THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS (THE BEATITUDE).

This Sunday we will hear the beatitudes, apparently to tell us about the feast of All Saints.Therefore,a look at them should tell us what a saint is. What are the beatitudes? Beatitudes is a spoken declaration or bestowal of blessedness on a person.Alright, what is blessedness? In plain words, it means a spiritual benefit. An example of a beatitude would be, “May the Lord bless you with a safe journey.” Or, “Blessed are those who show mercy.” Often there is a condition involved: “The people who keep the law will be blessed” (Proverb 29:18). Jesus gave nine of them in his inaugural talk (the sermon on the mount-Gospel!). But I ha e often been puzzled by the way he uses them and by the order in which they come. There is something strange about them. For instance, (a) the first four beatitudes seem to describe bad things as good. Blessed are the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungry and thirsty. This is a reversal of an ordinary beatitude, which says, “Act right and you will be blessed”. Jesus seems to say, “Be weak and unhappy and you will be blessed.” Look at it this way: these first four beatitudes are actually assurances to people who suffer: the displaced, those who are left out. Jesus is saying that they too are blessed and much loved by God. (b) The next three beatitudes more resemble the ancient form: Blessed are the merciful, the clean of heart and the brokers of peace. These sound reasonable, they are a spiritual step upwards from the first four. They are incentives to those who want to take action in the world on behalf of the Kingdom. The blessedness consists of being at work with Jesus as a companion. (c) But then come the last two, which are stunning: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” And, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you…” These sound like curses, not blessings. Who could want such treatment? Yet these two are a step up from what precedes them. They presume that you might actually want to take up the cross with Jesus, participating in the ultimate act of love, a love which cuts through false honor, wealth, pride and security. Radical love often stirs hate and envy in others. But it is blessed because it comes from being so close to Jesus. Thus, there are at least three stages of ascent in the following of Jesus suffering, working for others, enduring persecution as a result. The saints are examples in each of the areas, because of their love for God. This is very basis and root of happiness, or “blessedness,” as we are saying.