by Sister Mary Kabat
Gospel of the Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12a
“Jesus saw the crowds.”
Think of a time when you felt truly seen by another. Not the outside of yourself, but the inside – what you were feeling, what you were going through, what you were worried about.
As I read the Beatitude Gospel this time and heard Jesus teaching the disciples as they are surrounded by the crowds, I felt a fullness in my heart and mind and felt tears in my eyes. Jesus is seeing the disciples and seeing the individuals in the crowd. Jesus was inviting the disciples and us to see everyone too. See the poor in spirit, see those mourning, see the meek, see those hungry and thirsty for righteousness, see the merciful, see the clean of heart, see the peacemakers.
How can we see each person we meet? The first reading from Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 and the second reading from 1st Corinthians 1:26-31 tell us. Be humble, seek justice, do not boast before God, be lowly. Much that we see and hear today in our state, nation and world are giving an opposite message. It is Jesus we follow.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.