I think that fits in nicely with this thread. It is a wonderful observation.
Beatitude - the beatific vision - union with the Trinity. That is what the beatidues help us to achieve. Detachment, willingness to let go of anything which hinders union with the Trinity, and being comfortable with God’s plan for us (as Br. JR says), is part of the what the Beatitudes are about. The beatitudes are a series. One builds on the the other. It is a path to happiness, a path to beatitude, a path to the beatific vision, union with God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Knowledge of who God is, and who we are in relation to God, that God is the creator of the universe and holds us in existence and that we are his creation, that we don’t even exist without God, and are nothing without God. That is the first step. Holy humility, knowing our place in creation relative to God.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
When we come to the realization of who God really is and who we are in relation to God, we will mourn for how we have treated God. We will mourn our sins against the creator who holds us in existence.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Those who have humbled themselves, and who have mourned for their sins, become meek, not in the modern sense of the word - weaklings and victims - but pliable in God’s hands, docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our daily activites, and teachable. When we mourn for our sins, we begin to be open to God’s purpose for our lives, and become teachable. This is very imporant, and where many people become derailed by pride.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Once we are docile to the movements and promptings of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives, we begin to hunger for it more. Like exercise, the more we do it, the more we enjoy it. We are taught what to do and we respond appropriately to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and God’s desire for us in little ways, and God says, “
Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in small matters. I will give you great responsiblity. Come, share your master’s joy.” We hunger for more, and it builds exponentially.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Christ said to the pharisees, “
Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” We are taught, we hunger for righteousness, and we show mercy to others, as Christ shows to us. “
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Christ teaches us, through the Holy 'Spirit, how to be merciful, how to forgive others, and then God’s forgiveness and mercy can enter our lives.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Sin is purged. St. Francis de Sales wrote beautifully of purgation of both sin, and more importantly, of the
desire to sin. Purging the sin is not enough. When we no longer desire the sin, we are pure in heart. “I’d punch that guy in the nose if it wasn’t a sin!” That’s not mercy. Forgiving others, showing mercy to others, is an excellent means of purifying us of the desire to sin.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Those who show mercy and who are pure of heart, put all of their own desires aside - detach - for the sake of peace between men. Brother JR wrote in a post a while back about St. Anthony of Padua, who did not engage in arguments with heretics, but simply set up shop in another part of town and spoke about the truth, and in so doing, won back many of those whom the heretics had proselytized.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
My Godfather was a pilot in Vietnam. He used to say, “You know you are over the target when you start taking flak”
The beatitudes were radical when Christ said it. In many ways, the people who heard him were not ready to accept it and Christ almost backtracks, knowing that what he said sounded like a radical contradiction to the eye-for-an-eye mentality of the Mosaic law. He starts telling them that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill, etc, in order that they better understand what he is trying to say.
The Church’s teaching on happiness is sublime. Personal gratification is the lowest type of happiness. Then comes personal acomplishment. Then philanthropy. But real, lasting happiness is found in beatitide - union with God. The beatitudes are a path there, give to us by Christ.
-Tim-
