Mt. 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the Crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit [: those who realize their utter need of God and the poverty of life without him], for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are they who mourn [: those who grieve over the state of the world, their sins, and the sins of others], for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek [and lowly: those who realize their place before God and don't try to impose their will on him. The land they are promised is the Kingdom of heaven.], for they will inherit the land.
"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness [: those who yearn for God's way of doing things to become the norm of human conduct and act accordingly.], for they will be satisfied.
"Blessed are the merciful [: those who forgive as God forgives and who do not hold grudges or seek revenge.] , for they will be shown mercy.
"Blessed are the clean of heart [: those who act from the purest motives of love for God alone and single-heartedly seek to do his will.] , for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers [: those who are reconciled with God, themselves, and others and help others to enjoy the same peace.], for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. [Blessed are the persecuted for the sake of Jesus: those who suffer or are demeaned for their beliefs and observance of God's laws. Their reward will be great in heaven.]
"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven."
The Gospel of the Lord.
The bracketed material are emendations by Father Edward Dowling, S.J.
There are over eighty Beatitudes in the Old Testament.
Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is not for the rich and blissful but for the sorrowing and poor in spirit. What the world admires, God despises. God judges by different standards and Jesus here makes clear what those standards are.
Compare with Luke 6:20-49.
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