The Sermon on the Mount — A Reflection
On All Saints’ Day, we read the Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Beatitudes, from Matthew’s Gospel (5:1-12). I would like to focus on the first four of the eight we read.
The first one is “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This could mean that happiness is experienced by the poor in spirit who have emptied themselves of self-importance and pride and come before God with open and receptive hearts; this is true happiness.
The second one is “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This goes beyond consolation for the loss of a loved one to genuine sorrow over the wrongs and suffering in the world. It is also connected with sorrow over sin and its consequences, which brings about repentance and produces good out of evil. Such “mourning” leads to blessedness.
The third one is “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.” This reflects the promise of future prosperity, such as found in Psalm 37:10-12. The meek represent the dispossessed of the world who will not be denied forever. Those who have learned to take the humble approach, to serve and to put others first, are the blessed ones.
The fourth one is “Blessed and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” These individuals look outward at the world around them: its injustices, its need to hear the truth to be told, the Good News of the Gospel and its opportunities for caring. Jesus calls us to obedience, to do the work He did while on Earth. He fully expects us to carry on His reconciling work, bring healing and peace, and even daily bread of sustenance to a troubled world.
In these first four Beatitudes, we hear the call to discipleship that overshadows worldly recognition and achievement as Jesus presents a vision of life in which God’s will and purpose for creation are fully realized. This might be what Jesus meant in the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) So, go out into the world receiving God’s blessing to do the work He has for us to do for others.
