How do the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) challenge conventional ideas of happiness and success, and what do they reveal about the values of the Kingdom of God?
The Beatitudes challenge the traditional ideas of success and happiness by looking at it in the opposite way. When we think of the conventional ideas of happiness and success the words that come to mind are wealth, fame, comfort, and power. Especially in the individualistic society we live in. We see success and happiness as chasing the ultimate dollar and climbing the ladder to the top. For me personally, when I find myself following the traditional ideas of success, I become prideful and feel as if I am self-sufficient. At the root of it, traditional conventional ideas focus on external success rather than internal success. This idea of success is seen as how much external material you can obtain rather than internal alignment. With the Beatitudes, it specifically focuses on our internal alignment with God. The Beatitudes instead bless those who do the opposite of theses conventional ideas. They bless those who are humble over being prideful. They bless those who have dependence and thirst for righteousness rather than those who believe they are self-sufficient.
The Beatitudes reveal the values of the Kingdom of God by those who are trusting God’s path for them. It is with God’s help that makes it possible to enter into His Kingdom not the material world. As my Grandpa always said, “Trust in the Lord.” In life, we go through rough patches that cause spiritual poverty. This spiritual poverty will then lead us to dependence on God. As we depend more on God, we thirst and hunger more for righteousness, this then in turn will help lead to internal fulfillment and alignment with God.
Which one or more than one of the Beatitudes speaks most deeply to your life, and how has it/have they shaped your personal experiences, relationships, and sense of purpose? Share specific moments that have influenced who you are becoming.
One specific Beatitude that speaks deeply to my life is the first one, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Orthodox Study Bible). We hear this every Divine Liturgy, and I feel it is unfortunately grazed over our minds. Many of us, myself including, may not always be focused on truly listening to the meaning of each Beatitude as our lovely choir sings them before the Little Entrance. My mind will be occupied by getting prepared for the Little Entrance or even just zone out. You could take 10 minutes to comprehend and analyze just the first line of the Beatitudes. The meaning I receive for this Beatitude is to recognize my own spiritual bankruptcy and dependence on God.
One personal experience of mine is chasing the ultimate dollar and having everything work out. This has happened to me numerous times when things were going well, and I believed I did it all myself and became proud. When I get into this rhythm, I find myself straying away from God. I end up putting my needs and wants first before time spent with God. I spend less time praying, reading the scriptures, and reflecting. I spend more time enjoying the materialistic world and spending days without a care in the world. Eventually this state of mind and lifestyle will come to a halt when things start not working out. It is during these times of despair and hardship I find myself turning to God. Rather than hitting the snooze button in the morning I will get up and say morning prayers. I will find myself throughout the day reciting the Jesus Prayer for a boost of confidence. At night, I will recite Evening Prayers in front of lit candles in my icon corner. I will read the scriptures, or books on lives of the saints instead of falling asleep watching television. It is during these times where the first Beatitude truly resonates with me. It confirms the individual dependency on God each and every day. It is during these times when I truly spend time with God, I am spiritually filled. Thank you for letting me reflect on my inner personal alignment with God and reconnecting me on the path towards the Lord.
