Rev. James C. Hinkle 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Beatitudes [Story of the Mount of the Beatitudes] Resources: Leo the Great. (1895). Sermons. In P. Schaff & H. Wace (Eds.), C. L. Feltoe (Trans.), Leo the Great, Gregory the Great (Vol. 12a, p. 202). New York: Christian Literature Company. Origen. (1897). Origen s Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. In A. Menzies (Ed.), J. Patrick (Trans.), The Gospel of Peter, the Diatessaron of Tatian, the Apocalypse of Peter, the Visio Pauli, the Apocalypses of the Virgil and Sedrach, the Testament of Abraham, the Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena, the Narrative of Zosimus, the Apology of Aristides, the Epistles of Clement (Complete Text), Origen s Commentary on John, Books I-X, and Commentary on Matthew, Books I, II, and X-XIV (Vol. 9, p. 433). New York: Christian Literature Company. Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. In P. Schaff (Ed.), G. Prevost & M. B. Riddle (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew (Vol. 10, p. 91). New York: Christian Literature Company. A most famous passage the Beatitudes and introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying The Holy Bible. (2006). (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Mt 5:1 2). San Francisco: Ignatius Press. Upon seeing the multitude, He went up the mountain. Then his disciples came to him there is a distinction made between the crowd and the disciples. [If he wanted to force His teaching onto all, he would have gone to the middle of town, or to the synagogue, rather in his humility, he went up the mountain. 1
The translation from the lectionary says that he began to teach them saying, but the Greek, says more specifically: He opened His mouth and taught them. Meaning, that a distinction is being made again He teaches with His actions; He teaches with His words throughout the entirety of his earthly ministry, he was a teacher how to act and what to say. A reminder that we also bear witness to Christ, not only with what we say, but with what we do. It says He went up the mountain that is, He went closer to heaven and spoke to them from above, with authority of the Father. In the Gospels, we see His action of going up : He will also go up to the Temple in Jerusalem, He will go up as He is raised on the wood of the cross, He goes up as HE ascends to heaven. These are very important words since they unlock for us how to act today, so that we may receive something now lifted up from the plane of the material realm. There is also an eschatological aspect the promise of what we shall receive after this earthly life, when we enter heaven. The Beatitudes are a here and now and also, then. 2
Blessed are the poor in spirit this means humility. Pride led to the downfall of man in the beginning, thus for those that humble themselves at the awesomeness of God, putting their trust in him theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, now and then. It is fitting that the first beatitude should address the first sin of man. Blessed are they who mourn this is not somebody being merely sad a sadness with no object there must be an object to our mourning: our sinfulness towards God. This is the terrible, burdensome, mourning and weeping that one experiences when they have hurt a loved one mourn for our sinfulness against God; they will be comforted now in Confession, and then in heaven. Blessed are the meek in one sense, the Judaistic sense: the meek are the oppressed they will one day receive the inheritance they deserve the promised land; in another sense, the Greek understanding, meekness is the strength, the fortitude of a slave. It is accepting one s station in life: these are the gifts that God has given me; I don t envy others, I use my gifts to their fullest and then when I accept that, the land is mine, both now and hereafter. 3
Hunger and thirst for righteousness being righteous is not about being selfrighteous, but God righteous righetousness is doing the will of God; and then truly, when we do the good, we will be satisfied! Righteousness entails: frequent use of the sacraments, an intimate relationship with God in prayer, a valiant effort to meet one s social, professional and family responsibilities. Blessed are the Merciful Mercy is not just a matter of giving alms to the poor but also of being understanding towards other people s defects, overlooking them, helping them cope with them and loving them despite whatever defects they may have. Being merciful also means rejoicing and suffering with other people. Blessed are the clean of heart the very depth of the soul The heart that carries with it our thoughts, words, and actions right at the very crux of who we are as human persons the entirety of the human person purified the reward is seeing God. 4
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness: blessed is he who suffers persecution for being true to Jesus Christ and who does so not only patiently but joyfully. Circumstances arise in a Christian s life that call for heroism where no compromise is admissible: either one stays true to Jesus Christ whatever the cost in terms of reputation, life or possessions, or one denies him. Martyr : means witness. While most of us may not be called to a martyr s death, we are all called to suffer the deaths that occur when we bear witness to Christ. It isn t a checklist, it isn t a pick one; this is how one is Christ-like. We are called to live, not on, but all of the beatitudes in order to truly image God. It tells us the joy we will experience on this earth, and in the fullest of meaning, in the world to come. Our roadmap on how to be a true witness, a true hero to the faith. 5