The Beatitudes: Pathway to Happiness

In our meditation of the week; Fr. Peter Armenio reflects on the call to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world,” as described in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5:1-16). He explains that these images capture the transformative role of Christ’s disciples in the world. 

Drawing from the Beatitudes, Fr. Peter emphasizes that they are a blueprint for shaping a heart to be like Christ’s, and they are a pathway to happiness in the world.   

Through a practical examples of two young men whose faith flourished despite family challenges, Fr. Peter illustrates how ordinary acts of holiness can have a profound impact. Like salt enhancing flavor, or light dispelling darkness, Christians have the power to inspire and guide others through their witness.

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In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me. I adore you with profound reverence. I ask your pardon for my sins, and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful. My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me. 

Well as we put ourselves in the presence of Jesus, I'm going to ask him, so Lord what do you want us to talk to you about? Well, let's look at the Gospel. We always go to the Gospel. And the Gospel of St. Matthew begins with the Beatitudes. I mean, it begins with- Jesus’s public life begins with the eight Beatitudes. And the Lord is telling his listeners, okay, this is where my formation should lead. This is the end product. I want you to have a humble spirit. Poor in spirit, I want you to be detached from everything, not in the Eastern mysticism sense, in order to be very attached to Jesus and very attached to people, in the right sense. 

So poor in spirit- put me first. That's basically what that is saying. And he wants us to have a meek heart, yeah, but I have a strong- I'm a choleric. What can I tell you? He says, have a meek heart, all right? That's what he said. I'm just an employee. So, he says, you have to have a meek heart, and he doesn't make a distinction. Well, you know, if you're phlegmatic it’ll come easier to you. He doesn't say. He’s you got to do it. You know, whether you're sanguine or choleric or a mixture thereof. We need to have a merciful heart, okay? We need to have a pure heart that is single-minded. Again, it's aimed at Our Lord. It's aimed at self-giving love. 

We need to have a heart that can bear suffering out of love for Christ. So, and they're called Beatitudes, little bit counter intuitive, because beatitude means happiness. So, he's saying, when your heart conforms yourself to this vision, you become happy. Alright, once he got- he has that done, I mean, basically the eight Beatitudes are a portrait of the heart of Jesus. Because what's the goal of his public life, that we conform our lives to his life. And so, this is the heart of Jesus, and he's saying, I want you to have my heart. 

Then he switches gears a little bit. Once he's got that done, he says, this is an image of your discipleship. And he uses two images in his Sermon on the Mount. He'll use more later on, and he'll say, you are salt of the earth and that you're light of the world. And so, he's telling us something very profound. And he doesn't make a distinction. He doesn't say, “You know, if you're a charming person or if you have a big personality….” He said, you know, straight up, “A disciple of mine is salt to the earth and light of the world.”
In other words, that we have inside ourselves, a power to transform others. It does- it's not our power. It's Christ’s power. But we have a power to transform others he’s saying. Salt, you put it on your food, it transforms the food. It tastes better. Unless you know, if you have high blood pressure, then you know you're out of luck, but you're too young to think about those things. So, it enhances the food, all right, that's the purpose. Is salt better than oregano or better than picante or saffron? I'm not saying it's better. All I'm saying is it transforms the food. The other spices it up. This transforms it, you know, okay, it brings out the taste. Brings out the best in that pork chop, or, if you're a vegan, the best of that salad or- or hummus, or whatever you-you like. 

So that's what, so there's a lot there. And we would find someone a bit strange or odd if they said, “Listen, come into my living room because I have a bottle of salt in there,” you know, and it's in a jazzed-up bottle. “What do you think of the salt I got?” You would say, maybe this person needs a little bit of counseling. Because last time we checked that, you know, you put it on your food, you don't put in a display case. It's not a collector's item, you know, unless it's from the Dead Sea or something. But you'd have a little sign “Dead Sea Salt: Do Not Use”.

So, it's supposed to be used. And then Jesus gives a bit of a warning that the salt could lose its transforming power, if it loses its saltness. So, he gives a warning. And the meditation is on salt and light, okay, just in case you're trying to figure out what I'm- where this is going. And you know, that's why he goes through the Beatitudes, because the- the Beatitudes is the salt, the Beatitudes is the light. And then he uses an image. It’s the only image he uses that applies to himself and to us. He doesn't say he's leaven in the mass. He doesn't say he's the salt of the earth. He doesn't say that he's- he's a branch of the vine. But he does say, I'm the light of the world with a big L. We're the light of the world with a little L, right? 

And it's a little bit of a different image, because it's similar to salt, but not the same. Obviously, because light has an automatic effect on the environment, it overcomes darkness. So, salt brings about a conversion, and so does light. But light dissipates the darkness. It overcomes the darkness. When you have a light on automatically, it depends how bright that light is, that darkness is going to diminish automatically. So, what Jesus is saying- that the problem, you know, we have problems you know. Now I heard on the radio that the Surgeon General is going to push Congress to issue legislation to diminish the amount of time young people could use social media because of its- of the ill effects it has on both boys and girls. 

You know anyway, basically, he's saying, in a very secular way, that there's a- there's a transmission of darkness in social media. I hope I’m not hurting feelings here or anything. It's good, but as long as it's used properly with moderation. You're talking to a guy it’s hopeless in social media. It's not virtuous, just numbness. So, but anyway, back to that, that, yes, we do have big obstacles out there. You know, natural laws not even- it's denied, but it's also seen as harmful to the human person. I mean, bringing a baby to term is- could be a violation of someone's reproductive rights. If you just recognize, you know, as an opinion, you do it, say it respectfully and charitably. No, I recognize, you know, it's been around for a millennia, marriage between a man and a woman, you get in trouble for that. 

So, this is where we're at. But nevertheless, Our Lord says the light always overcomes the darkness, you know. And he said, we have to be an extension of his light. This is why Pope Francis says that we need to be an extension of the heart of Jesus. Basically, that light, how do I become light and how do I become that salt? Well, let's just come up with an example. We've been using this example, but I want to use a- I'm going to use a little bit more of an ordinary example in a real, you know, very average, unoriginal example. 
I was having a meeting in a restaurant, lunch meeting, kind of a business meeting with a businessman. What was it about, fundraising, all right? Money's the root of all evil, but it could be the root of a lot of good, especially if you use it properly, like Metro or Midtown. So, we're talking and my friend seemed like he had the gift of infallibility. I mean, he was kind of pontificating. He's a businessman, and this kid comes sheepishly to the table, you know, we're both having a little bit of pasta. And his hand is shaking, and he has a book. It wasn't this, but it was a book, and he's kind of stuttering a little bit. 

And I said, “What's the matter?” “I'm so sorry to interrupt your conversation.” I felt like saying, “No, you're not you just interrupted. So, what can I do for you?” “I want you to bless my book.” “Okay, sure. Can I see your book?” Consecration to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort. Not exactly a page turner, but very good, very good. So I said, “Yeah, I’ll bless your book. But can I ask you a couple of questions?” “Well, I don't need to interrupt.” The kid says, his hand is shaking because it didn't take it easy. “Now, you piqued my curiosity.” I said, “How old are you?” “Uh, 17,” So, this is an indicator, I told him “That you come from a solid Catholic family,” and then he gets very nervous again. Wrong thing to say, “No, it's not, I don't.” I go, “Now you really have me curious. Why are you reading this book? I mean, it's good book, don't get me wrong, but it was written in the 18th century.” He said, “Well, your parents aren't- haven’t instructed you in the faith?” He says, “No, they're not. My parents divorced each other, and they don't go to church. My mother doesn't go to church. My dad doesn't go to church.” I said, “Do you go to church?” “Yeah, I'm going, but they don't go.” I said, “How- now I'm- I'm very curious. I gotta, I gotta know why you're reading this book,” poor kid. 

All they want is a blessing, and I wouldn't let him go. And my buddy was kind of intrigued as well, you know, “He's, well, my grandfather, he's a really good Catholic, and we're, I'm very close to my grandfather, and he's kind of guiding me, and he's coaching me, and he's helping me become a good Catholic. And I know he's right. So, can you please bless my book?” “Yeah, sure.” And, “I'm reading it with my grandfather,” and I said, “You like the book?” So, “Yeah, I do, but he has to explain things to me.” I'd like to meet the grandfather, maybe in the afterlife. He's a light. He's that's salt, you know, to get a 17 year old kid to read St. Louis De Montfort is no easy feat, especially if he doesn't come from a Catholic background. If he does come from a Catholic background, it's not easy.

So, we can't we-we can't underestimate the amount of good we do if we become salt and light. How do we do that? Now, I don't know, maybe you've heard of it, heard the book, probably have, and this is germane to the topic. Number of priests and bishops have recommended a book published, written by Monsignor, I forgot his first name, Monsignor Shea, who was the, I think, president of the University of Mary. And the name of the book is, was published a few years ago, not too long ago, From Christendom to Apostolic Mission, and I’m a little bit jealous that he wrote the book, and one of- an Opus Dei member didn't write it, because, what he- what does he say? It's a good book. You know, obviously it's a good book, and he's saying, well, we've- history has changed. The history of the Church is changed, that we have to do what the early Christians did, and that is, we can't anymore wait for people to come back to church or come back to the Catholic faith. He said, good parishes and good schools may not do that. What you need, like in the olden days, in the infant Church, you need people to bring the Church to those who are unchurched. 

So basically, he says that our Catholic culture is gone. Our Christian culture is gone now, even in terms of the natural law, it's gone. Not that there was, you know, a formal rejection of the Catholic faith, or the Christian faith. It’s just ebbed away. You know, from, you know, the late 60s till now, it's ebbed away. And he says, well, this is what-what it takes to bring our culture to- back to Christianity, to spread the gospel message. We can't be passive and wait for people to go to church. In the olden days they did every- the great majority did. They would come to church and go to Catholic schools. Now we have to bring the faith to the others.

So, it's a good book, but I think, and I say this very respectfully, because the purpose of the book was to say that, and he's absolutely right, but there's another very essential part that needs to be added to that book, because the book won't work unless that essential part is added to it, and that is the lay woman and lay man needs to be committed to a robust union with Jesus Christ, to quote St. Josemaria, “Through the Bread,” which means the Holy Eucharist, the bread of God, “and the Word,” the Word of God, the Gospel. 

They both, both the Word and the Bread make us salt and light. Our baptismal life of Christ begins to germinate and grow to the degree that we are committed to prayer, and Lord, help us all believe. I mean, we're a captive audience. That my prayer life, my Eucharistic Adoration, my mental prayer, my Eucharistic devotion, my celebration of Mass, your attendance at Mass, is a service to this New Evangelization. That from my perspective, I think it's an objective, one began in significant part on October 2, 1928, when the charism of Opus Dei came about. 

St. Josemaria received that charism, how to read, how to evangelize the world, and he says, “Only through holiness can that be possible.” And he got in trouble, because in those days, if you're going to be a really great saint, you'd become a Carmelite or Benedictine or Poor Clare sister, even a priest. I mean, that priest would be, you know, holiness-light. But if you’re- for real you know- you have to become a religious- and he would preach, well, you know, the hairdresser, the doctor, the teacher, the farmer, the auto mechanic, they're called to love Jesus as much as St. Teresa of Avila. If he was a contemporary of Mother Teresa, he would say, like Mother Teresa or St. Faustina or Padre Pio, they had a transform- a saint has a transforming effect. Because, why? Jesus says that we have to, our holiness has to be such, and he doesn't command us to do the divinely impossible. I don't know. I- maybe I'm wrong. I don't think we'll ever be able to reach perfectly “love as I have loved.” That's the new commandment. But the reason why he issues that commandment is because we can get closer to it and-and what does he say, that a very important piece to it, is that you'll be known by my disciples. If you love as I have loved, you'll be known. They'll figure, they'll figure, figure you out if you approach that. 

And it is- whole New Testament is condensed in that. And notice what he says, he doesn't say imitate me, even though indeed we should. Love as I have loved. What does that mean? He has to live in me, and he is living with me through baptism and confirmation, but my prayer life allows him to grow, sort of like working out with weights or running, a little old school. And some young ladies have said, “Don't be afraid to use weightlifting examples.” Okay, weight-lifting examples. You work out enough you think you're crazy with this is not working muscle pains and all that, and or running, you- it works well, I was kind of tired while I was running. Well, the important thing is to run, and then your stamina increases within a certain age, then your stamina diminishes more slowly if you work out. 

So back to our conversation with Our Lord, we need to be committed to prayer. It's interesting trying to read The Way when it was originally composed. I mean that when it was- I mean from the perspective of the time it was composed, because it reads as if, you know, he could have died a year later. It’s very optimistic and, you know, positive. You know, very honest as well. Very honest doesn't pull punches at times, but it was written in a very dark period in the history of the Church in Spain. It was the most severe age of martyrdom in its entire history. They killed a lot of Catholics. They killed- virtually executed half the priests, and they executed somebody who they thought was him. So, he prayed for him for the rest of his life, and this is what he says, and how relevant these words are. Excuse me. “I tell you a secret, an open secret. These world crises are crises of saints. God wants a handful of women or men of his own in every human activity. Then the peace of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ.” All right, it was written in a very special time when he was practically destitute, when he had a center of Opus Dei, but it was literally blown up during the Civil War. 

We ask you Lord to help us commit ourselves to holiness. Help us commit ourselves to holiness. Lord, help us have that desire, because then we can become an extension of you. And in early Christianity, in that age of martyrdom, in the ancient world, I’ll quote John 1 and John 5:5, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, your faith.” And then John continues and says, “Who is it?” It's in singular, “Who is it that overcomes the world, but he or she who believes in Jesus Christ?” And belief means being a saint. It doesn't mean, you know, I agree with the Catechism, or I'm- I embrace all the moral teachings of the Church, or I'm for the right causes, or I believe that this is the Word of God. What's- it's part of it. But faith is embracing the life of Christ and embracing the teachings of Christ, basically becoming a saint.  I mean, that's the fullness of faith. Did I make it up? No. John Paul said it, and Benedict said it, and Francis implies it, and I mean he probably said it as well. 

This kid, I was in Rome last year, and I think he's gone viral here, but he was going viral there in Italy. This kid who died helps him being good looking. He died at age 15 of Leukemia in 2007 and he was beatified, and he's caught my attention because now he's pretty well-known. But my first exposure to him was, you know, my room is a dumping station of religious articles that people don't want and religious books that people don't want, and they're usually pretty boring, so they leave it in my room. You know, as if, you know, I like boring books. And this was a magazine in Italian, so I'm leafing through it. And there's the title, Blessed Carlos. 

So, I read it. I'm reading it. It's kind of a longish article, pretty well written, and about two thirds through the article, I realized that the article is written by his mom, and she's speaking because she starts to say that she was an atheist, and her husband's an atheist or agnostic, that she had only gone to church, she was, you know, an adult, late I figured about maybe 40 years old, if that. And she only went to church three times in her life, two or three times, she was anything but a religious fanatic. When she got baptized, First Communion and Marriage and Matrimony, that was it. And she'd probably go a fourth time for a funeral.

And she's describing the kid, how, what an impact he had on her and on the father. And, you know, it was a, you know, it wasn't his big blow- elaborate biography, but it was a beautiful article, typical Italian mama article, you know, you could have reduced it by, after it started to go on and on and on, you could have reduced it by two thirds, but I'm an American, and she's an Italian. And uh- and he had an impact on door men. He had an impact on his classmates, the maintenance man. Became a Catholic, and he was in his 60s, and he was Hindu. Um, Hindu, and he, I guess that's not to be imitated, but he was very much into computer games and- and he was a computer whiz. He loved, he was really good at it. He’d tutor people. He had websites on the Eucharist, etc. 

But what I want to illustrate here briefly is, I was, you know, curious, how does a kid become a saint when his mom and dad are atheists or agnostics? She includes in the article that she had a nanny, he had a nanny, and the nanny was from Poland, and the nanny was a serious Catholic. The nanny asked her permission, can I bring your son to church with me? And she said, I don't care. She says, “Can I teach him the Catechism?” She says, “Sure, go right ahead.” And so, the kid became- got very close to his nanny, and the nanny got- helped him have a lot of Eucharistic piety, and taught him how to say the rosary, and he really took to the Gospel and the Catholic faith. And she- she's the unsung hero or heroine. I don't like to use the word heroin because that has other connotations. So, give me a little slack. So we again, we don't, we can't estimate how much good we do if we are salt and light and it's- it consists that we really be committed to prayer life, and part of our my prayer life, when I meditate on the Word, is that I try to conform my behavior according to the behavior of Jesus, and according is, what does he say? Because that's what he says. That's what can- that's what- that's what contemplation is, not just Bible study. I'm going to read this and then I’m going to close the book. But then he gets in trouble, because now he says, in a dramatic way, he says, “I am the light of the world. He or she who walks with me, will have the light of life,” walk with me. What does that mean? Deeds, you got to imitate me. You meditate on me and imitate me. 

The-one more point, and we're done, from St.- from The Forge here, “When holiness,” oh, excuse me, “When sanctity is genuine, it overflows from its vessel to fill other hearts other souls with its super abundance. We, the children of God, sanctify ourselves by sanctifying others. Is Christian life growing around you? Consider this every day. Committed- how much I like that word. We, the children of God, freely put ourselves under an obligation to live a life of dedication to God, striving that he may have complete and absolute sovereignty over our lives.” 

Well, Mary, we put these sentiments in your hands. We can't do it on our own. Pray for us so that we have the desire to be that light and radiate the charity of Jesus that has a transforming effect on others. Give us that desire. Mary, pray for us so that we have those sentiments and that we can spread the light of your son. 

I thank you, my God, for the good resolutions, affections, and inspirations which you have communicated to me in this meditation. I ask your help to put them into effect. My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me.