Apr 21 Tue
How can I live the beatitudes?
St. Teresa of Calcutta gives us tips to live them in the midst of our ordinary occupations.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When you have nothing left but God, you have more than enough to start over. The spiritual poverty of the Western world is far greater than the physical poverty of our people.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
When pain and suffering enter your life, remember that pain, sadness, and suffering are nothing more than Jesus' kiss, a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Humility is the mother of all virtues: purity, charity, and obedience. When we try to be humble, our love becomes real, devoted, and ardent. If you are humble, nothing will disturb you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed, you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint, you will not put yourself on a pedestal.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
If you judge people, you don't have time to love them, and I'd prefer that you make mistakes with kindness than work miracles without kindness.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
People are often irrational and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you're kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you're honest, people can fool you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people might get jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
You see? In the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
In this life, we can't do great things. We can only do small things with great love.
7. Blessed are those who labor for peace, for they shall be called sons of God.
Peace begins with a smile.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mother Teresa was admired by many, but she was also persecuted and constantly criticized for doing her work of evangelization. She was also accused of not doing enough to change things.
She said, " Every abortion is the refusal to receive Jesus. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other? Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love each other, but to use any kind of violence to get what they want."
We must speak boldly, without seeking praise and without fear of backlash and persecution, but to tell the truth.