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Explore how living out the Beatitudes can conform us to the life of Christ and add practical meaning to our faith. Discover deeper discipleship with Father Vince Kuna's reflection.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

We’ve heard the Beatitudes so many times that we can probably recite them from memory, especially Luke’s shorter number of four beatitudes. Of course, our Lord calls us to greater discipleship than mere memorization of these great beatitudes. He teaches the crowds to live out each and every one and by extension, calls us to do the same. Okay. Easier said than done. One way to manage the beatitudes is discovering a lens to view all of them as a whole.
 
One beatitude that we may know well is the last one: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We may have been told it’s the most important beatitude because it’s repeated twice, and there’s some truth in that.
 
But in the second half of the verse on which this Gospel reading ends, Jesus calls attention to the last beatitude so that we might be conformed to His life and don’t just live the beatitudes for ourselves: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.” So, where we might face minor persecution or being ostracized from social groups for living out the faith, know that Jesus faced the same resistance in His time.
 
So, following the last beatitude, any beatitude, in fact, even following imperfectly, will conform us to the life of Christ. When Jesus showed and shows mercy, we’re to show mercy. Where Jesus made peace between rival factions and individuals, we’re to be peacemakers in our time and place. I won’t run through all the beatitudes, but I’m sure you get the point. Remember conformity to the life of Christ as a purpose of the beatitudes, and it will add some practicality to what can be easily dismissed as unattainable ideals, memorized or not.

 

Ponder:

Which Beatitude do I tend to avoid living out, and how can I accept Jesus' invitation to consider it more deeply and grow in faith?

 

Pray:

Blessed are the ______ for they shall ________.

 

Pray Together:

Compliment a family member when and if they specifically live out a beatitude.

 


February 1

Copyright 2026 Father Vince Kuna

 

About the Author

Father Vince Kuna

Father Vince Kuna

Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C., is Producer-at-Large at Family Theater Productions, primarily working in development and on Hollywood outreach for the media company. Father Kuna also consults as a Catholic priest on one or two mainstream Hollywood films and/or TV shows per year. Kuna received a Master’s degree in Divinity and Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Film and Television from the University of Southern California. He is also a Priest-in-Residence at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica, Calif.