Beatitudo, there is a reason why I chose this name for the website, blog, and Etsy store. What does it mean? It simply means happiness. Hence from that word we come to the Beatitudes in which Jesus is telling us how to be happy. Lets take a closer look at all eight.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Why is this the first beatitude? Because pride is the greatest sin. The thought is, in order to be happy I have to fill myself up. Whether that be to inflate ones ego, or perhaps pursue goods and wealth of the world in order to feel happy. The basic spiritual principle is that, no, we attain happiness by emptying the self out. It’s by letting go, emptying out, living for the sake of the other. Don’t think of poor in spirit in a monetary way, but as a spiritual idea. The poor in spirit, the more I give my life away the happier I become.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Some might read this as the unhappier I become, well, that’s what I should shoot for. The great spiritual tradition read it this way: how happy are those who are sorrowing for their sin. We feel sorrow for many things in our lives. We feel bad because our dreams didn’t come true. I didn’t get that promotion, my relationship with this person didn’t work out, etc. What is the one thing we should really feel sorrow over? Our own sins. What we find in the culture today seems to be a celebration of the affirmation of self. I never need to feel bad about myself because I’m beautiful in every way. The key to happiness is being sorrowful for the right thing. Sorrowing for our sins, they shall be consoled says Jesus. That is the first step towards repentance and toward the acceptance of forgiveness. The key to our beatitudo is being forgiven for our sins.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the land.
Once again, it is so counterintuitive. Who inherits the land? Powerful people, people with influence, or strong nations? No, says Jesus. Those who have emptied themselves, forgotten about themselves, are the ones who are actually closest to the Earth. They’re closest to reality. We’re talking here about humility. Someone who is humble is not preoccupied with their own ego, how they are doing, or worried about what impression they are having. When we forget about that and get that monkey off our back we can lose ourself in whatever we are doing. Whether we are reading a book or talking to someone. Notice here, I’m lowly and therefore close to the ground. Humble is from the Latin “humus”, “humilitas”. Humus means the ground, the Earth. Isn’t it true that the best moments in life are when we least aware of ourselves and are lost in whatever we are doing in the moment. We become happy.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness: for they shall have their fill.
We are hungry and thirsty for so many things, aren’t we? I’m hungry for success, I’m hungry for more power, I’m hungry for the newest material goods. We are always looking for what is going to satisfy us. One of the most important questions to ask ourself is this. What am I primarily hungry for? What is the one thing I really want? Do I want money, power, or fame? Jesus says none of those will make you happy. They won’t give you beatitudo. Money, power, success although not bad things in themselves, but the one thing you should be hungering for above all, should be for holiness. What is holiness? It’s friendship with God. That is the one thing you should want above all.
Blessed are they who show mercy: mercy shall be theirs.
Mercy is “hesed” in Hebrew and “misericordia” in Latin. Mercy is what God is. He is marked by tender mercy in that beautiful translation of hesed that is in the King James. The tender mercy of God. What is that? It’s compassion. Look at the word compassion from “compassio” in Latin. It means to suffer with. Misericordia means the pain in your heart. It’s the suffering that you feel in your own heart when you identify with the suffering of someone else. You enter into a sympathetic, compassionate, merciful way into the suffering of the world. How many of us want to run from suffering? Or worse yet, take that drug to become immune so I don’t experience suffering if only for a few moments. No, says Jesus. The happier you will be, if you identify in love with the suffering of the other. Your whole life will change if you let that sink in.
Blessed are the single hearted: for they shall see God.
The saint is someone whose life is about one thing. That means he or she is the gathered person. What is the one thing you want amongst all the other desires of your life. It should be to please God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Shalom, that lovely word that echoes up and down the scriptures. The risen Christ says it to his disciples. Shalom…peace. The crucified and risen Jesus returns not in an avenging violence but in forgiving love. God is peace. One of the great marks of his followers is that they are makers of peace. Not only are they peaceful themselves, but they produce peace.
Blessed are those persecuted for holiness’ sake: the reign of God is theirs.
Again, how counterintuitive. Who want to be persecuted? If you are persecuted for righteousness sake, that means you are walking the right path. We are living in a fallen world. If nobody ever criticizes you, you are not in a good spiritual space. Woe to you if all men speak good of you says Jesus. They treated the false prophets in just that way. One of the great marks that you are on the right path, the path of happiness, is that you will endure persecution. Do it as a happy warrior, not falling into resentment. Instead say, hey that’s a sign that I’m on the path the Lord wants me to be on.
For reference, go to Matthew chapter 5 and go over them. They are the key to what we all want: Beatitudo.