Photo caption: Getty image
By Kerry Wyrovsky, Special Contributor
There’s a great scene in “The Chosen”where Jesus is getting ready to give his famous Sermon on the Mount. As he’s thinking through what we now know as the Beatitudes, he compares them to a map. He explains to a puzzled Matthew that if someone wants to find him, those are the kinds of people they should look for: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted.
Blessed means happy. So, while the Beatitudes lead us closer to Jesus, they also show us the path to true and lasting happiness. St. Augustine once wrote that God placed a desire for happiness in every human heart. The Beatitudes help point us in the right direction by showing us how to live the way he lived.
When I teach my middle school students the Beatitudes, I try to make them relatable to their lives and modern times. Even though these teachings are more than 2,000 years old, they still speak directly to the situations we face today. Making those connections is a great way to help your own children understand and live out these timeless lessons.
Here are each of the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew, along with a simple description and a modern-day example:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Meaning: Recognizing that it’s okay to ask for help from God and others. It also means being humble enough to know that we don’t have all the answers.
Example: Asking for help when you are struggling.
Blessed are those who mourn
Meaning: Showing compassion for people going through a difficult time and knowing that when we experience pain and suffering, God will be there to comfort us.
Example: Bringing a meal to a neighbor who is sick or sending a card to someone who has lost a loved one.
Blessed are the meek
Meaning: Meek does not mean weak. It means being gentle, humble and kind and choosing humility and kindness over needing to always be right.
Example: Letting a younger sibling choose the movie or game.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Meaning: Doing what is good, fair and right.
Example:Defending someone being bullied instead of staying silent.
Blessed are the merciful
Meaning: Showing mercy and forgiveness, even when it’s not easy.
Example: Forgiving a friend who hurt your feelings, instead of holding a grudge.
Blessed are the pure in heart
Meaning: Being honest, kind and doing things for the right reasons.
Example: Helping a younger sibling with their homework, without being asked.
Blessed are the peacemakers
Meaning: Helping solve conflicts by bringing people together without judgement.
Example:Encouraging two friends to talk things over instead of taking sides.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness
Meaning: Doing the right thing even when it’s not easy.
Example: Refusing to give into peer pressure, even when everyone else is doing it.
We all want to be happy, right? While the world tells us that money, popularity, power and material things will lead to happiness, the Beatitudes show us that true happiness isn’t found in what we have, but in how we live.
When we start to live the Beatitudes in small, everyday ways, we begin to follow the map Jesus gave us. And as we follow that path, we not only grow closer to Him, but we also discover the deep and lasting happiness our hearts were created for.
Kerry Wyrovsky teaches in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, and is a catechist in St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro.
Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home.