The Eight Beatitudes

This is a piece that I finished just the other week that is written using the Eight Beatitudes. It was a good piece for me to do for several reasons. First it was fun and it came out well, second I learned how to spell “Beatitudes” (sort of) and finally it gave me a chance to reflect on how my lent is going so far.

Lent’s coming to a close with Easter a little over a week away and it’s about now that I start getting exited. Easter is a time of celebration and my family celebrates it well. We have Easter candy (of course) an Easter breakfast made by Mom, who can make the most fantastic pastries ever, and an all out dinner cooked by Dad who (if I may say so myself) is an awesome chef.   For mass everyone get’s dressed up and the whole day is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

But it’s not Easter yet.

There’s still time for us to reflect on our own behavior. Looking at the Eight Beatitudes is a perfect way to do that. Look at each one and think, have you improved at all in this beatitude since Lent started?

That’s the goal of Lent. Not to put aside thing you like so that the Easter celebration makes them seem special again. It’s a time to improve ourselves and Jesus gave us instructions for how y telling us what sort of characteristics we need to cultivate.

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”