Reflection
The Beatitudes provide a new vision. Those who are truly blessed are not the emperors, the priests or the wealthy. Rather, they are the common people, those whom earthly success has largely passed by, the poor, the meek, the persecuted, and the peacemakers. As long as ordinary people stand for what is right and do not retreat before those who seem to have more power, they will be blessed. They may not have worldly success, but what cannot be taken away from them is their potential to live in just relationship. What is right will prevail. The hope we carry as Christians is that if we believe in this and work to live according to Jesus’ vision, our united efforts can begin to bring about an attitudinal change and spread out slowly to change the prevailing consciousness in our world.
Prayer
Create in me a new spirit, O Lord.
Action
What are my standards of success? How do I view “the lowly and despised of the world”? Where is my life in line with the vision of Jesus? Do I believe in the norms of present society? Do I profess my religion and ignore the gospel?
Suggested Reading
Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blesed are the meek,for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,for your reward will be great in heaven.
Matthew 5
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something…
1Cor 1:26-35
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
St. Francis of Assisi
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead.
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Dale Carnegie
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.
Vincent van Gogh