Beatitudes Luke 6 20 24 Blessed are you

Beatitudes Luke 6: 20 -24

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Today we might say: Blessed are you who realise your own emptiness and turn to God for help and strength. This is about living a simple lifestyle and not cluttering up our lives with unimportant stuff.

Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.

Today we might say: Just as the starving long for food and the thirsty seek water, blessed are you who long for and work for justice – you shall be satisfied. This challenges us to live for goodness in our lives above everything else.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Today we might say: Blessed are you whose hearts are broken by the suffering in the world. When we suffer a loss, we are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves. Jesus calls us to turn this powerful feeling of sorrow into a source of comfort and blessing for others. When we are moved with compassion we demonstrate our solidarity in ‘suffering with’ others.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. next

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. Continued

Today we might say: Blessed are you who have shown us how to live by standing up for what is right. The stories of saints give us encouragement to take a stand for God.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand