The Beatitudes: Ways to Happiness

Caroline Godin reflects on the meaning and power behind the Beatitudes and their guidance to a happier life in this world.

It’s an old saying that life has no instruction manual, but Christians find their instruction manual in the Bible. And Catholics use both the Bible and sacred tradition as their resource for life advice. We’ve been given so much richness in our faith and more than enough instruction. In fact, Jesus put all the laws and commandments into two easily memorable commandments: love God, and love neighbor.

Many faithful followers keep these commandments as best they can, some exceptionally well, though there is another of Jesus’s instructions that also helps. Following rules is one thing, and obedience is vitally important when it comes to following Christ, but are we happy? Are we beating ourselves in sorrow and despair as we try to do what is right? Shouldn’t we be joyful and hopeful through all our obedience? After all, Jesus came to give life, and hope of life.

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives His Sermon on the Mount, the most famous of His speeches. Here, He outlines many ways to happiness and hope through our suffering. He explains the end result of all our sufferings on this earth. The world is full of unhappiness, but heaven heals all wounds. Our goal as Christians is not of this world, but it lies in the next, when this life is over, and we’re made new in heaven.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

‘Poor in spirit’ doesn’t mean those who are down on them or lack confidence, but those who are humble and seek no recognition. Their reward shall be in heaven and not on earth. They seek nothing on earth for they feel what they have is enough; God is enough for them.

“Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Mourning doesn’t refer to just sadness over loss or even depression, but this refers to those who mourn over the sin of those they know and the sin of the world in general. They cry out for the conversion of others for they mourn over the sadness, the holy sadness of the Lord, for those who are lost and who sin (Luke 19:41). Also, all who mourn will be comforted, as Revelation 21:4 tells us, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” (Matthew 5:5)

Meek doesn’t mean weak. Meek refers to those who are gentle and those with self-control. These are Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) which we should all strive for in order to avoid sin which itself leads directly to unhappiness.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

Many are driven to righteousness, but those who truly hunger and thirst for it and are passionate are fewer. Look at Martin Luther King Jr. and all he did. He was driven to righteousness and equality. He wasn’t seeking vengeance or retribution but fairness. In the End (note the capital ‘E’), we will all be satisfied, for the Lord’s justice is fair.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

Those who are merciful show forgiveness and compassion. Mercy first came from God. We would certainly not be here if He were not merciful to us. Humans have given the Lord more than enough proof that we’re unworthy of His great love. Those who are merciful will be, in the end, shown mercy themselves from the Lord.

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“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Truly, we will all see God in our own end or at the end. This verse refers to those who ‘see’ as God sees, those with intentions like those of God’s own heart. We can never really see as God sees, for He is high above us (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we can have a heart like His if we pray for it. With a heart like the Lord’s, we will be more at peace, more pure, and we will know Him better.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Those who know and promote peace are peacemakers. Those who seek peace for justice, not retribution or vengeance, are fair and kind and have the Fruits of the Spirit working in them. Those who know Love, as God is Love, will promote peace. (1 John 4:7)

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Those who live out the Kingdom on Earth have been and will continue to be persecuted because this world doesn’t like the Kingdom’s ways. The ways of the world will pass away, and the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven will remain. (1 John 2:15-17)

“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.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

This is all about justice, true justice, because the Lord’s justice is perfect. His ways are perfect and so we should follow his ways. This world is finite, but the Lord is forever.

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Following the Beatitudes is seeking God. It’s knowing Him before the ways of the world. #catholicmom

One may not think that such things as meekness, humility, and mercy would lead to happiness, but we shouldn’t be seeking happiness in worldly ways. We should be seeking heavenly happiness, happiness in the Lord. Following the Beatitudes is seeking God. It’s knowing Him before the ways of the world.

The greatest happiness we should strive for in this world is hope. We know He will come again. We have faith in this. Knowing this, believing this, we should strive for these things because then we can obtain true happiness in the next world: the Kingdom of Heaven.