My brothers and sisters in Christ, we hear today the words of Jesus that open the Sermon on the Mount—the Beatitudes. These are not just beautiful poetry; they are the core, the very Constitution, of the Kingdom of Heaven.

We look for happiness in the world. The world tells us: “Blessed are the rich, the powerful, the famous, the comfortable.” Jesus, however, sits on that mountain and turns the world’s wisdom completely upside down. He shows us the true path to beatus, to blessedness, to the only happiness that lasts.

As a Dominican Parish Priest, I see the Beatitudes not as a list of virtues to struggle with, but as a portrait of Jesus Christ Himself and a blueprint for our communal life in the Church.

The World’s Illusion vs. God’s Grace: The Beatitudes challenge the fundamental modern delusion that we can be self-sufficient. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” he is calling us to humility—to recognize that everything we are, everything we have, is a gift from God. In an age of immense material wealth and self-pride, our poverty of spirit is our total and complete reliance on God’s grace. It is the beginning of all other virtues, because without it, we are trying to build the Kingdom of Heaven with our own, weak hands.

A Passion for Righteousness: In the modern clamor of voices and causes, Jesus calls us to a single, focused desire: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” This is a burning desire for God’s truth and justice to reign in our lives and in the world. This is not passive longing; this is the Dominican zeal for truth, a drive that compels us to study, pray, and preach the Gospel, actively working to right the wrongs of this world, both social and spiritual.

The Path of Mercy and Peace: Our call is to be peacemakers and merciful. In an online world built on quick judgment and anonymous cruelty, the pure in heart and the merciful are the counter-cultural witnesses. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” This is the Divine Economy: the measure with which you forgive and show compassion to others is the measure God will use for you. Our response to injustice is not condemnation, but active efforts toward reconciliation, always remembering the grace shown to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

What is Jesus truly looking for in our response? He is looking for congruence—that our hearts match our actions. He is calling us to three specific responses:

Acknowledge our Need: Jesus wants us to truly live the first beatitude. He wants us to say, “I cannot do this alone.” He is calling us to drop the mask of capability and confess our absolute need for His salvation, especially through the Eucharist and the Sacraments.

Live the Paradox: Jesus is looking for us to embrace the paradoxical life. When you are wronged, be meek (strong and gentle). When you see sin and injustice, mourn and let that sorrow move you to action. When you are ridiculed for your faith—perhaps for standing up for the Church’s teachings—He says, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Jesus wants us to choose the cross, knowing it leads to the crown.

Be a Witness: Above all, Jesus wants us to embody these beatitudes in our everyday roles—in our families, our workplaces, and our service to the community. Whether you are a retired officer, a disabled veteran, or an owner of a travel business—every vocation is an opportunity to be a visible sign of this blessed life. Your life is meant to be a practical sermon.

The Beatitudes are the path to becoming a true saint—not just for the formally canonized, but for all of us. They are a daily invitation to join Jesus on the mountain, to see the world from His perspective, and to receive the graces needed to live this glorious, paradoxical life.

Let us commit today to choose humility over pride, mercy over judgment, and peacemaking over conflict. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, so that by living these Beatitudes, we may truly be the blessed children of God, and one day, see God face-to-face.

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