shock waves
“How blest are...” —Matthew 5:3
When Jesus gathered His disciples around Him and began to teach them the Beatitudes, what were His disciples expecting? Jesus had called these men to join His kingdom (see Mt 4:22ff). He took them on tour with Him where they saw His amazing power to heal the masses and bring deliverance from the evil one (see Mt 4:23-24). The disciples saw Jesus’ popularity and ability to draw great crowds (see Mt 4:25). When Jesus took them up the mountainside, they possibly anticipated becoming VIPs in His kingdom. They may have expected power, prestige, and money. Even after Jesus repeatedly corrected the disciples’ false idea of His kingdom, they still thought His kingdom was of this world, and discussed who would be the greatest (see Mt 18:1).
Therefore, when Jesus was talking about eight ways to be happy, that is, the Beatitudes, the disciples may have expected a kind of motivational talk worthy of Dale Carnegie. However, Jesus absolutely shocked the disciples. Happiness was not riches, but poverty; not feeling good, but sorrowing for sin; not prestige, but lowliness; not desiring pleasures, but holiness; not winning, but showing mercy; not doing your own thing, but being single-hearted in doing God’s thing; not manipulating others, but making peace; and not popularity, but persecution (Mt 5:3-10).
The disciples could not have been more shocked by the Beatitudes, which continue to send shock waves throughout human history to this very day.
Prayer: Father, may I shock the world by living the Beatitudes.
Promise: “As we have shared much in the suffering of Christ, so through Christ do we share abundantly in His consolation.” —2 Cor 1:5
Praise: James gave up a successful business career to follow the Lord’s call to priesthood.
Reference: (We offer a Family Vacation With the Lord, June 21-25. This is a great time for the family to have fun and grow closer to the Lord with other families. See www.presentationministries.com or call 513-373-2397 for information or to register.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021. Reverend Steve J Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 20, 2021"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.