January 7

Christ's Teaching About Blessedness

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. — Ps 1:1-2 BSB

Our Lord lived within the City of Blessedness, and in Matthew 5:1-12, He reveals the eight gates through which anyone can enter that City. Personally, I struggle to enter through the Gate of Poverty of Spirit, because I am not humble enough; nor through the Gate of the Mourners, as I am not sorrowful enough for my sins or the sins of others; nor the Gate of the Meek, as I often feel resentment; nor through the Gates of Mercy, Purity, or Peace. But I may enter through the fourth Gate, for I hunger and thirst after righteousness. As I enter, I find myself inside the City and in the company of all the holy souls who have come in through the other gates. In the Heavenly City, to enter by one gate is to have entered through all, for the Holy Spirit's work in us through one grace leads to all the others.

What is Blessedness? According to Jesus, it is a state of heart. External circumstances are not mentioned, except perhaps reproach and persecution, which seem irrelevant. Blessedness does not depend on whether life is going well or poorly, whether we are rich or poor. It begins and ends with recognizing Christ’s Kingship, seeing good in everything, inheriting the earth through contentment, being satisfied, receiving mercy, seeing God, and being called His children. Isn't it worth striving to enter through these wide-open doors? If you yearn for better things, if you hunger and thirst for more likeness to Christ and more readiness for His Kingdom, if that desire truly defines your life’s purpose, you can consider yourself already admitted into the Gates of the Blessed Life.

Our Lord did not assign Blessedness to certain people in an arbitrary way. He simply declared what is true by nature. To be true, pure, merciful, and meek is to hold within you the seeds of Blessedness. When you look at the list of Christian virtues in Galatians 5:22, you will see that these qualities of the Spirit are the very ones Jesus mentions. May the Holy Spirit work in us to create a full and well-rounded Christian character.

Prayer

Lord, take my lips and speak through them; take my mind and think through it; take my heart and set it on fire. Amen.