The ‘tudes that Jesus taught

 The ‘tudes that Jesus taught

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 1-12 and (the Sermon on the Plain) Luke 6: 20-23) Jesus told the group about certain attitudes they were to have.  There are 8 of them in Matthew and 4 in Luke called the Beatitudes.

He was talking to people who were being condemned by religious leaders for their unworthiness.  Jesus was offering them encouragement for who they were, and calling them “Blessed” (or “Happy”).

In my need for an attitude adjustment I’ve looked to Scripture and many times the Beatitudes have provided the answer.  I used to think that passage was very complicated, and so I expected great theological revelations, but none came.

When I began to look at the Beatitudes for simple answers, then they made more sense.  In the first one, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God,” I wondered what ‘poor in spirit’ meant and how did it apply to me since I had what I thought to be a good relationship with Jesus.  In the simpler terms I realized it meant ‘those who need God.’  When we know we need God, then we make room in our life for God.  Otherwise we’d fill up our lives with events, activities and things that would block out the place where God would be included in our life.

Another Beatitude reads, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for  holiness, for they shall have their fill.”  If we hunger for food, we go find food.  If we thirst for a drink, we go find something to drink.   Similarly, when we want holiness ( connection with God), we seek out ways to fill that need.

As I see it, one of the most important lessons Jesus taught was about encouragement.  We are to edify one another, building each other up, to continue in our faith walk.

Edifying another person actually helps the encourager also.  I heard someone say, “If you’re feeling down, lift someone else up.”  And that really works, because in doing so we would take our minds off of ourselves.  In The Prayer of St. Francis we hear “It is in giving of ourselves that we receive.”

So encourage someone and the be-attitude you have will be the right one.  In The Beatitudes (and anywhere in the Scriptures), don’t overlook the simple answers searching in deep spiritual truths.  You will realize how you are already blessed.

BLESSED ARE YOU!!!

The Beatitudes: For our mood-ification

 The Beatitudes:  For our mood-ification

In Matthew 5: 1-12 (and Luke 6: 20-23) we find some verses which are referred to as “The Beatitudes.”  Jesus is quoted with “Blessed are you … for …” or “Happy are you … for …”The message I get from those passages is that among the things our Lord offered (and offered us too) was/is encouragement.

The people who sought to hear Jesus were needy, hungry, and hurting physically and spiritually, and being persecuted.  They were being told by the religious leaders that they were insignificant, unworthy and not important.  Their mood was probably one of desperation, maybe even feeling unforgivable.  Then here comes Jesus, offering them hope and encouragement.  He told each of them they were important, they were significant and they had great worth.  He welcomed them that they could return to God.  That could certainly spark a change of mood.

Now those of us who need a spiritual boost can also be hopeful and encouraged by Jesus’ words and actions.  There are many examples where Jesus offers hope and encouragement, but for this story I will focus on the Beatitudes.  I get the most out of them when they are viewed with simplicity.  Here are a few examples.

In “Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, yours is the kingdom of God,” I see that ‘poor in spirit’ means ‘those that 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 an emptiness which God can fill.

In “Blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted,” I see when we are hurting (spiritually or otherwise), that is the first step toward healing.  If we deny that a problem exists, it is like a closed door between us and God and/or others who could help.

In “Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for holiness, 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 and thirsty for drink we look for ways to satisfy our need.  Similarly in our spiritual hunger & thirst we look for ways to satisfy that need too.  Through the Eucharist and our actions we are filled.

When I look for the simple message, in other Bible passages too, God says some incredible things.  Jesus said you must become like these little ones (referring to children).  I think that means we must be trusting in God’s ways, accepting of God’s will, and be open for uncomplicated messages.  It is when I contribute my trust, acceptance and openness that God gives me revelationary “Wow!  It was that simple,” insights.

Stay open to God’s simple messages and you will develop the be-attitudes for life -- eternal life.