My reflections of yesterday fit in well with today’s Gospel. In order to appreciate the Beatitudes, I must first ask myself: What do I look for in life? Answer: happiness. Here Jesus gives me the key to attain it.
My first reaction is: Hey, wait a minute! Poverty in place of riches! Meekness in place of force! Mercy, not revenge! Yes: to want to live the Beatitudes is to want to seek true – as opposed to apparent – happiness.
But the Beatitudes do not outline a static plan of life. They are a GPS for being on the go to find happiness, not only for myself but also for the poor, the persecuted, the lonely, the deplorables I meet each day. A true follower of Christ should spend all of his life bringing happiness – blessedness – to others. That’s the key to finding real happiness.