The "Be" Attitudes!

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 29, 2023

Zep 2:3; 3:12-13 Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Cor 1:26-31 Mt 5:1-12a

Who here recalls watching the movie The Ten Commandments with Charleston Heston, or the animated movie The Prince of Egypt by DreamWorks? Both movies tell the story from the Book of Exodus of the Israelite People whom God frees from their bondage of slavery and are led through the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, where Moses goes up and brings down The Ten Commandments, the law of God.

Today in our Gospel reading we have a similar story as we hear about the Beatitudes, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had recently gone through the waters of the Jorden to be baptized by John and to make the waters of baptism a sacrament of our being freed from the bondage of original sin. And now he goes up to the mountain where he proclaims the law of God beginning with the Beatitudes.

Now, who hear also recalls ever hearing the words: “Your attitude, … determines your altitude.”? It is a worldly expression that indicates our success in life depends on our willingness to work, having the correct attitude about how we approach the work that we do, and even how we work with others in society.

Well growing up I would often hear the Beatitudes explained in todays reading in a similar way. That these are the Christian Attitudes we should live by, the “Be Attitude,” like in “to be or not to be” a Christian. It is interesting to note that the word attitude seams to make up part of the word beatitude, however, neither word is derived from the other.

The word Beatitude that is used for describing this passage expresses what the first word, used at the beginning of each Beatitude, the word “Blessed,” means. The Greek word used by Matthew in this passage is makarios [mak-ar'-ee-os], which means supremely blest, fortunate, well off, blessed, happy. The Oxford Dictionary says that the word Beatitude means supreme blessedness.

Jesus is proclaiming to us the blessings we will receive in living the life we are called to live. Not a worldly life by human standards as Paul explains in his letter to the Corinthians. Remember, God often chooses those who, by the world’s standards, are less fortunate or of low standing; like when the poor shepherds in the field were the first to receive the news from the Angel about the birth of the Messiah. Jesus is proclaiming the blessings to the remnant of Israel, a people who are humble and lowly as exclaimed by the prophet Zephaniah in our first reading, a people who seek the Lord, who seek humility, justice, and observe the law. A people who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, who show mercy, who are the peacemakers and the pure of heart.

And just who are these people?

The poor in spirit are those who turn to God, who recognize they are sinners in need of God, who know they cannot rely on their own merit for salvation. Who are fully aware they have no righteousness of their own. They also recognize their talents and achievements as God given.

Those who mourn are not just the people who suffer some sort of affliction, they are especially those who grieve over offenses committed against God by themselves or by others.

The meek are those, who imitating Christ, remain serene, humble and steadfast in adversity, and do not give in to bitterness or discouragement. They are the ones who exhibit the virtue of humility. Often, they are the ones who volunteer or do missionary work without seeking any reward or compensation.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are people who sincerely try to do the will of God, who seek holiness. Who are not afraid to stand up for what is right and holy, even if it goes against what society believes and practices. Like those who fight for the right to life from conception to natural death.

The merciful are those who show understanding of the defects and needs of others, overlooking faults and rendering what help they can. They are compassionate and forgiving. Like those who provide aid and assistance to the homeless, or those who provide aid, assistance, care and counseling to those who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies.

The clean of heart are those who live a life of purity, a virtue that allows one to perceive the human body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, a manifestation of divine beauty, as expressed by the “Theology of the Body” written by Saint John Paul II.

The peacemakers are those who foster peace in themselves and among others, and, as a basis for that, try to be reconciled with God and to help others to be so. We often see this expressed by those who serve in the military or in law enforcement.

Those who are persecuted are the ones who did not waver in their thirst for righteousness, who are persistent in standing firm in their faith. Like those who marched in the Civil Rights movement, and those who participate in the Pro-Life marches.

Now up to this point the first eight Beatitudes do not seem personal or directed towards me. Rather they seem to be about others… Blessed are the… or Blessed are they… The reality is I should be seeing myself in all of these, but it doesn’t hit home until we get to the ninth Beatitude when Jesus says “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely…” Wait! … What?! This just got real here!

Jesus, in taking on our human nature, expressly lives out the life of virtue we are to be living. In a very special and unique way, he lives out and expresses the fulfillment of living out all of these Beatitudes. As disciples and followers of Christ, we are called to imitate him, to be like him in every way. To live out a life that goes beyond simply obeying the Ten Commandments, which are the first steps towards living a life of holiness.

In this ninth Beatitude we are invited and called to be in a covenant partnership with God. To share in the mission of Christ, to live out a life as expressed in the Beatitudes. A life that seeks to do more than simply follow the rules. A life of sacrifice.

So, in essence, these really are Christian attitudes that we are called to live out in our daily lives. And if we live by these attitudes, or better yet, as we live out this life of virtues, there are blessings that we will receive. Much like the Israelites in Exodus received a promise to inherit a land flowing with milk and honey, those hearing the Beatitudes receive a promise of a blessing, but not a worldly promise of an earthly land, but a promise of a heavenly kingdom. Where we will have received mercy and have been comforted; where we will see God and be called his children.

Our Blessing and our Reward is Heaven.

So let us Rejoice and Be Glad!

https://youtu.be/I0o1RXIUwts?t=1573