Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 29th January 2023

At Sunday Mass today we begin reading that section of Matthew’s Gospel known as the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus is presented as the new Moses, giving to his disciples and to the Church the New Law, as he reinterprets important facets of the Law of Moses. It begins with the Beatitudes that we read today, (Mt 5: 1-12). I hope you’ll forgive me using a different translation to the one we find in the Mass Lectionary. I find the use of the word ‘happy’ to translate the Greek ‘μακὰριοi’ a somewhat unfortunate choice.

​Just as Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai and gave it to the children of Israel, so Jesus who is both God and Man now interprets that Law for his disciples and so for you and me, who are his disciples today. “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” He begins with the Beatitudes, so called because each verse or sentence begins in Latin with the word ‘beati’, the plural of ‘beatus’. Who, then, are those blessed by God and called to holiness? The poor in spirit, i.e. those who recognise their need for God, for the kingdom of heaven is already theirs, as God will satisfy their needs. Then come those who mourn, the meek and humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice, the merciful and kind, the pure of heart and those who practise integrity and speak the truth, those who work for peace, those who are persecuted because of their righteousness. Finally come those who are insulted, abused and columnized against. They, too, can rejoice with all their hearts because God is with them and will reward them in heaven, just as he has the prophets and saints of old.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”