Blessed in the Kingdom

Jesus further clarifies (Lk 6:17, 20-26) the Kingdom of God in the “Beatitudes”. Again, he reveals the Kingdom to be quite the reverse of what society often insists we value, the “many in our day who purport to be dispensers of happiness: they come and promise us swift success, great profits within our reach, magical solutions to every problem and so on”. [Pope Francis, 17^th February 2019]

Most of us, by the standards of any age, are relatively wealthy, full, laughing and in good social standing but, listening closely to Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes, we hear him instead proclaiming blessed those who are poor, hungry, displaced, excluded, barred, and persecuted. Not us! In honesty we are closer to those he warns in “the woes”, those who are having their consolation now: we have our fill now, we have every reason to laugh now, and we’re spoken of well now. Australians, in common with the rest of the globe, have issues, but still, we are very blessed and fortunate people who should squirm a little hearing this proclamation. So, how do we respond in the light of this gospel teaching?

Pope Francis suggests the “woe to you” statements are addressed to those who are doing well today, with the purpose of “waking” them from the dangerous deceit of egotism, and opening them up to the logic of love, while they still have the time to do so. [Pope Francis 17/02/19]

We can be rightly proud of and enjoy our largely free, well-nourished, and safe society but Jesus opens our eyes to a wider reality of pro-active closeness to the poor, suffering and hungry, not idolising or selling our souls out to worldly goods or distractions but able to share them with our brothers and sisters.

Deacon Mark Kelly