The Beatitudes: The Father's Promise of Happiness

I will lead the blind on their journey;

By paths unknown I will guide them.

I will turn darkness into light before them,

And make crooked ways straight.¬—Is 42:16

Promises are only as strong as the person who gives them.—Stephen Richards

Promises, Promises

The most important moments of our lives are made from promises. We promise when we get married. The more romantic among us may promise even before we’re married, perhaps even symbolizing that promise with a ring. We promise if we change our nationality. We promise if we join the military or government service. We promise if we start a business. We promise if we borrow money. We promise when our child is baptized. If we’re baptized as an adult, we promise. “I Promise…” there may be no more powerful set of words.

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Where the Beatitudes Come from

One could argue that the most important part of the Gospels is God’s promises, also known as the Beatitudes: The Father’s promises of blessing to the Christ-like. You are precious to Him.

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in Himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created [you] to make [you] share in his own blessed life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1)

The beatitudes come from the Father’s heart. They are revealed to our hearts and reveal His heart to us.

“You poured down, O God, a generous rain:

when your people were starved you gave them new life.

It was there that your people found a home,

Prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor” --(Ps 68:9-10)

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Christ, the Man of Beatitude

There was one man who was true man, who was truly happy and showed us the path to happiness. His name was Jesus, and some have called the Beatitudes His self-portrait. He didn’t just speak the Beatitudes; He lived them. He incarnated them in His own flesh. He walked this earth as a Living Beatitude.

“Christ fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling”, the calling to beatitude. (Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, 22) The beatitudes are not directives, but they are directional. They are not duties, but they are destiny. They are not ethics, but they are ethos. They show us how we’re made and what we’re made for, in the image and likeness of God, meant for transforming, intimate union with the Trinity. They are a sword that cuts through the Gordian Knot of our existence to the truth about us and our true happiness. “The Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Heb 4:12) The beatitudes show us ourselves in the light of Christ.

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Who the Beatitudes Might Be For

The world is always promising us happiness… and always failing to deliver on its promise. “One aspect of becoming a Christian is having to leave behind what everyone else thinks and wants in order to enter the light of the truth of our being, and aided by that light to find the right path,” the path to true happiness. (Benedict XVI in Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, p. 67)

The Beatitudes are not for those who profess themselves happy now. They are not for those who have life figured out. They are a song calling home those who are struggling, the burdened, the confused, those who wish life was better, different somehow, but not really sure how.

Have you ever made a gratitude list and still not felt grateful? Maybe you even felt worse than before? Have you ever asked, “Why can’t… bring me happiness?” Have you ever told yourself, “I have… I should be happy”? Or have you ever hit the wall and said, “This isn’t working!” without quite knowing what “this” is… except maybe your whole life? Then maybe the Beatitudes are for you.

Maybe they can be for you a light shining in the darkness, dispelling the mists of mythical happiness. It’s possible they can be for you a compass pointing to True North, enabling you to get your bearings no matter where you are in life. No matter what is happening around you. No matter what anybody else says. No matter what has happened in the past. No matter what will happen in the future. No matter what your own thoughts or feelings are telling you. No matter what the Enemy is whispering or shouting in your ear.

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Pilgrims of Hope

Pope Francis has declared 2025 a Jubilee under the motto “Pilgrims of Hope.” We are certainly wandering. If we had some definite direction, some hope, our wandering could become pilgrimage. And even our pilgrimage to joy could become more joyful. So let us close with a prayer of hope:

Father, I need your Blessing in my life.

Jesus, show me the Way.

Holy Spirit, come and live your Life in me.

Holy Trinity, make your promises come to life in me.

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