Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today we read from the beginning of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew’s Gospel. It is, without a doubt, one of the most famous sermons of all time. Jesus starts with the Beatitudes, attempting to show us the way to real blessing.
But what he says goes against the grain of popular thinking. Blessings is not found in traditionally sought after ways. It is the poor in spirit, the mourning and the meek who find blessing, not the puffed up, giddy, and powerful. It is those who thirst for what is right, who show mercy, and are clean of heart who find blessing, not those who do whatever it takes to get ahead, forgive nothing, and take while the taking is good. It is those who are peacemakers, those who suffer injustice for the sake of justice, and those who are persecuted on account of Christ who find blessing, not those who show their strength in war, get what they want by unjust means, and who lose their salvation in order to gain the world.
In short, it is those who empty themselves who are filled with the blessings of God, not those who are too full of themselves to make room for God and for God’s ways.
Let us seek the blessing of God by following the way of the Beatitudes. For it is when we make room for God with humility that God has room to enter into us with the strength of his Spirit.
Have a blessed week everyone.