Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR A FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - 30.1.05 Zeph 2,3.3,12-13; 1 Cor 1,26-31; Mt 5,1-12 Beatitudes and Benedictions Problem
with words:
Beatitude is from Latin ‘beatitudo’: when we translate its adjective
‘beatus’ as blessed or happy, we never render its meaning, since
‘blessed’ is a person who has received a ‘bene-diction’, namely a word
of affirmation, and ‘happy’ expresses a
feeling or a state of mind. Beatitude instead is an expression of praise which
belongs to God first and then it resonates in us humans. The expression ‘Beati...’
referring to people who fear & love God is found quite often in the Bible
and especially in the book of Psalms; in Greek the similar word is
‘Makarioi’ and from it we derive our words magic, magical, magician... and
it expresses a statement that we are indeed fortunate & special. The word
‘Beatus’ (Gr. Makarios) has to do with concepts like: beatific vision, to
beatify and be beatified, something that belongs to saints in heaven and in a
small way is applied to us here and now, when we allow ourselves to be loved by
God. Yes Beatitude means more that ‘blessing & bene-diction’ (Greek for
it is ‘eu-legomenos’), more than a good word of affirmation; it is a
Christian virtue. Beatus has to do with an outstanding quality that we have, (if
we do not possess, we should work hard to achieve it. Worldly people consider
worthwhile, and work with all their might, to achieve power or possessions or
privilege or beauty or fame, and that is O.K. But the Bible, indeed all wisdom
literature, teach us to value a deeper, more lasting and spiritual beatitude and
contentment: we are truly wise and truly ‘beati’ & fortunate &
gifted & rich & beautiful & content, if we walk in the way of the
Lord, stay close to him, seek him with all our might, love him with all our
heart., and for God’s sake learn and choose to love one another and care for
others. The
Beatitudes in Matthew.
Today’s Gospel tells us that happiness is not built upon self-centred
contentment but on search for God and spending our life so others may have life, in abundance. This year, is the Year of the
Eucharist: Pope John-Paul II invites us to allow the Eucharist to be for us the
‘Centre & summit of Christian life’. In doing this we truly live the
spirit of the Beatitudes, going beyond ourselves, & following the example of
Christ who was given us. Saint Symeon, an ancient Christian writer, wrote that
Christians should use the Beatitudes as a mirror in which to examine and test
daily life. So truly poor in spirit are those who, in the trials of
family life, bear all humiliation, insult, dishonour, contempt, and do not feel
hurt or take offence. Indeed they grieve over wrongdoing, yet in the chamber of
their soul they are at peace with God and offer prayers of forgiveness. In the
same way those who mourn over trials in life and accept them in union
with our Lord on the cross, cannot remain in a state of anger: indeed just as
water extinguishes fire so tears extinguish anger. And who are the merciful?
Those who give alms to feed the poor? No. They are those who have become poor
for the sake of him who became poor for our sake, those who may not have much to
give, but who still are mindful of the poor, the broken and the sick, and have
compassion and help as they can. In a more comprehensive way, Pope John Paul II
reminds us to live the spirit of the Beatitudes by ‘inviting to a meal people
who are alone, visiting the sick, providing food for needy families, spending a
few hours in voluntary work and acts of solidarity,... these would certainly be
ways of bringing into people’s lives the love of Christ received at the
Eucharistic table... these would lead us beyond ourselves to live the example of
Christ, who was and is now at Mass “given for you, and for all, so that sins
may be forgiven”. ______________________________________ |
