The Beatitudes (Luke’s Version)

AM Psalm 45 • PM Psalm 47, 48
Wisdom 3:1-9 • Col 1:15-23 • Luke 6:12-26

The first time I ever heard of the beatitudes by name was in my religion class at a local Roman Catholic elementary school. Our assignment was to memorize them and recite them to the class. At the time it frankly meant no more to me than my math and history assignments. However as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate them as a sort of mantra to reassure myself when times are tough.

When reading them for probably the hundredth time before writing this, I became suddenly interested in the etymology of the word “beatitude.” After consulting Google, I discovered that it originated from the Latin word beatus ‘blessed’, with the suffix -tude meaning ‘the state or quality’. Therefore, beatitude would literally mean ‘a state of being blessed.’ Luke provides us a retelling of all of the scenarios Jesus named in which we would be blessed.

We are blessed when we are poor, hungry, weeping, rejected, insulted, hated, and excluded. In fact, Jesus says we will be more blessed during these times than the times when we are rich, happy, and well-fed. So, let this reflection be your reminder that even when you are at your lowest of lows, even when everything is so bad you forget to think about God’s love for you, it is still present, and the kingdom of God still waits for you.

Written by Tel Johnson

Tel grew up attending St. Paul’s. She currently lives in Little rock with her cat, Hershel. She works at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she is lucky enough to see glimpses of God’s love every single day.