And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: … Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:1-11 ( We invite you to read it in your Bible)
Although we know the beatitudes, it would be good if we took some time to reflect more deeply on their meanings and their implications for us as believers. In a world where wealth seemed to mean the most, and where self-promotion is the "common" attitude among all people, what could Jesus mean?
As believers, how should we think? Are the words of Christ still applicable to us today? Certainly! Just as when he originally spoke these words, Jesus also speaks to believers today, saying that riches are not blessings. Being famous, or popular, or well-known should not be our goal.
Let us rather seek the things of Christ, where we are told: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, the afflicted, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who who are persecuted because of righteousness, and even us, when men insult us, persecute us, and falsely say every kind of evil against us, because of Christ!
As we go through the Beatitudes, may our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ be strengthened and His name be glorified above all other names.