Beatitudes: Building the Kingdom of God on Earth
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a
In the age of democracy, three elements are indispensable for the building of the human polity: 1) party-politics, 2) manifestos, and 3) capitalism. Individuals join different political parties on the basis of their philosophies and convictions; worst case scenario, politicians join the winning party or the political party that guarantees thievery as part of its unwritten laws. From these political parties emerge beautiful and hopeful manifestos, even though delivering on those manifestos is a different question. Finally, the deification of money or capital is key to democracy. Beautiful slogans, like those bandit around in the last USA election, make democracy tantalizing. If democracy builds the earthly city, according to political theories, God has a different way of building his kingdom on earth. For God, the Beatitudes build the Kingdom of God on earth.
Perhaps we can merge Hillary Clinton’s slogan, “stronger together,” with that of Donald Trump, “Making America great again,” to read “together to make Christianity great again.” It suffices to look at the nations built on Christian foundation, especially the continents of Europe and the Americas. Few years ago, Church attendance was impressive, religious affiliation and practices were ostentatious, Christian principles got built into the constitutions of those nations; in fact, the idea that God exists was taken for granted; but not anymore. In the words of late Pope Benedict XVI, moral relativism and religious disenchantment is now ubiquitous in the North Atlantic countries. Contemporary Western culture is ready to sing the dirge of Christianity!
Today, our readings call us to a new beginning and a revival of Christianity. Today, for those who think that the Christian age is overtaken, that modernity has no need of God, the good news is that Christianity is rising again from the ashes of atheism; the breath of God is fanning and blowing Christianity to glow again. The prophet Zephaniah makes it clear that God will have his Day again; sin is only an opportunity for righteousness to manifest itself, for the “remnants” of God’s children to rise and shine brightly!
When Manasseh was importing all the idols of the nation’s into Israel and raising the altars of foreign gods, and demolishing the places for the worship of Yahweh, little did he know that he was preparing his own doom, and not the end of the living God – Yahweh! Josiah, the reformer King, rose and undid what Manasseh put in place and restored the worship of Yahweh. Today, right now, another revival is underway thanks to your faith and my faith. At this moment, we, the remnant of God’s children, are called to a new revival in order to restore Christianity to its original glory; to extinguish the darkness of sin, and enthrone the light of faith.
The prophetic imperative, “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3), argues that the restoration of religiousity begins with the acquisition and practice of virtue. Today, Zephaniah invites us to practice “Justice” and “humility”. Of course, the Prophet ties these virtues to the practice of the Law of God. In other words, the lawlessness of Manasseh dragged Israel into sin. But why justice? Simply because the Law of God is the measurement of what is right and just. Why humility? Simply because arrogance makes one refuse to obey the Law of God. The humble trusts and obeys God, the proud disobeys and he is lawless; he considers himself more intelligent than God, so he disobeys God’s Law.
Let is not appear as if the first reading is about king Manasseh and what happened to ancient Israel. Today, you and I are the Josiah and Manasseh in question. The idols you and I have created and continue to worship on the altar of our hearts and in our relationships with other people, these are the places in need of restoration and renewal. My worship of thievery, fornication/adultery, lies telling, jealousy, abortion, bribery and corruption, nepotism, etc. Behold the sins that need demolition and substitution with the Law of God and humility. When we rededicate the altar of our heart and the temple of our body to God, and allow virtues not vices to reign in our lives, then we are on the path to restoration.
Today’s gospel provides us with ample road maps to guide us to this renewal – Beatitudes. The beatitudes provide us with building stones/blocks for the manifestation and arrival of the kingdom of God upon earth. The link between the Beatitudes and the Justice and Humility announced by Zephaniah points to the fact that Justice is a more encompassing virtue than humility, which is one of the Beatitudes. Justice is the summary of the Beatitudes. This is the case because Justice includes every beatitude: the Justice of God satisfies the poor in spirit and comforts mourners; Justice recommends meekness of life and purity of heart; it strengthens the persecuted, encourages acts of compassion, and grants peace a chance to reign. Justice covers all these Beatitudes because Justice flows from the Law of God which defines every action of a Christian.
Now, the challenge for us is to identify one or more of these Beatitudes and begin to practice them, for the restoration of Justice in our world, as our contribution toward the building of the kingdom of God on earth. However, first things first: we need to empty ourselves of our idols. We need to become “foolish” according to worldly standards before we can become wise by God’s estimation. This fundamental change and predisposition for living a virtuous life, a life of the Beatitudes, is what Paul speaks about in the second reading – “you are in Christ Jesus.” Being “in Christ” means a transvaluation of human yardstick for measuring a Christian life; Christ brings about a new way of living
Christianity has got its rules and principles. Without disengaging from worldly science and knowledge, the Holy Spirit of God is hindered from controlling our wills and directing our actions. When Paul says, in the second reading, that “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31), he makes God the point of reference for human action. Also, Paul’s assertion corroborates that of the prophet Zephaniah “But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel” (Zephaniah 3:12).
One of the differentiating factors between a Christian and non Christian is the invocation of the name of God. No wonder you and I are called Christians, other christs because we should live like Christ.
Assignment of the Week:
Choose one beatitude and practice it all week long.