Mt 5:1-3a When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain; and when He had sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
That He ascended the mountain signifies that He was about to utter something great. For this reason the prophet also says: “Go up onto a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Zion” (Isaiah 40:9). There He teaches the disciples, whom He knew to be capable of greater understanding. But what does He say? “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” He does not say simply “Blessed are the poor,” for not all poor people are blessed, nor are all rich people miserable. For we see many poor people who are thieves, murderers, adulterers, perjurers, and traitors, who are miserable in this life and will be unhappy after this life as well. On the other hand, we read of many rich people who, living holy lives, pleased the Lord.
Therefore, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Yet not every spirit is meant, for there is a good spirit and an evil spirit. Just as those are blessed who are poor with respect to an evil spirit, so also those are blessed who are rich with respect to a good spirit. Blessed, therefore, are the poor in spirit, and blessed are the rich in spirit. For there is a spirit of pride, a spirit of fornication, a spirit of discord, and many other spirits; and all who are poor with respect to these are blessed. Blessed also are those who are rich in the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord.
Mt 5:3b But why are they blessed? “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Note: verses 4 and 5 have been treated in reverse order; either St Bruno's manuscript had a scribal error or, more like, my printed source contains a printer's error. I think the later more likely because the editor makes no mention of a manuscript reversal.
Mt 5:5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.” For who are the meek except the patient and the humble? Every virtue perishes without patience. Hence the Lord also says: “By your patience you shall possess your souls” (Luke 21:19). Therefore, whoever is impatient can possess neither his soul nor his land. For how does one possess his own soul who cannot restrain the fury and anger of his spirit? And how does one possess his land who cannot restrain his eyes from unlawful sight, his ears from unlawful hearing, his nostrils from unlawful scent, his mouth from unlawful taste, or his hands from unlawful touch?
Yet by “this land” we may understand the land of the living; and thus the meek possess no less than the poor in spirit. For although the latter possess heaven and the former the earth, nevertheless the same reality is signified by heaven and by earth. And when Christ our Lord promises such things to His faithful, does He not seem to you to be seated on a mountain in royal majesty?
Mt 5:4 It follows: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” What if they mourn for the loss of temporal goods? What if they mourn because of injuries inflicted upon them? For we see some who weep because they cannot avenge the wrongs done to them; and when they do avenge them, they are by no means blessed, but rather miserable. Therefore it must be understood thus: Blessed are those who mourn their sins; blessed are those who lament their own sins and the sins of others. Thus Samuel mourned Saul all the days of his life (1 Samuel 15:35). And David, because he repented and wept, is blessed, for he says: “My tears have been my bread day and night” (Psalm 42:3). Our Savior Himself wept over the death of Lazarus (John 11:35), and seeing Jerusalem about to perish, He wept over its miseries (Luke 19:41). The Apostle Peter also wept and did not lose his blessedness. Blessed, therefore, are those who mourn in this way, for they shall be comforted with eternal joy.
Mt 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” For those hunger and thirst for righteousness who so delight in observing righteousness as though they were refreshed by great banquets. Hence the Psalmist says: “Blessed are those who keep judgment and do justice at all times” (Psalm 106:3). Let kings hear this, let princes hear this, let the powerful and judges hear this—and let us hear it too, we bishops and priests, and let us always remember this chapter, without which we cannot rightly handle the others.
But note that not only those who practice righteousness are blessed, but also those who hunger and thirst for it—that is, those who desire it—even if they cannot accomplish what they desire; yet they are blessed because, as far as lies within them, they do what they desire. These indeed shall be satisfied, when all their desires are fulfilled; for just as the body is satisfied with food, so the soul is satisfied with its own nourishment.
Mt 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Immediately after righteousness He placed mercy. Hence the Psalmist says: “I will sing of mercy and judgment to you, O Lord” (Psalm 101:1). Justice is good, and mercy is good as well. Each has its proper place, nor does justice perish if mercy moderates it in judgment. Mercy is a certain affection of the soul by which one is distressed by another’s misfortune, just as envy is distressed by another’s good. Whether, therefore, we spare those who sin, or assist the miserable and needy, or bring back those who wander to the right path, it is mercy. But whoever has not shown mercy shall not find mercy; for with the same measure by which we measure, it shall be measured back to us (Luke 6:38).
Mt 5:8 It follows: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” For from the heart, as the Lord says, proceed evil thoughts, thefts, murders, perjuries, adulteries, false testimonies (Matthew 15:19), and the like—these are what defile a person. Such a heart, therefore, is not pure. If it were pure, it would not defile the whole person with its own filth. That heart, therefore, is pure from which such things do not proceed. Hence he prays to the Lord, saying: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within my inward parts” (Psalm 51:10). For if the heart is pure from wicked thoughts, the whole person will be pure from iniquities. There sins arise; there they take root; and if they are cut off there, there is nowhere for them to grow. Hence it is written: “Blessed is he who shall seize and dash his little ones against the rock” (Psalm 137:9). For this reason priests are also forbidden to grow their hair.
But how the pure of heart shall see God, or with what eyes they shall see Him, may be doubted; it is easily asked but not easily resolved. Yet the Apostle says: “Now we see through a mirror, in an enigma; but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know even as I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). And the Apostle John says: “We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Great will that eye be which by the clarity of its vision will be able to comprehend Him who contains all things.
Mt 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” For peacemakers are those who reconcile those at odds, who reconcile the world to God, who sow peace and concord among others. For the Apostle says: “Pursue peace with all people, without which no one shall see God” (Hebrews 12:14). And again: “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). And the Psalmist: “With those who hated peace, I was peaceable” (Psalm 120:7). And rightly are peacemakers called sons of God, for He Himself is our peace, who made both one (Ephesians 2:14). He is the peaceful King, who, joining two walls into one in Himself as the cornerstone, made peace for those who were far off and those who were near.
Mt 5:10 “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He says “for righteousness’ sake,” not for worldly honors, not for riches, not for pride or iniquity. For we see many who persecute others for such things and are themselves persecuted for them. But the Apostles and martyrs suffered persecution from the impious for righteousness’ sake. For if they had been willing to cease preaching righteousness, they would not have suffered persecution. Even today, in the holy Church, all who strive to preach and uphold righteousness suffer persecution. Therefore, not all who suffer persecution are blessed, since the wicked persecute one another; but only those are blessed in persecution who suffer it for righteousness’ sake.
Let each one who hears these things see whether he is contained in any of these Beatitudes. And if he finds himself in any one of them, let him be secure: he will be blessed, for Truth has spoken this. And Truth cannot lie.
Mt 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and exult, for your reward is abundant in heaven.” “Blessed are you,” He says, “when people curse you; do not fear their curses, but rather rejoice and exult, because their curses, their persecutions, their insults, and their lies prepare for you joy in heaven, exultation, a great reward, and recompense. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” This is not new; it is not unheard of. Thus they persecuted Isaiah, thus Jeremiah, and thus the other prophets. Let their example, therefore, instruct you, if their blessedness delights you.
CONTINUE
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