Not the Do-Attitudes

   In Matthew 5: 1-12 and Luke 6: 20-23 the Scriptures gives us "The Beatitudes."  Jesus began this Sermon on the Mount/Plain with "Blessed are you ... for ..." or "Happy are you ... for ..."  He offered them (and now us) encouragement for being the people they already were, for characteristics they already had.
   The things we are "doing" can have very important roles in our lives, but "being" in the Presence of God has an incredible value for us too.  Jesus wanted to show people that God loved them, and how close God was, as well as how they were close to the path toward God too.
   In the Scriptures, He was talking to people who were feeling unworthy and unimportant.  They weren't hearing messages of hope from their religious leaders.  Jesus offered them encouragement for who they were, and called them "blessed," lifting them up for being people who wanted a connection with God; and they were hopeful.
  In Jesus' words, "Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of God," I see that poor in spirit means "those who need God."  When we know that we are poor in spirit, we reach for God because there is a void in our life.  In our need for God, we have and emptiness which only God can fill.
   In "Blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted," I see that recognizing we are hurting, especially spiritually, is the first step toward healing.  If we deny that a problem exists, that closes a door between us and God or others who could help.
   In "Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for holiness, for you shall have your fill," I've learned from comparing the spiritual hunger and thirst to our physical needs.  When we are hungry for food or thirsty for drink, we look for ways to satisfy our need.  Similarly, in our spiritual hunger and thirst, we look for ways to satisfy those needs too.  Through the Eucharist we are filled in many ways; including being in the Presence of our Lord.
   Remember that we are not human doings.  We were created as human beings, and are very much connected to our Creator.  The "doing" comes out of our connectedness with God and our fellow human beings.  That connection is love -- the actions of caring, compassion and kindness that was, is and ever will be in the nature of God.  All that Jesus was and is doing is part of Who He is Being -- living out You Are Loved!