A Higher Purpose

A Reflection on the Gospel for November 1st, 2020:
The Solemnity of All Saints

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Matthew
5.1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

I’m finding myself acting pretty annoyed with my children (and my dog) recently. They tend to ignore simple instructions like, “Turn off the oven when it beeps,” and, “Don’t talk to your sister like that,” and, “Sit!” It would seem that they have yet to understand that I know what’s best. If they would only listen to me, everyone’s lives (namely mine) would be better. Under the current dictatorship of Master Mama (not my official title, but it has a nice ring to it), it seems my household is on the verge of mutiny. Why is this happening? Why do I feel like the captain of a sinking ship?


I think it’s possible that perhaps I’m the one who’s missing the point. So it’s timely, as always, that God would give me these blessed words to contemplate. Blessed being the operative word—He says this particular word repeatedly in this passage. I would personally like to be blessed with children and a dog who listen to me, but again, maybe my wants are not currently aligning with God’s wants.


If we revisit Greek translations of the word blessed, we find that the actual word being used here is “holy”. To be holy is to be set apart for God’s purposes. A blessing then, is not a pouring out of all the things we desire for ourselves, but a gift of an eternal glimpse into the heaven that awaits those who are open to receiving it. To be blessed is to respond differently in difficult circumstances—to do and say the difficult (right) thing. To be blessed is to be used for a higher purpose.


When we are set apart for God’s purposes we are a channel for all things good to flow straight from God’s heart through us to another person’s heart. The image of this is beautiful, but the practice of it is painful. What He is asking of us when He calls us to be blessed, is to receive strife in the manner that He received strife: When they don’t listen to you, persist in gentleness, mercy, and truth; when they cause division, seek to restore peace; when they correct you in good faith, receive them with humility.


Who acts like that?! Well, Jesus does, and the Saints do—and are we not called to be saints? Though it burns initially, enacting the beatitudes will lead us to interior freedom in the now, and eternal freedom for, well, eternity. If we can receive the blessing of sanctification, we will find ourselves on the pathway to peace.


I’m sorry Father, for resisting surrender to Your wisdom as I stumble through this world. I ask You now for the grace to respond to my family beatifically in all circumstances. I appoint You as Master of my household, and rejoice in Your sovereignty.




Lori MacDonald

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