Reflection:
Everyone strives to be "happy," but everyone has a different idea of what the word means. Many pursue money, power, and position, as a means to happiness. Others see physical exercise as the key to a pleasant life. Still others seek more spiritual goals in prayer and meditation as the blessed road.
In each case, the pursuit of happiness has a cost. What will people sacrifice for happiness? For Matthew, happiness meant "being blessed." The cost was reputation and the danger for persecution. The reward was the Kingdom.
While there are many ideals for happiness, we Christians find ours in the Beatitudes. Guides to a Christians life. Ideals with the goal of the Kingdom. We might not be able to fully live the Beatitudes today. But that is not the point. Like any ideal of happiness, the road is as important as the destination. Striving to live the Beatitudes day by day opens us to God's lead and the way to his Kingdom.
Reflection Questions: