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Jesus taught that it was the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and those were are hated for his sake, who were actually the blessed. Of course this is the exact opposite of what the world considers success. For the world, riches, being filled, laughing and being spoken well of matter more than anything else. It cannot help but fail to realize that "the world in its present form is passing away." It cannot bear to see this happening to itself.
Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Paul reminded his readers time was running out. By his words we are called to the perspective of the psalmist asked God to "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (see Psalm 90:12).
We are called to be able to interact with the world without being dominated by worldly concerns. We are called to allegiance to higher priorities than temporary feelings or possessions.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
Jesus taught in the beatitudes that the temporary things of this world were not to be considered reliable indicators of whether or not anyone had attained what really mattered. Those who fixated on such things as the highest good would be definition by missing the good which is truly the highest good: the Kingdom of God and its righteousness.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.
There is a reversal coming, when justice will be done. Those who were deprived in this life for the sake of the Kingdom can look forward to the resurrection when all that they lacked in this life is more than restored. Even now, by faith we can attain to the fulfillment of that promised time. We are called to live with our eyes fixed on the things of heaven where we already possess all riches in Christ (see First Corinthians 3:21-23).
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (see Colossians 3:2-3).
The beatitudes are emphatically not merely consolations regarding a future hope to make us feel better about present sufferings. That is only the starting point. As we learn to use the world as not using it fully, as we actually become poor in spirit, we already begin to taste and possess the promised blessedness by faith.
Our response to the beatitudes needs to be more than a comforting feeling that things will one day work out. They are meant to train us in what truly matters and ground us even now in treasures so unshakable that "the present distress" cannot diminish them. By the beatitudes we become mature, more and more open to being used by God for building the world that they promise.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
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