"As women covenanted together in vowed commitment,
we encourage each other to live daily fidelity in radical Gospel living
in the spirit of the beatitudes".
(ASC Constitution, Article 8)
On the mountain, Christ gives the disciples a new law written in the heart, no longer on stone, that renews our lives and makes them good, even when the world seems to have failed us and is full of misery. Jesus announces Good News for all humanity.On the mountain, Christ gives the disciples a new law written in the heart, no longer on stone, that renews our lives and makes them good, even when the world seems to have failed us and is full of misery. Jesus announces Good News for all humanity.Beatitudes are specific attitudes proposed by Jesus in order to become blessed and holy. By practicing beatitudes Jesus wants us to imitate his lifestyle and become like Him.Living the Beatitudes can bring us happiness, bring light to the world’s shadows, and renew our hearts. God gives hope to those whom the world discards as desperate. Beatitudes are lights that the Lord kindles in the darkness of history, revealing the plan of salvation that the Father accomplishes through the Son, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not speak of a distant consolation, but of a constant grace that always sustains us, especially in the hour of affliction.Those who are accustomed to thinking that happiness belongs to the rich may believe that Jesus is deluded. However, the delusion lies precisely in the lack of faith in Christ. Christ is the poor person who shares his life with everyone, the meek person who perseveres in suffering, the peacemaker persecuted to death on the cross. Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. God is peace, Jesus is the prince of peace as we read it in the book of Isaiah 9,6. Peace, or Shalom in the Bible is more than absence of conflict; it is wholeness, harmony and reconciliation with God and one another. God’s peace comes through the cross-reconciling heaven with earth and earth with heaven through the power of His Blood. Likewise, Meekness is not weakness but rather a sign of inner strength and hope, allowing one to endure challenges and difficulties in patience. In the OT Moses is described as the meekest person on earth. And above all, it is the spirit of Jesus who says: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”. The meek do not seek to dominate or retaliate, they trust God to defend their cause. Saint Theresa of Lisieux lived this gentle strength transforming hearts not by power but by love. Her own life exemplified meekness, as she struggled imperfections and suffering, yet remained trusting in God’s love and mercy.Mercy in Hebrew is HESED - means steadfast love; a love that forgives, heals and remains faithful even when betrayed. Jesus shows mercy to the sinners, sick and the broken; he tells us, be merciful as the Father is merciful. The saints too were reflections of this mercy. “Mercy is the beating heart of the Gospel” is a quote from Pope Francis’ document called the Face of Mercy-Misericordia Vultus. This document emphasizes the importance of mercy in the life of Christians, highlighting it as a central theme of Jesus’ teaching and mission. Therefore, Mercy is one of the most important gospel values. We can all practice daily little acts of mercy. As mother Theresa says: “not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love”. Again, in the sermon on the mountain blessedness is promised to those who are persecuted, for the cause of justice… Jesus Himself was persecuted; the sinless one was crucified as a criminal. The saints suffered because they refused to compromise truth.As St. Gaspar refused to obey Napolean saying, I will not, I must not, I should not….as a matter of fact, he had to suffer imprisonment. Oscar Romero’s courage bore testimony that love is stronger than death. His courage is inspiring. As the Archbishop of El Salvador, he fearlessly spoke out against human rights abuses, government corruption, and violence despite receiving numerous death threats. his was a prophetic voice for the poor and oppressed. Romero’s courage was rooted in his deep faith and commitment to the Gospel. Today can we be a prophetic presence in our world?.In conclusion when we apply these attitudes to Jesus life, we see them being practiced so perfectly…Jesus was poor in spirit, He mourned and took upon himself the sins of the world, he was meek like a lamb…he intensely desired God’s righteousness and justice, he was merciful and compassionate, he had a pure innocent heart to love God and others (Integrity of heart), he promoted peace to all, everywhere, he was persecuted and crucified. In this way, Jesus showed us how to live Kingdom values. Only God can truly call the poor and afflicted blessed, because God is the highest good who gives himself to all with infinite love, only God can satisfy those who seek peace and justice, because God is the just judge of the world, the author of eternal peace. Only in God do the meek, the merciful, and the pure of heart find joy, because God is the fulfilment of their expectations, and in persecution, they find redemption, and in falsehood, they find an anchor of truth.
we encourage each other to live daily fidelity in radical Gospel living
in the spirit of the beatitudes".
(ASC Constitution, Article 8)
On the mountain, Christ gives the disciples a new law written in the heart, no longer on stone, that renews our lives and makes them good, even when the world seems to have failed us and is full of misery. Jesus announces Good News for all humanity.On the mountain, Christ gives the disciples a new law written in the heart, no longer on stone, that renews our lives and makes them good, even when the world seems to have failed us and is full of misery. Jesus announces Good News for all humanity.Beatitudes are specific attitudes proposed by Jesus in order to become blessed and holy. By practicing beatitudes Jesus wants us to imitate his lifestyle and become like Him.Living the Beatitudes can bring us happiness, bring light to the world’s shadows, and renew our hearts. God gives hope to those whom the world discards as desperate. Beatitudes are lights that the Lord kindles in the darkness of history, revealing the plan of salvation that the Father accomplishes through the Son, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not speak of a distant consolation, but of a constant grace that always sustains us, especially in the hour of affliction.Those who are accustomed to thinking that happiness belongs to the rich may believe that Jesus is deluded. However, the delusion lies precisely in the lack of faith in Christ. Christ is the poor person who shares his life with everyone, the meek person who perseveres in suffering, the peacemaker persecuted to death on the cross. Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. God is peace, Jesus is the prince of peace as we read it in the book of Isaiah 9,6. Peace, or Shalom in the Bible is more than absence of conflict; it is wholeness, harmony and reconciliation with God and one another. God’s peace comes through the cross-reconciling heaven with earth and earth with heaven through the power of His Blood. Likewise, Meekness is not weakness but rather a sign of inner strength and hope, allowing one to endure challenges and difficulties in patience. In the OT Moses is described as the meekest person on earth. And above all, it is the spirit of Jesus who says: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”. The meek do not seek to dominate or retaliate, they trust God to defend their cause. Saint Theresa of Lisieux lived this gentle strength transforming hearts not by power but by love. Her own life exemplified meekness, as she struggled imperfections and suffering, yet remained trusting in God’s love and mercy.Mercy in Hebrew is HESED - means steadfast love; a love that forgives, heals and remains faithful even when betrayed. Jesus shows mercy to the sinners, sick and the broken; he tells us, be merciful as the Father is merciful. The saints too were reflections of this mercy. “Mercy is the beating heart of the Gospel” is a quote from Pope Francis’ document called the Face of Mercy-Misericordia Vultus. This document emphasizes the importance of mercy in the life of Christians, highlighting it as a central theme of Jesus’ teaching and mission. Therefore, Mercy is one of the most important gospel values. We can all practice daily little acts of mercy. As mother Theresa says: “not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love”. Again, in the sermon on the mountain blessedness is promised to those who are persecuted, for the cause of justice… Jesus Himself was persecuted; the sinless one was crucified as a criminal. The saints suffered because they refused to compromise truth.As St. Gaspar refused to obey Napolean saying, I will not, I must not, I should not….as a matter of fact, he had to suffer imprisonment. Oscar Romero’s courage bore testimony that love is stronger than death. His courage is inspiring. As the Archbishop of El Salvador, he fearlessly spoke out against human rights abuses, government corruption, and violence despite receiving numerous death threats. his was a prophetic voice for the poor and oppressed. Romero’s courage was rooted in his deep faith and commitment to the Gospel. Today can we be a prophetic presence in our world?.In conclusion when we apply these attitudes to Jesus life, we see them being practiced so perfectly…Jesus was poor in spirit, He mourned and took upon himself the sins of the world, he was meek like a lamb…he intensely desired God’s righteousness and justice, he was merciful and compassionate, he had a pure innocent heart to love God and others (Integrity of heart), he promoted peace to all, everywhere, he was persecuted and crucified. In this way, Jesus showed us how to live Kingdom values. Only God can truly call the poor and afflicted blessed, because God is the highest good who gives himself to all with infinite love, only God can satisfy those who seek peace and justice, because God is the just judge of the world, the author of eternal peace. Only in God do the meek, the merciful, and the pure of heart find joy, because God is the fulfilment of their expectations, and in persecution, they find redemption, and in falsehood, they find an anchor of truth.
Sr Marykutty Kanattu, ASC