What contrast the beatitudes are to our experience. They are in opposition to every precept of the world we live in. They show how we should act, think and what we will experience and why it’s okay. It’s the role of the child of God to live by these blessings and to realize what is happening and what will happen.
It was the same in the time he shared them on the mountain.
Even John in Revelation when he speaks of those in heaven. They are described only as those who survived times of great distress. The road ahead is not easy for the Christian. The road to heaven while clearly mapped out in detail by Jesus, is a path rejected by the world and most people living in it.
And so, Jesus shared the beatitudes with us to tell us, in a different way, who we are supposed to be and what it means for us.
The road we have chosen is rough in that the world is molded by the evil one to stop us. The road is clearly the right choice for those who are ready to one day go home to our true family in heaven.
So we must prepare ourselves for times of distress and a world that does not know Jesus Christ at all. The world does not know his church. And worst of all the world says, it mistakenly, and falsely states, it understands the Christian. But it is a paradigm, a way of seeing and understanding that can only be seen by faith and by seeking Jesus each day.
We have seen Jesus when his teachings become so clear to us, we dedicate each day to him. We see Jesus when we deliver ourselves to him, surrendering everything. It is not that Jesus doesn’t already own everything, for all we have comes from him, but that we need to realize this. In our heart.
When we truly understand the truth of Christ and the love of God for us, we will finally be able to put him first in our life and love for him.
Then the beatitudes are ours for life. And for eternal life. The world does not see Jesus Christ, it sees only a cheap image that it can rationalize with the temporary cardboard world it has created to convince people this world is most important. When in reality, it is only shadows we struggle with in the dark if the Lord is not our guide.
Seeing Jesus allows us to let go. Give our heart to Jesus Christ and not anyone or anything of this world. For the world will always disappoint. It is pretend forts and false creations unable to stand up to the real world. The truth.
Each life reflecting the beatitudes is one aligned with Christ. We strive each day to live by them.
Who do we see today?
What is our focus?
We must ask if what we are doing is leading us toward God or away. There is no neutral activity.
There is no action or thought or pastime or work that doesn’t matter.
Each moment is given to us to follow the commandments of Christ and move closer to being ready for the next life, the eternal life.
Do not be distracted by the world. Whether it is worry or social media or even family and friends and work. Everything is approached and lived for Jesus.
What did we do this week. Was it for Christ? Did it move us closer in relationship to God? Was God part of our day, all day?
How do we feel about yesterday?
Did it encourage our faith? Or pull us away?
There is no halfway or it doesn’t matter answer.
It all matters.
We choose to live a purposeful life. Always asking if my choice of activity or even food and drink lead me closer to God.
If we were to document our day yesterday or this week, or even this month….what would someone describe our purpose was?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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