November, 2002

n.8

The Covenants with God

(Part 3)

The Beatitudes, or the Commandments of Blessedness

These do not in anyway annul the commandments of the Law. On the contrary, these commandments complement each other. The Ten Commandments of the Law are restricted to prohibiting those acts which would be sinful. The Beatitudes explain to us how we may attain Christian perfection or grace. By calling us to the eternal Kingdom of God, Jesus shows us the way to it through fulfillment of His commandments. For their fulfillment He, the King of Heaven and earth, promises Eternal Blessedness in the future eternal life.

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

Blessed - joyful in the highest degree and pleasing to God; poor in spirit - humble, those who are conscious of their imperfections and unworthiness before God, and never think that they are better or more holy than others. He knows that his life is finite and thus he thirsts for God. He is one of the poor in spirit of whom Scripture says: "The rich are to become poor and experience hunger, but those who seek the Lord will lack nothing" (Ps 33:11)

2. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Saint Luke adds: "Woe to you that laugh now for you shall mourn and weep". There is the laughter of proud victory, of sensual possession, of cruel irony, which expresses triumphant egotism rather than the profound joy of a heart at peace. Whereas those who are in mourning and weep over our guilt before God, are looked upon by the Lord with overflowing love, and the consoling Spirit sheds the peace of Christ upon them. That is why the Fathers prayed for the gift of tears. How very far one is at this point from worldly ways of thinking! What a reversal, to seek poverty and tears, to rid oneself of an uncumbering wealth which hinders our salvation, to refuse selfish sastisfactions that are acquired at the expense of others and built upon their sorrows, this is the metanoia, the conversation, the repentance, the change of heart which the Lord asks of us.

3. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Today the earth belongs to the violent, to the powerful, the rich, to those who conquer it at the point of a sword or who buy it with millions. But God in His justice will give the earth to the meek. Meekness is peaceful, fully developed Christian love, free from all malice. It is manifested in the spirit of a man who never becomes angry, and never permits himself to grumble against God or people. Both St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Francis of Assisi followed the meekness of Our Lord so well that even wild beasts were attracted by their meekness and came to them in a friendly way. However, this divine meekness is not at all "sweet"; on the contrary, it is awesome because it allows us to have a glimpse of God's sanctity.

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

These are the people who deeply acknowledge their sinfulness, their guilt before God, and have a burning desire for righteousness. This yearning for righteousness must be very strong, as strong as our desire to appease our appetite and thirst. Full satiety, full satisfaction of the holy yearnings of the human soul, this highest joy and blessedness, will be granted them in the future, blessed life with God. As the psalmist David says, "I shall be filled when They glory is made manifest to me (Ps. 16:16).

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

These are those who have compassion on others, who with all their hearts pity those who have fallen into misfortune or unhappiness, and who try to help them with good works. In the future judgement of Christ, the merciful will be shown the special mercy for the righteous. They will be delivered from eternal punishment for their sins to the degree to which they showed mercy to others on earth.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

In Psalm 50, David exclaims: 'Create in me a clean heart, O God.' A pure heart is one in which the deepest emotions and unconscious desires correspond to the avowed and openly proclaimed intentions. When our actions are inspired by jealousy, ambition, or greed, our heart is impure, no matter what false justification we may give to them. A pure heart is one which truly loves and is not self-centered. He who seeks to satisfy his own desires and selfish pleasures rather than the good of others does not have a pure heart. Here on earth the pure in heart see God through grace, mysteriously, with the spiritual eyes of their hearts. They can see God in His revelations, images and likenesses. In the future eternal life, they will see God as He is (1 John 3:2).

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

Peacemakers are people living with everyone in peace and harmony and fostering peace among people. They try to reconcile others who are in enmity, or at least pray to God for their reconciliation. Remember the words of Our Savior, 'Peace I leave you, My peace I give you (John 14:27), and St. Paul says, 'If it be possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). The peacemakers resemble the Only-begotten Son of God, who came to earth to reconcile sinful people with Divine Judgement and establish peace among people in place of the animosity reigning among them.

8. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kindgom of Heaven.

Persecution is inevitable for those living according to the Gospel's righteousness, because evil people detest righteousness, as truth exposes their evil deeds, and always persecute people who stand up for the truth. Jesus, Himself was crucified by haters of God's truth. For all His followers He predicted: 'If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20). 'All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution', says St. Paul (2 Tim. 3:12).

9. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Especially blessed are those who for the sake of Christ and for the True Faith, patiently bear disgrace, persecution, malice, defamation, mockery, privation and even death. Such a spiritual feat is known as martyrdom. The courage of Christian martyrs must be distinguished from fanaticism, which is irrational zeal not according to reason. This courage is based on love of God and of neighbor.

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