He began to teach them
Rev 7,2-4.9-14; Ps 23; 1 Jn 3,1-3; Mt 5,1-12a
1 NOVEMBER
It is a good thing to grasp the absolute novelty of the Beatitudes by comparing them with the Commandments of the Ancient Law. In the Two Tablets, only the fourth commandment was linked to a clear promise of the Lord. For all, the promise was a blessing for their observance and a curse for their disobedience.
“Honour your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you (Ex 20,12). “Thus, then, shall it be: if you continue to heed the voice of the Lord, your God, and are careful to observe all his commandments which I enjoin on you today, the Lord, your God, will raise you high above all the nations of the earth. When you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God, all these blessings will come upon you and overwhelm you: “May you be blessed in the city, and blessed in the country! “Blessed be the fruit of your womb, the produce of your soil and the offspring of your livestock, the issue of your herds and the young of your flocks! “Blessed be your grain bin and your kneading bowl! “May you be blessed in your coming in, and blessed in your going out! “The Lord will beat down before you the enemies that rise up against you; though they come out against you from but one direction, they will flee before you in seven. The Lord will affirm his blessing upon you, on your barns and on all your undertakings, blessing you in the land that the Lord, your God, gives you (Cf. Dt 28,1-69).
In the Beatitudes it is no longer a matter of obedience, but the acquisition of a new essence, a new being and a new life. Soul, spirit, body must acquire the new spiritual dimension if they want to enter into the promise linked to each of the eight words of Lord Jesus. It is evident that the new essence and the new being are not the fruit of man’s will, but the most pure work of the Holy Spirit that is accomplished in the sacraments of salvation. The first sacrament must necessarily be baptism. The words of Jesus are clear and unequivocal. The flesh is flesh. It remains flesh. The Spirit is Spirit and remains Spirit. Who is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (Jn 3,3-8).
Here is the great difference between Commandments and Beatitudes: we move from the will to nature. The new nature is created by the Holy Spirit. He does not create it once and for all. He will have to create it every day. If we do not let ourselves be created day by day, the flesh kills the spiritual man and again the natural man, the son of Adam, triumphs.
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
The Beatitudes reveal to us how the new nature of Christ Jesus lives, a nature always governed by the Holy Spirit, a nature increasingly sanctified by him. Jesus is the saint who grows in holiness, the meek who grows in meekness, the pure of heart whose purity is beyond all human limits and so it is said of his mercy, his hunger and thirst for justice and poverty in spirit. The new nature lived in a new way every persecution, slander and lie. Even the cross has been lived in a different way than every other crucifix by Him. The centurion saw the difference and confessed that Jesus was the true son of God.
Mother of God, Angels and Saints, convince Christians to always let themselves ever be given new nature.