“You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself.”

“That's what education should be," I said, "the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn't be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn't facing the right way.” ― Plato, The Republic

Gospel Text: (MT 5:1-12)

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.”

Parents want what is best for their children and God wants what is best for us. What is best for us? That even here on earth we already enjoy something of the peace of heaven. In heaven we will be close to God and if we are to enjoy something of the peace of heaven here now we can do so only by being close to God. Moses went up Mount Sinai and came down with the Ten Commandments to begin us on the journey to God. In Galilee Jesus went up the mountain and taught the Beatitudes to reveal fully how we can enjoy the peace of heaven by knowing the heart of God. In the Beatitudes Jesus is praising certain values and attitudes and telling us if you have these values and attitudes you will be close to God, you will be blessed. If we want to know what the heart of God is like we have to look no further than the Beatitudes. Then knowing what the heart of God is like the Beatitudes invite us to imitate the heart of God. Some Church Fathers tell us that God became man in Christ so that we would become more like God. The Beatitudes teach us how to become more like God, how to reflect the goodness and beauty and truth in the heart of God, in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

It is true that the qualities and virtues praised in the Beatitudes are in some ways contrary to what is exalted and practiced in the world. That only tells us how far the world is from the heart of God because in the beatitudes we see the heart of God.