During the seminars on the Gospel of Matthew, there was a question asking for ‘more time’ on the Beatitudes. That wasn’t possible. What follows are reflections – with many questions. Reading the Gospel with your mind and heart open may give you more questions… and your answers.

Note that the Gospel text is in ordinary type and my reflections are in italics.

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

This is the very beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, the very beginning of Jesus’ teaching. Is Jesus close to the crowds? Who is close to Jesus?

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

What might it mean to be ‘poor in spirit’? We are taught about heaven, as a place after death. Is the ‘kingdom of heaven’ the same thing? Is the ‘kingdom of heaven’ a place?

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

Note in this verse (and many of the following ones) that the future tense is used. When will they be comforted?

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

What does it mean to be meek? When will the meek inherit the earth? Since we know that the meek do not currently ‘inherit the earth’, might it be connected to the kingdom of heaven?

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

The Greek word that is translated as righteousness means justice and right relationships. We know that injustice is present in the world, both in world events and everyday interactions. What must change for God’s justice to prevail? What can I do to behave more justly? Do you feel you have right relationships in your life? What would you need to do to improve this?

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

There are those who think that being merciful is being weak. Might being merciful be a sign of strength? Where are you merciful?

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

Might those who are ‘pure in heart’ be less caught up in the cares and distractions of this world and so glimpse God in other people and the creation that He has so marvellously made? Is it even possible in todays world?

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

World events demonstrate the need for peace; there can be upsets and disputes among family or friends. More than once in the Gospels Jesus said ‘peace be with you’. If I wish to be a child of God, how might I be a peacemaker?

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

What will be the hallmarks of the kingdom of heaven? Being meek, thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker. These qualities are not always valued in the world as we know it. Behaving this way requires courage, do you have such courage or just hope you will never need to know?

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Being reviled and persecuted because of faith in Jesus Christ, this is the path of the martyrs and is very challenging. How might this happen in our country? Note that ‘your reward is great in heaven’ – not now.