Be-attitudes

Perhaps the most well-known of the Beattitudes is the account in Matthew's gospel, but a more revealing look in terms of discipleship is found in Luke's account. Whereas Matthew outlines the things we disciples must be willing to do, Luke goes another step, not only detailing what we must do, but what we must also be aware of in terms of attitudes.

Among the blessed in Luke's account are the poor, the hungry, those who weep and those who are hated. These indeed are very strange descriptions for the ones who are favored. Certainly the world scorns the likes of these, but that's just the point. Jesus often chooses the downtrodden and focuses his energies on them as the chosen and the beloved.

Because we live in a world that is increasingly judged by the values of worldly advancement, it is increasingly difficult to remain focused on the call of true discipleship, which is so countercultural to the ways that we observe around us, but discipleship is not about keeping up with the Jones family. It's about listening intently for the voice of the Master, who is about the Mission of proclaiming his love. It's about being in communion with Jesus who spent his earthly life evangelizing in so many ways. It's about allowing the voice of God to mould us into the disciples who not only hear his voice, but then are sent into the world to proclaim His truth.

True disciples recognize our poverty every day - not necessarily the superficial poverty of a lack of riches (although that's a start), but rather the true poverty of recognizing that which we lack, that which causes us to thirst for justice and to look to God for guidance. True disciples know that we will always be hungry until the day when we are united with the One who has sent us. In the meanwhile, our hunger opens our eyes to the many ways that people around us still suffer and the many ways that we can do our part to respond to this hunger.

True disciples are able to weep, not because we are sorry for ourselves, or concerned for some injustice that we ourselves are suffering, but rather through the true gift of com-passion which allows us to weep for someone else who is in pain, to accompany those who are suffering and to offer them some small amount of understanding and love. True disciples run the risk of being despised by those who we must challenge and displace, but this kind of hatred is not to be feared because Jesus isn't running a popularity contest. Rather, this kind of hatred is meant to disturb the comfortable and to comfort the disturbed.

For the many ways that others comfort us, and disturb us into action ... for the many people who challenge us to remain faithful to the gospel ... we give thanks this day.