MSB {21}: Ugh. The Beatitudes

I took the oldest two to Mass today, so I was able to hear the whole homily.  The wheelchair accessible pew was even open.  Yay!

I tried something new for My Sunday Best.  I’ve been watching a lot of Hilary Rushford from Dean Street Society, and one of her tips is shopping your closet for stuff you never wear.  Like this old shirt in a new way.

Shirt:  Lands’ End
Pants:  Dia & Co
Shoes:  Lands’ End

 

The homily today centered on how we have to choose happiness ourselves, and how that will ultimately involve the Beatitudes.

Ugh.

The Beatitudes.

The Ten Commandments are really super easy most the time.

 
Don’t kill anyone?  Check.
Go to Mass?  Check.
Don’t steal?  Check.
See?  Super easy.  Today I rocked all the commandments forward and backwards.  Look at me successfully not killing anybody.  (Some days that takes more effort than others, to be fair.)

But the Beatitudes?  I’ve always struggled with them.

According to those guys, I gotta mourn and be meek and be peaceful and be persecuted.  Or else.

Ugh.

That’s tough.  Like, not even appealing at all.  I guess being “pure in heart” isn’t too bad; but it’s certainly not easy to give up grudges, assume the best of people, and generally live a life of love.

In the age of social media it’s easy to “thirst for righteousness” in an irritating way, with memes and sound bites.  But that’s not a genuine thirst for justice. It’s just lip service.

But more than the challenges, it’s hard for me to handle the “or elses.”  As a perfectionist, people-pleaser, rule follower, it’s really stressful for me to have something so concrete and serious listed as a consequence for failure.  Let me explain.  This is my thought process with the Beatitudes.

Blessed are those who never yell,
for they will have children who grow up to be emotionally competent
and contribute to society.”

Instead of thinking, “Wow, that’s great.  Not yelling is sure a good thing,”  here’s how my brain works.
“AAAAAAAHHH!  I yell.  I have yelled at my kids.  According to this they will grow up to be giant basket cases who will suck the life and resources out of society.  I have yelled at my kids, and it will be impossible for them to function as adults because I am not 100% good at not yelling.”

See?  That’s pretty much how my brain processes the Beatitudes. It might seem less daunting if I translate the Beatitudes into commandments for myself, leaving out the consequence part.  Not that the consequences don’t matter or are wrong, just that I can’t function with them.  This list is paraphrased and in the wrong order.  FYI.

Seek justice.
Choose peace.
Practice humility.
Be pure in heart.
Speak the truth in love.
Acknowledge my spiritual insignificance.
Endure suffering.

Okay, I can handle that.  I can do my best to apply those to my regular life.  And if I fail, it doesn’t mean I automatically will not see God or not be shown mercy.  It just means I need to try harder next time.

Whew.

Glad we had this therapy session on the Beatitudes.  I might just be able to read them without breaking into a sweat now.

PS– If you’re looking for a great gift for St. Valentine’s Day, have I got an idea for you!