Dearly beloved in Christ;

It is arguably true that most people across the world consider happiness (or wellbeing) as a central goal in life. However, people define it differently. While some persons define happiness as inner peace or contentment, others see it as freedom from pain and suffering. Some others understand it in terms of having meaningful relationships, while for others, happiness consists of having security and dignity. Thus, when people say that they desire happiness, they often seek for it and measure it in terms of wealth, power and success. But for Jesus and the heirs of the kingdom, the path to true happiness consists of poverty of spirit, meekness, gentleness, mercy, righteousness, working for peace and suffering.

In today's gospel passage which is the introductory part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus climbed up the mountain, and from there He taught the people the path to eternal happiness. This introductory part to this homily preached by Jesus, has come to be known as the Beatitudes. The word Beatitude derives its root and meaning directly from the Latin "beatitudinem" which means a "state of blessedness" or a "state of happiness". This kind of happiness is not the shallow kind, but the deep kind, which stands in sharp contrast to what the world teaches. While the world says, Happy are the rich, the powerful, the admired, the comfortable, Jesus says; Happy are the humble, the grieving, the gentle, the merciful and the persecuted.

When Jesus says, "blessed are the poor in spirit," Не means those who recognize their spiritual emptiness and who seek spiritual fulfilment. The poor in spirit are those who are humble enough to recognize their need for God. This recognition of their need for God leads them to be sorrowful for their sins, to mourn them and in turn attract His mercy and comfort. In the same vein, Jesus proclaims that the meek are blessed. Just like humility, being meek does not mean being weak as the world thinks. It is strength that refuses to dominate. It is power guided by love, and Jesus promises that such persons will inherit the earth.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who have a deep yearning and a strong craving for righteousness above every other thing. The desire of the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness is to do God's will. They desire to walk according to God's commandments and on the path that leads to holiness. Similarly, merciful people have kind, gentle, and caring hearts. They are people who forgive, who show compassion and who refuse revenge. Such persons will eventually discover that mercy always finds its way home.

The pure in heart are those who focus solely on God's purpose with undivided attention. They do so without distraction from the self, the world, or the devil. Those with such hearts, will eventually stand in His Holy place (Cf. Psalm 24:3-4). The Peacemakers - not peace lovers - are those who step into broken relationships to heal them. These, Jesus says, will be called the children of God - because they resemble their Father; the Prince of Peace (Cf. Isaiah 9:6). Finally, those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake walk the same path of pain and suffering as Christ himself. They suffer for doing good.

Persecution is inherent to the Christian calling, and it often arises when Christians challenge societal norms and dare to travel upstream against the current culture. Those who are poor in spirit, mourn sin, live humbly, seek righteousness, or pursue peace would inevitably face opposition from the world because they are operating by higher principles that are opposed to the values of the world. Nevertheless, God promises His kingdom to those that will endure till the end (Cf. Mathew 24:13) By and large, the Beatitudes teach us that true happiness is not found in getting what we want, but in becoming who God wants us to be.

May we not be afraid to live the Beatitudes and may the Joys of heaven be our eternal reward, Amen!

In Christ,

Fr. Samuel Aliba

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