The Beatitudes and the secret of God’s kingdom

Readings: 1^st: 1 Kgs 17:1-6; Ps: 121; Gos: Mt 5:1-12

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today is Monday of the tenth week of ordinary time. Our gospel reading is from the gospel according to Matthew. It is from Jesus’ sermon on the mount called the Beatitudes.

The beatitudes is a summary of Jesus’s sermon on the mount about the qualities and attributes required for the kingdom of God. Therefore, it a call to holiness in order to merit the kingdom of God.

Often times, we a are faced with a very crucial question in our Christian journey. So, as Christians, the Beatitudes, are the marks of our identity. It helps us to answer the crucial question, What must I do to be a good Christian?

Hence, through the Beatitudes, Christ says to us, if you if you want to be a good Christian, and if you want to inherit the kingdom of God:

Be poor in spirit; be sober; be meek; work for righteousness; be merciful to others; be pure in your heart and in your thoughts, be peaceful to others; and persevere in moments of difficulty.

These may appear too much and difficult to achieve. However, they are vitues we must strive to live in our daily Christian life. Each day, we come face to face with different challenge of life , especially, on how to please God.

The beatitudes simply show and help us to know what is in the heart of Jesus, what he considered to be signs of God’s kingdom, and how we ought to live them daily.

Therefore, daily and constantly, we must ask God for the grace to dwell in his presence in other to  live the Beatitude, and to recognise where its happiness lies.

So, let us ask Christ to help us to always listen to him with our hearts, so that we may know how to please him, and in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!