MONDAY- 10^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -A

I Reading: 1 Kings 17:1-6: Elijah served the Lord God of Israel.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12: How happy are the poor in spirit.

The True Disciple: Who He is and His Reward (the Beatitudes), Mt 5:1-12

The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before the world a descriptive picture of the true disciple of God. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and reward the believer can expect, now as well as in eternity.

1. Jesus saw crowds (v.1-2)

          a. Setting: Mountain

          b. Posture: Set-ready

          c. Audience: Disciples

          d. Purpose: To teach and prepare

          e. Blessed

2. The poor in spirit: Given the Kingdom of Heaven (v.3)

3. Those who mourn: Comforted (v.4)

4. The meek: Inherit the earth (v.5)

5. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness filled (v.6)

6. The merciful: Obtain mercy (v.7)

7. The pure in heart: See God (v.8)

8. The peacemakers: Called the children of God (v.9)

9. The persecuted: Given the kingdom of Heaven (v.10-12)

          a. The persecution

                   1) Reviled and insulted

                   2) Slandered and lied against

                   3) Persecuted and hurt

          b. The behaviour expected: Joy

          c. The reason for joy

                   1) Great reward

                   2) Great examples: The prophets

Thought: To be poor in spirit means several things:

a. To acknowledge our utter helplessness before God, our spiritual poverty, our spiritual need.

b. To acknowledge our utter lack in facing life eternity apart from God.

c. To acknowledge our utter lack of superiority before all others and our spiritual deadness before God. Our attitude toward others is not proud and haughty, not superior and overbearing. The person poor in spirit approaches life in humility and appreciation.

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