[Editor's Note: This is the first of a series of articles on the theme, “Being Transformed as Catholic Men.” Over the next several weeks, the articles will describe how we as Catholic men can be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. Future articles will include the transformation of our minds, hearts, and families. This article was adapted from the June 12 meditation in the June 2006 issue of The Word Among Us magazine.]
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)
For all our technological advances, people haven’t really changed much since the time of Jesus. Nowhere is this more evident than in the way most people view the Beatitudes. Then as now, they represent what the world would consider weakness and softness. After all, if we as Catholic men are called to be transformed, who wants to be poor, meek, and persecuted?
The Beatitudes seem to have two pitfalls for many Catholic men today. First, they seem so idealistic that many don’t try to live up to them. “How can I with all my weaknesses be clean of heart and merciful?” Second, we sense that if we were to succeed, there are things we would have to give up. For example, to be pure would mean to forsake much that society calls legitimate entertainment. We wouldn’t naturally consider those who are wealthy or politically connected as poor in spirit — and yet if given the chance, many of us would choose wealth and popularity over humility and simplicity.
But when we look at Jesus, we realize that he is both the perfect example of the Beatitudes lived out and also the strongest and most secure man who walked the earth. Jesus was nobody’s fool, and he was certainly no shrinking violet. At the same time, he was constantly mourning over those who didn’t know God. In silent strength — meekness — he taught his disciples by example, by parable, by reaching out to everyone who would accept him.
Perhaps if we thought more about Jesus, or tried to place ourselves among the crowds who heard him teach and saw him minister, we would change our point of view. We might begin to believe that we really can live without all the things of the world. We might see that living the Beatitudes requires a good amount of strength and decisiveness.
We are capable of living out Jesus’ teachings, even the Beatitudes, no matter where we are in our walk of faith. Why? Because the Christian life is one of ongoing transformation through the power of the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Word of God. St. Peter himself denied Jesus, but went on to become one of the world’s greatest apostles. St. Francis of Assisi was not the purest of men, but Jesus changed him into a bold and joyful proclaimer of the gospel.
Perhaps the real “problem” with the Beatitudes is that many men have not seen enough examples of godly meekness and godly purity in other Catholic men. Let’s begin to change this by desiring to become like Jesus, to become men of the Beatitudes, and to become examples for other men.
“Dear Jesus, give us a new desire to be like you in the beatitudes, and in all ways. Empower us to be strong in who we are as Catholic men and to know that you will provide all that we need to be transformed into your image and likeness.”
Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to adapt the June 12 meditation from the June 2006 issue of their magazine. Used with permission.
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, just click here.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. Do you agree with the article that it is hard for the typical Catholic man to relate to the idea of being a man of the Beatitudes? Why or why not?
2. Jesus was a man’s man in every sense of the word, yet he was also a man of the Beatitudes. Why is this so?
3. In what way did Jesus fulfill all of the Beatitudes? Even though Jesus was the incarnate Son of God, he was also fully man. Do you believe that Jesus had to rely on the power of the Spirit and God’s word to fulfill the beatitudes?
4. Do you believe that you can be transformed into being a man of the Beatitudes by desiring it, trusting in God, and relying on the power of the Cross, Holy Spirit, and the Word of God? Why or why not?
5. If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another using the prayer at the end of the article.
