Pope Francis entered Paul VI Audience Hall, greeting pilgrims, blessing rosaries and even autographing a book for this group of children.
The pope opened a new catechesis series on the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on the Sermon on the Mount. He explained the Beatitudes are Jesus' secret to happiness.
POPE FRANCIS
Jesus begins to teach a new law: to be poor, to be meek, to be merciful ... These 'new commandments' are much more than norms. In fact, Jesus does not impose anything, but reveals the way to happiness - His way - by repeating the word 'blessed' eight times.
The pope went on to say the happiness Jesus' offers is divided into three parts: first to be a blessed person, then the actions themselves and finally part of the Beatitudes is answering the question, “why?”
POPE FRANCIS
But what does the word 'blessed' mean? The original Greek term 'makarios' does not indicate someone who has a full belly or is doing well, but it is a person who is in a condition of grace, who progresses in the grace of God, who progresses on the path of God. [Those with] patience, poverty, who are at the service of others, have consolation, and progress in these are happy. These people are blessed.
Pope Francis concluded that, like the Beatitudes infer, God's way is often a confusing one, filled with bumps and turns humans cannot decipher, nor understand. Yet, ultimately these experiences of being “blessed” according to God are the one that will Christians to Christ in the end.
Melissa Butz
