INSPIRASUNS

Today is All Saints Day. A day to remember not only our loved ones who have joined the company of the Saints of Heaven, but it’s a day for us to look at our lives. How are we living? Are we living as the Saints did?

My friend, who sends a devotional text to me daily, spoke today about the beatitudes. He shared St. Luke’s version of them with me. I’d like to share them here; some may not be familiar with them.

Luke 6:20-31
And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way”.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hat you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others as you want them to treat you”.

My friend followed the beatitudes with this perspective. “St. Luke’s version of the beatitudes offers us the heavenly idea of happiness. To be “blessed” means to be happy. The beatitudes paint a picture of the abundant life he wants us to enjoy. In the heavenly economy, those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and hated are happy. This is quite different from the world’s idea of happiness, which says, “eat, drink, and be merry!”. Jesus is teaching us that we will be truly happy only when we place Him at the center of our life and let go of the temporal things that block our relationship with Him”.

Another observation he brings up, “Notice that each of the beatitudes has a heavenly reward attached to them. The poor here on earth will inherit the Kingdom. The hungry will be filled, and so on”.

I like the way my friend has encouraged me to think about the beatitudes, how they reflect the heavenly idea of happiness. Jesus told us that we would be persecuted for following Him. But He also promised life eternal in paradise if we stand firm in our faith and follow in His footsteps.

Yes, friends, today on this All Saints Day, let us not only remember those who have gone before, but let us take a little time to examine our lives. Let’s live out the beatitudes, and be truly blessed.

Have a wonderful day friends. Continued prayers for all those affected by Hurricane Melissa.