Christ Our Light Catholic Church - Loudonville, NY

From Deacon Dick

Very often we hear the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew.  Today we hear Luke’s version of these sayings of Jesus.  To add a bit more contemporary flavor to both versions, let’s reflect on where we find ourselves in this piece by J. B. Phillips:

The Beatitudes That Are

MOST PEOPLE THINK:

Happy are the pushers:  for they get on in the world.

Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.

Happy are they who complain:  for they get their own way in the end.

Happy are the blasé: or they never worry over their sins.

Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.

Happy are the knowledgeable people of the world:  for they know their way around.

Happy are the trouble-makers: for people have to take notice of them.

JESUS THE CHRIST SAYS:

Happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty; they have already entered the kingdom of Reality.

Happy are those who bear their share of the world’s pain: in the long run they will know more happiness than those who avoid it.

Happy are those who accept life and their own limitations: they will find more in life than anybody.

Happy are those who long to be truly “good”: they will fully realize their ambition.

Happy are those who are willing to make allowances and to forgive:  they will know the love of God.

Happy are those who are real in their thoughts and feelings: in the end they will see the ultimate Reality…God.

Happy are those who help others to live together:  they will be known to be doing God’s work.