiritual help, who are willing to trust in another. They will find help.
Blessed are those who are willing to start over. They will find courage.
Blessed are those who don’t always feel “blessed”, with curated images and postings on Instagram, who feel like they are in the back of the “favors-from-God” line, who feel like misfits, who feel afraid to speak for fear of being criticized or ridiculed, who feel forgotten and left out. They are children of God.

Luke wrote his own set of beatitudes—four blessings and four woes. Why don’t you get a little creative and write your own?

Weekly Memorization

Pick your favorite beatitude and memorize it

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

Do I see these beatitudes as a “warning” to behave better, or as a comfort to those who have suffered from lack of fairness? Would that make a difference in how you interpret these sayings of Jesus in is Sermon on the Mount? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling sympathy for those with less? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling worthless by the world’s standards? Does poverty of spirit mean feeling worthless before God? Do any of these definitions reflect how I have felt at times? Does poverty of spirit have anything to do with utter reliance on God? To what extent do I rely on myself, my friends, my financial security, luck or talent to navigate the world? What do you hope for? Where does fullness of life with God stand on your list? What losses in your life have you experienced, but did not fully mourn those losses? Do you know anyone right now who is suffering from sadness due to loss of someone or something? What can you do to reach out? What does it mean to be meek? When is it a good trait and when is it not a good trait in someone? Have you ever stood up for some who was too meek to fight for themselves? What individuals or groups of people are disadvantaged by the world/culture they live in? Can you think of one person in your life who has been treated unfairly? By whom or what? Was there anything you could do to help? Think of someone in your life who could have been vindictive or at least suggested punishment for something you did, but instead, showed you forgiveness and understanding. How did it make you feel? Have you done the same for anyone else? Or do you hold grudges? What does it mean to be clean of heart? In what areas of your life are your motives a little “dirty”, or at least a bit self-serving? In what areas of your life have you been a victim of other’s bad intentions and actions? Is a peacemaker, in your mind, one who gives in on principles in order to avoid conflict? Is a peacemaker, in your mind, someone who listens carefully and tries not to exacerbate the situation? In what ways is it counter-cultural in our society to be a peacemaker? Have you ever suffered the consequences of speaking up for a person, or a moral value? What were they? Would you do so again? Has your Catholicism ever been a liability in your workplace or in your relationships? How did you deal with it? How might the Beatitudes serve as a good entry point for your observance of Lent? Which of the phrases in Matthew’s beatitudes appeals to you the most? Which offers the greatest challenge? How do these phrases compare with the "American Dream"? In what way is Matthew outlining the ideal community? Is this vision the same as yours? How is it different? Do I ever reflect on where I am truly blessed?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Many of the famous sayings of Jesus have been arranged according to topic and grouped together in what has come to us as the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. The opening words of the discourse of Jesus are considered so important, so pivotal, that scholars and spiritual leaders have spent centuries discussing their meaning and their application. There are over 8000 books available on Amazon.com alone! The beatitudes comprise sort of a keynote address, and the very first lines set the tone for the entire selection.

What if Jesus had taken his first lines from a business journal which is supposed to be a showing us how things are in the “real” world?

Those “beatitudes” might go something like this: Blessed are the rich and famous, for they shall have what they want. Blessed are they who cut their losses, and get rid of the losers, they will live to win another day Blessed are the and powerful, they will inherit the earth Blessed are the white and well educated, the world is theirs Blessed are they who cry for vengeance, they will be seen as protectors of society Blessed are they who cultivate the right people, they will go far Blessed are they who tailor their morals to meet the marketplace, they will be rewarded. Blessed are Americans for they shall have the earth's riches at their beck and call. (adapted from Siciliano)

These cynical “beatitudes” may make us wince, but they are what a lot of people in the world value and call “blessings”. I would suggest that we have been encouraged to live by them, in one way or another, since we were young. These values may have passed on to us by our parents, or in school, but for sure all the sights and sounds we see on TV ads present these worldly beatitudes by showing us the successful, young and powerful who seem to lack for nothing. But these worldly beatitudes don’t speak to our faith vision; they aren’t the ones Jesus spoke to those gathered around him. (Siciliano) And they are a reminder and a comfort for those of us who live our daily lives doing our best not to be swayed by the allure of the surrounding world we meet at school, work and even at home. We are tempted to lessen our hold on our faith, to coast along, little by little adopting and living by the standards of our world: ---To admire and strive after wealth and position ---To value the "haves" more than the "have nots" ---To seek the company of those who make us look good ---To cling to "eternal youth" ---To out-spend our neighbors on clothes and entertainment ---To fit in with the majority opinion and be silent when a word of justice is required ---To fudge truth for personal gain and convenience

The beatitudes celebrate those who “show up” each day and put their lives on the line in many small and sometimes in very big ways, for their faith. Jesus isn’t calling us to be wimps, to lie down and let the world run over us in its pursuit to pleasure and ease. He wants us challenge by our values and ways of living what the world takes for granted and calls “blessings.” We are, according to the beatitudes, people who practice unlimited forgiveness, peacemaking and patient loving, in the ways Jesus taught us by his living and dying. (Siciliano, FI 5th Sunday A)

So our questions are: First: Where am I in my present relationship with God? Are my successes, my possessions, seen as gifts from God, or do they distract me from recognizing my radical dependence on God alone? What do I hunger and thirst for? Love? Power? Comfort? Justice? Peace? Which are God’s values? Which are mine?

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

Many of the Jewish psalms, are psalms of lament, reflecting the agony and separation of an oppressed and suffering people, and also capturing their collective trust in God. Like the beatitudes of Jesus, these psalms of lament are a reflection of a firm belief in God’s care for those who have suffered at the hands of the powerful. As you read Psalm 10, reflect on all the ways you have felt beleaguered in your life, and then reflect on all the ways in which Jesus has been present in your pain and sorrow. At the end, write a short 4 line psalm of your own, reflecting your hope in times of stress.

Psalm 10

O LORD, why do you stand afar off, and hide yourself in times of distress? The poor are devoured by the pride of the wicked; they are caught in the schemes that others have made. For the wicked boasts of his soulʼs desires; the covetous blasphemes and spurns the LORD. The wicked says in his pride, “God will not punish. There is no God.” Such are his thoughts. His path is ever untroubled; your judgments are on high, far removed. All those who oppose him, he derides. In his heart he thinks, “Never shall I falter; never shall misfortune be my lot.” His mouth is full of cursing, guile, oppression; under his tongue are deceit and evil. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hidden places, he murders the innocent The eyes of the wicked keep watch for the helpless. He lurks in hiding like a lion in his lair; he lurks in hiding to seize the poor; he seizes the poor one and drags him away. He crouches, preparing to spring, and the helpless fall prey to his strength. He says in his heart, “God forgets, he hides his face, never will he see.” Arise, O LORD; lift up your hand, O God! Do not forget the poor! Why should the wicked spurn God, saying in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you have seen the trouble and sorrow. You note it; you take it in your hands. The helpless one relies on you, for you are the helper of the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked and the sinner! Pursue their wickedness till nothing remains! The LORD is king forever and ever. The nations shall perish from his land. O LORD, you have heard the desire of the poor. You strengthen their hearts; you turn your ear to give right judgment for the orphan and oppressed, so that no one on earth may strike terror again.

Poetic Reflection:

I offer you a little poem from the writer Fr. Michael Kennedy, S.J., which reflects on the difference between passive assent and true belief:

When he calls Disciples to be poor in Spirit and in many other ways On his list of things to do or to Be the reaction from the first Members he called and even Our response today is likely to Be a polite assent but no belief For like those called many years Ago we are convinced that we Live in the real world not in Some fantasy one However pious *** And yes once again We have forgotten our Experience of the Lord in A spouse or a child or a truly Welcoming community or in the Simple and uncluttered wisdom Which fills an old friend or even When we help others mourn Then finally when we do Remember our Jesus

Closing Prayer

From Sacred Space, a Service of the Irish Jesuits:

We have no portrait of you, Lord, but in the Beatitudes you show us your interior landscape, the source of your joy. This is not a set of regulations, but a vision of where true happiness lies. Let me taste the joy you promise through the Beatitudes.

Weekly Reflections

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2023