CCCXCVI – Radio Beatitudes

Before and after the wedding, I put some absolute miles on my car. We have passed through or visited every state between Florida and New York, just an amazing amount of driving, and an amazing amount of fun had with my wife’s (!!!) family. As of the time of this writing, it is all done now. I’ve got my car’s oil changed and giving it a much needed rest.

During one of the drives I was scanning a radio station for something. I found what sounded like a Christian radio station but quickly realized it was not what I was looking for.

The speaker was talking about the beatitudes, and said, “Blessed is synonymous with Happy, so happy are the poor in spirit…” etc. I think this is the exact wrong approach to the beatitudes.

Let’s remind ourselves what the beatitudes actually are.

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:

Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

The people to whom Jesus is speaking are suffering. The poor in spirit are, to my mind, despairing. The meek are trampled. The mourners are grieving. Christ is saying they are blessed in their present condition–their present misery.

It is wrong to suggest that they ought to be happy in their present condition. Grief is healthy, despair comes for everyone at different times, meekness is a flavor of humility. One should not be happy that one is grieving. Christ suggests at the end that their reward for their suffering is in heaven, and not in this life. That thought is consoling but not joyful.

What Christ is telling us is that suffering is a blessing. We will suffer all manner of evil and humiliation, and rather than telling us to enjoy it, telling us to turn our frowns upside down, Christ is telling us to hold on. Because at the end of everything, we will get to be close to God.

So, Radio Host, if you ever read this–don’t tell people that blessed means happy. To be blessed means we will suffer in this life, and be happy beyond measure at the end of all things, in the presence of God.

AMDG