The beatitudes are read at baptisms, weddings, funerals, and throughout the Church year because they are the attitudes and dispositions we are meant to cultivate throughout every season of life whether we are mourning or rejoicing, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in youth or old age.
Families often request the beatitudes be read because even in their grief, they recognize that it is good and holy to turn to God in gratitude for the ways in which their loved ones lived out the beatitudes and to pray for the ways their loved ones well short.
Bride and groom often request the beatitudes for their wedding because the beatitudes are the key to a happy, holy marriage. I often say to bride and groom: In the beatitudes, Jesus Himself gives all Christians a blueprint for a life of holiness and faithful discipleship. Yet, here are also keys to a happy, holy marriage.
Your marriage will be blessed when you are poor in spirit, when you rely on the grace of God and put God first in your marriage at all times. Your marriage will be blessed when you mourn, when you say you are sorry for moments of selfishness to God and to each other. Your marriage will be blessed when you are meek, when you are gentle instead of being domineering or self-centered. Your marriage will be blessed when you are merciful, when you are quick to grant forgiveness to each other. Your marriage will be blessed when you are clean of heart, when you guard your hearts, minds and marriage from the poisonous attitudes of our selfish culture. Keep your hearts and marriage clean from materialism, envy, entitlement, spiritual laziness. Your marriage will be blessed even when, and maybe especially when, you are persecuted for being a follower of Jesus, when you are faithful to Jesus even when there are consequences—socially, perhaps even financially.
The beatitudes, however, are not just a list of commandments. They are about transformation. The blessedness of Christ is to transform our minds and hearts and personalities. We are to be meek, as he was meek; we are to be pure, as he was pure; we are to be devoted to doing the will of God as he was devoted.
It is good to come across the beatitudes in Ordinary Time because they remind us that we must always be about the business of cultivating the blessedness of Christ in the ordinary circumstances of our lives—His blessedness is to transform us and animate us every day, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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For the whole Christian people, that the beatitudes of Christ may animate our lives. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. Let us pray to the lord.
For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.
For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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