Beatitudes as Jesus’ Magna Carta

“Blessed are they who are poor in Spirit; theirs is the kingdom of God.” This start to Jesus’ Magna Carta, a reminder to us that the natural laws of humanity built into creation by the Creator have significance. That we are some and at times poor in Spirit; we mourn; there are the weak, the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers. There will always be those persecuted. Jesus acknowledges FIRST that these souls exist—he sees people where they are—and he blesses them, giving them hope that one day the world may see them in these blessings, but for now, God DOES.

 To start it, Jesus acknowledges the presence of those poor in Spirit and gives them the Kingdom for it. These are the poor he knew or got to know, because he was in the habit of befriending, approaching, or being with. Magdalene is a prime example, as well as numerous others. Theirs is the kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven, as Jesus expands for our sake in his formulation and clarification of the Our Father, so that we might have a way to ask for the help we need to see it as he does. 

 These Beatitudes, both for those of us familiar and even for those unfamiliar should come as a lightning strike of hope. Whoever the world might deem strangest, most marginalized, most seemingly off the letter of the law will and can be any and all Jesus named. A true leader, he sees those already present and doing the work needed to bring about change in the world, and seems as well to call in many more to join in because these poor, meek, merciful, single-hearted exist. His heart beats for them fully.