Blessed are you

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Beatitudes

The Monks of Glenstal Abbey

Today is Sunday the 1st of February, beginning the 4th week of Ordinary Time.

Nóirín Ní Riain, with the monks of Glenstal Abbey, sings the Beatitudes.

3:00

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

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

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

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

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

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

5:06

opaline

Antarctic Wastelands, Be Still the Earth

The worst mistake we can make about this famous and stunning passage is to see it as a list of rules (you’ve got to try hard to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, and so on). It isn’t. It’s a royal announcement that God is turning the world upside down – or, rather, the right way up. Go with the crowd that has followed Jesus away from the villages and up onto the hillside. What can you hear? What does it mean to the people listening? Can you feel their excitement?

This crowd of people, fed up with the way they’re being treated by their rulers, wants to hear that God is going to help them. But Jesus is not only saying that! He’s saying that it’s the meek who will inherit the earth – not the rich, the powerful, the violent or the pushy. How does this make you feel? Comfortable perhaps, or a bit uneasy?

Listen to the reading again, but this time notice your reactions to what Jesus is saying here. Would you be one of the few to leave everything and follow him?

8:32

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

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

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

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

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

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

10:25

As this prayer time comes to a close, perhaps you can ask the Lord to help you to hear His voice, to accept His challenge and for the strength to follow in the way of His kingdom.

12:28

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen