Blog Post #6: The Beatitudes

What were new things that you learned about the Beatitudes? Which beatitude resonates with you the most? What were some things you realized during the gallery walk? How can you display the Beatitudes more in your life?

I learned that the Beatitudes are a set of eight blessings that Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount. They are similar to the 10 Commandments, which are more like a set of rules to follow. However, the Beatitudes should not be taken literally but metaphorically because they are guidelines to follow. I knew that the Beatitudes began with "Blessed are..." but I did not know what each individual one said. Neither did I know what each Beatitude meant until I read them and did a little bit of research on them. Most of this information was new to me but it was easier to understand. This image is of the eight Beatitudes in the book of Matthew.

I think the beatitude, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted," resonates with me. I try to help those that are sad or in pain and I try to make them laugh and cheer them up. In a way, helping others and comforted them when they are mourning can help yourself. Giving them happiness can show that your own sadness can change and that it can and does get better. For example, I love animals and I plan on being a wildlife veterinarian so that I can help these animals that are injured or hurt. When I see these animals that have been injured and are now healed, it makes me happy to see them happy because they deserve happiness.

I realized that during the gallery walk most of us reworded the Beatitudes in a similar way. For example, a minor similarity was that many of us phrased it as "Those who... will..." This shows that we all understood the structure of the Beatitudes. Another similarity is that many of us chose to take the main word or words in the beatitude and instead use a synonym for that word to make it more understandable. In addition to words, we all also chose similar symbols such as a peace sign for the beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." Although everyone's interpretation of the Beatitudes was unique and different, we all had a similar understanding of them. This is an image I took of one of my beatitude interpretations with a peace sign as a symbol for it.

We can all display Beatitudes in our life by just trying to take the opportunities given to us. If you see someone, for example, that is being mistreated or bullied, you should take this opportunity to help them like the beatitude, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Personally, since I want to become a veterinarian and help animals that are injured and sad, I can try to display the beatitude, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted." As I sad before, the beatitudes are not meant to be taken literally but metaphorically. Therefore, there are numerous ways to display the Beatitudes in your life. As long as you try to help those in need, be kind to everyone, and fight for what is right, then you are displaying the Beatitudes.

Works Cited

ourladyscatechists, Author. “The Beatitudes.” Our Lady's Catechists (CWL) - Catholic Education, 2 Apr. 2013, ourladyscatechists.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/the-beatitudes/.