Daily Reflection Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

In the “Sermon on the Mount,” the Lord reverses the values of the world. For example, he says “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” We might think that the followers of the Lord should aspire to be rich in spirit, and that they should seek to be endowed with spiritual gifts. But Jesus preaches a poverty of spirit so that we may realize how human beings are directed by and dependent upon the Creator of the world.

The Beatitudes are for those of us who will say, on occasion, with exasperation, “There’s got to me more to life than this!” In listening to Jesus we realize that, for the sake of personal fulfillment, it is not so much a matter of what we have but rather of how we live. It asks the question: What will we find at the center of our lives? Will it be our solitary selves seeking some sort of satisfaction, or will we find the Lord along with other people, those whom we love and those whom we are trying to love? 

Blessed are you who are needy in spirit. Blessed are you who recognize your need for God and for others. Like little children running to their parents; like spouses clinging to each other; like good friends celebrating and trusting one another. This dependence does not weaken us, but strengthens us as spiritual beings. Blessed are you.