Jesus challenges our usual ideas of happiness and success. When He proclaims the Beatitudes, He answers a deep human question: Who is truly blessed? Surprisingly, Jesus does not point to the powerful or the admired. Instead, He calls blessed those whom the world often overlooks.

The truly blessed, Jesus tells us, are the poor in spirit—those who know their need for God. They are the ones who mourn, yet refuse to give in to despair, trusting that God is close to the broken-hearted. They are the meek, who choose humility over domination and forgiveness over revenge. They are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, longing not just for personal goodness but for God’s justice, truth, and peace to shape our world.

The Beatitudes remind us that blessedness is not about having everything, but about trusting God with everything. They are not an unreachable ideal, but an invitation to live differently. Let us ask ourselves: Where do we seek our sense of blessing? May we learn to recognize true blessedness in lives shaped by faith, mercy, humility, and love—and may our own lives reflect the joy of God’s Kingdom among us.

In Christ,
Fr. Lijoy Jose, OFM Cap.
Pastor