St. Bernadette Catholic Church

Once upon a time the angel of the Lord appeared to a King and to a peasant. To the King, the angel said, 'God wishes to grant you a sign of His presence. What is it you would like.' The King replied, 'I am a powerful King with much wealth and land, let me see then God's power in all His glory.' God then sent a bolt lightning that struck the King's castle and burnt him up, his family, and all his court.

The angel then went to the peasant and offered the same to him. The peasant thought a moment and replied, 'I am a simple man who has strived to live a good life and I have no desire to ask for more. Help me to see God's presence in my family and friends, in the land I till, in the beauty of the sunrise and sunset, and in all things.' His wish was granted and the peasant lived a long, happy life.

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus is the new Moses bringing the new covenant. The beattitudes are a new sort of ten commandments. But whereas the ten commandments were about proper conduct and commands, Jesus' beattitudes are about the qualities of a state of life and blessings that come to those who live that life. It's much like the peasant in the story. When we live truly in the Spirit of God - true righteousness - we will live prayerfully, humbly, gently, become a peacemaker, and be concerned with all the things that God is concerned about and we will be blessed immensely for it.