Christianity is a call to live the Beatitudes. Jesus took the Scriptures He knew in Judaism and intensified them in order to expose their heart. Jesus preached a godliness that turns the ways of the world upside down, then and now. "Be ye perfect (compassionate) as your heavenly Father is perfect (compassionate)." (Lk. 6:36).

In the Beatitudes, Jesus defines the qualities that make people truly blessed, really godly, really happy, and He calls each and all of us to be a blessing to the world. He brings us beyond and above the motives that drive a world bent on power and greed, on profit and control. Instead, He draws for us a template of godly happiness that is based on humility, compassion, justice, mercy, singleness of heart, peacemaking and the willingness to pour ourselves, to spend ourselves to make it all happen as he did with his life - persecuted for the sake of justice till death.

With the Beautitudes as His gauge of worthiness in people, Jesus was a worry to those who saw their social order being undermined. He was an irritant to the Romans who feared a promised Messianic revolt. Jesus was crucified, died, and buried only to rise again in the hearts and lives and spirit of those who waited for His promise to come.

As disciples, we proclaim the Beatitudes; by the way we love as God loves.