The paradox of Jesus' beatitudes

The beatitudes in the Gospels of Matthew(5:3-12) and Luke(6:20-22) are blueprints for true happiness. But, often, they are not what one expects.

The desire for happiness according to the catechism, is a gift of God. Seeking happiness can draw us "to the one who alone can fulfil it". Moral teaching, says the catechism, shows us how to be happy. Real happiness "surpasses the understanding and powers" of human beings. "It comes from an entirely free gift of God: Whence it is called supernatural".

Beatitude - real happiness - does not make sense, humanly speaking. Can people suffer poverty, ill-health, natural disasters, loss of loved ones, and still remain cheerful? They can. Others wear themselves out in service and keep smiling. Some voluntarily seek solitude and silence, and radiate serene contentment.

God certainly wants us to enjoy the good things of life. But any happiness we find is true happiness only if it reflects the happiness to which God invites us. "True happiness is not found in richness or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement-however beneficial it may be or in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love," the catechism emphasizes. And we will be confronted in our search for real happiness "with decisive moral choices". We'll have to make difficult choices between what seems to offer happiness and what really offer happiness.

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteous for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

�� Matthew 5:3-12a

Getting the point of teachings

Suppose something troublesome happens to us or to someone else: an accident perhaps, a crippling illness or a financial mishap. Sooner or later, what comes to mind is:"This must be a punishment from God."

We wonder if God is punishing us for our sins, we may be a little angry but we simply accept the accident, illness or mishap as our lot. In reality, we do nothing about it. In the case of other people, we may become judgmental.

Perhaps we fall into financial straits or we come upon a poor, homeless fellow and we think of Jesus' beatitude,"Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours." But we accept the situation and do nothing about it, as though poverty and misery in themselves were blessings. The beatitudes are an invitation to help the poor, feed the hungry and alleviate suffering in every way we can.

Being poor in spirit means recognising that no matter how much we have, of ourselves, we are really nothing. God is the source of every blessing.

The next step is easy. We know the beatitudes. What are we going to do about it?

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Father I thank you for the gift of life for a deep love for me. I thank you for wanting to bless me now with your spirit. I resolve to turn away from all wrongdoing in my life. I renounce satan and all his works. Lord have mercy on me. I forgive all those who have hurt me in the past. I now commit my life to you anew, and pray that your perfect will may be done in me. I surrender myself into your hands. I ask Jesus to be Lord of my whole life, not just a part of it and I want to be your disciple, giving up all things in order to follow you. Bless me with a new outpouring of your Spirit so that I may experience your Holy Spirit more fully in life. Pour out your Spirit on me, baptise me in your Spirit and bless me with all those gifts of your Spirit that you may want to give me. Empower me so that I may in your Spirit better love and serve other people and be your instrument in the world. I thank you lord, for hearing and answering this prayer and I praise you for your goodness.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus before ascending into heaven, you promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your apostles and disciple, design to grant me the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Widsom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I May ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of saints. The Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and my dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

Act of Consecration To the Holy Spirit

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witness I offer myself. soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keeness of your justice and might of Your love. You are the strength and light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspiriations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced feet of Jesus and looking at His five wounds and trusting in His precious Blood and adoring His open side and stricken heart I implore you Adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit. Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere. Amen.

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