INTRODUCTION
Today’s blog deals with the third chapter of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete Et Exsultatate, a Call to Holiness. Today we will see that Jesus is The Example of Holiness. There is no other that captures all the elements of what it means to be holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Those who see Jesus see the Father. Quotation marks and italics are used for direct quotes of Pope Francis.
SUMMARY CHAPTER THREE
IN THE LIGHT OF THE MASTER
COMMENTARY
Jesus explained with great simplicity what it means to be holy when he gave us the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12). “The Beatitudes are like a Christian’s identity card. So if anyone asks: “What must one do to be a good Christian?”, the answer is clear. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives. The word “happy” or “blessed” thus becomes a synonym for “holy”.
Let us listen once more to Jesus, with all the love and respect that the Master deserves.
Let us allow his words to unsettle us, to challenge us and to demand a real change in the way we live.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
Pope Francis suggests that wealth ensures nothing. Remember that fool building bigger barns for bigger harvests that would never come because his soul was called home that evening. In fact wealth can leave little room in our hearts for God’s word nor for others of this world, We need to discipline ourselves that we are not attached to any created thing, that we are poor in spirit and poor in heart so that God can enter our hearts and refresh them with new life and spirit.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”
In a world that embraces conflict, winning over losing, dominating over others, Jesus proposes a different way of doing things, the way of meekness. “Christ says: “Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29 “Meekness is yet another expression of the interior poverty of those who put their trust in God alone. In every situation, the meek put their hope in the Lord, and those who hope for him shall possess the land… “This is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word” (Is 66:2).
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”
“The world tells us exactly the opposite: entertainment, pleasure, diversion and escape make for the good life. The worldly person ignores problems of sickness or sorrow in the family or all around him; Much energy is expended on fleeing from situations of suffering in the belief that reality can be concealed. But the cross can never be absent. A person who sees things as they truly are is capable of touching life’s depths and finding authentic happiness. Such persons discover the meaning of life by coming to the aid of those who suffer. Knowing how to mourn with others: that is holiness”.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
“Jesus offers a justice other than that of the world, so often marred by petty interests and manipulated in various ways and corrupt practices. True justice comes about in people’s lives when they themselves are just in their decisions; especially to the poor, oppressed and marginalized. “Seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Is 1:17).
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy”
“Mercy has two aspects. It involves giving, helping and serving others, but it also includes forgiveness and understanding. Matthew sums it up in one golden rule: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you” (7:12). .In Luke’s Gospel 6:36-38 Jesus tells us how to be holy as the Heavenly Father is Holy. “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” (6:36-38). Luke then adds something not to be overlooked: “The measure you give will be the measure you get back” (6:38). Acting with mercy, that is holiness.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”
“This Beatitude speaks of those whose hearts are simple, pure and undefiled, for a heart capable of love admits nothing that might harm, weaken or endanger that love. God wants to speak to our hearts ( Hos2:16); there he desires to write his law (Jer 31:33). In a word, he wants to give us a new heart (Ezek 36:26) A heart that loves God and neighbour (Mt 22:36-40), genuinely and not merely in words, is a pure heart; it can see God. Jesus promises that those who are pure in heart “will see God”.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”
This Beatitude makes us think of the many endless situations of war in our world. Yet we ourselves are often a cause of conflict. For example, I may hear something about someone and I go off and repeat it. I may even embellish it the second time around and keep spreading it… The world of gossip, inhabited by negative and destructive people, does not bring peace.
To those who sow peace Jesus makes this magnificent promise: “They will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9). It is not easy to “make” this evangelical peace, which excludes no one. It is hard work; it calls for great openness of mind and heart, We need to be artisans of peace, for building peace is a craft that demands serenity, creativity, sensitivity and skill.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
Jesus himself warns us that the path he proposes goes against the flow, even making us challenge society by the way we live and, as a result, becoming a nuisance. Unless we wish to sink into an obscure mediocrity, let us not long for an easy life, for “whoever would save his life will lose it” (Mt 16:25).
Whatever weariness and pain we may experience in living the commandment of love and following the way of justice, the cross remains the source of our growth and sanctification. Persecution exists today whether it is by the shedding of blood in some parts of the world or by more subtle means like lies and slander or ridicule of our faith in the public media. Jesus calls us blessed when people “utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Mt5:11). Accepting daily the path of the Gospel, even though it may cause us problems: that is holiness.
CHALLENGES TO THE CALL TO HOLINESS
Pope Francis concludes this chapter with discussion of challenges to the call to holiness and the kind of worship God desires from his people. Jesus’ demands are demanding, a challenge to us all. He wasn’t kidding, no if’s, and’s, or but’s. Pope Francis goes on to say that, “mercy is the beating heart of the Gospel.”
“If I encounter a person sleeping outdoors on a cold night, I can view him or her as an annoyance, an idler, an obstacle in my path, a troubling sight, a problem for politicians to sort out, or even a piece of refuse cluttering a public space. Or I can respond with faith and charity, and see in this person a human being with a dignity identical to my own, a creature infinitely loved by the Father, an image of God, a brother or sister redeemed by Jesus Christ. That is what it is to be a Christian”
Pope Francis writes about some of the distractions or excuses to avoid the heart of the Gospel. Some will say all this social justice stuff is secular, materialistic, even communist propaganda. Others will relativize it by claiming that only one thing counts most ie. opposition to abortion. That a politician looking for votes might say such a thing is understandable, but not a Christian, for whom the only proper attitude is to stand in the shoes of those brothers and sisters in need.
Pope Francis clearly states, “Our defence of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development.” Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, world situation on migrants, and every form of rejection.
THE WORSHIP MOST ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
We may think that we give glory to God only by our worship and prayer, but we cannot forget that the ultimate criterion on which our lives will be judged is what we have done for others. . “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.(Matthew 9:13) Mercy “is the very foundation of the Church’s life”.
“Hedonism and consumerism can prove our downfall, for when we are obsessed with our own pleasure, we end up being all too concerned about ourselves and our rights and ignore those in need…We must resist the feverish demands of a consumer society, which leave us impoverished, unsatisfied, and anxious to have it all now.”
Pope Francis concludes chapter 3 by encouraging us to read the lives of the saints who did take their Master seriously in conforming their lives to Jesus and His Beatitudes. The saints in heaven are blessed and sharing now in the Beatific Vision.”The powerful witness of the saints is revealed in their lives, shaped by the Beatitudes and the criterion of the final judgment. For Christianity is meant above all to be put into practice.”
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Mahatma Ghandi’s Lament
“I like your Christ,
I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”