Matthew 5:3-12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven . – Matthew 5:12
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Let us begin with the story of Teresa Hsu, who was known as “Singapore’s Mother Teresa”. She arrived in Singapore in the 1960s with a nurse’s training and a simple conviction: that caring for the forgotten elderly poor was the good life. She spent decades serving the aged, sick, and destitute — and she never stopped, remaining active in charity work past the age of 100.
She took an unpaid matron role at a home for the aged sick. When her sister died and left her an inheritance, she used it to buy flats for homeless families. She delivered rice and cash by hand to the destitute elderly in their homes. She owned almost nothing.
When a journalist asked if she had chosen a difficult path, she laughed: “”On the contrary. My possessions were a burden — I felt I was depriving the poor.”” She wasn’t performing sacrifice. She was describing her version of a blessed life — and she genuinely meant it.
That story is exactly what Jesus was doing in the Beatitudes. He wasn’t asking us to suffer as his disciples. He was telling us God’s version of an enviable, blessed life, and it is contrary to how our world defines it. In our world, blessed are those with a great net worth, blessed are the smart, blessed are those who got into top schools, blessed are the self-sufficient, blessed are those who can retire early and YOLO, blessed are those who are carefree, and blessed are those who can travel many times a year.
Listen in to how our Lord, King Jesus, defines an enviable or blessed life. Jesus says: “”Blessed are the poor in spirit … blessed are those who mourn… blessed are the meek … blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… blessed are the merciful… blessed are the pure in heart… blessed are the peacemakers… blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”” When Jesus said these words, He was making a radical declaration to the world in His time, and to our modern world: That in His Kingdom, His value is the reverse of the world’s.
As you step into the rush of this Monday, the city is going to propagate to you its version of a blessed life and tell you how to achieve it. But as you go about your day, remember the story of Teresa Hsu and remember that our King of kings has a different valuation system. You might seem like a loser by the world’s standards when you live out the Beatitudes, but you can be certain that yours is the Kingdom of God. Yours is the Kingdom of God.
Reflection:
First, look at your calendar and your worries for the upcoming week. Which “”ladder”” are you currently burning yourself out in trying to achieve the world’s enviable life, and what would it look like to step off it and rest at Jesus’ table today? Second, think about the people you interact with daily—at the food courts, in the offices, the cleaning staff, or a quiet colleague. Who has the society labelled as the “least” that Jesus is inviting you to honor today?
Let us pray:
Jesus, thank You for reversing the order and priority for us today. Forgive us for chasing the world’s definition of a blessed life. Give us strength, courage and wisdom to live out the Beatitude. Use our lives to demonstrate the value of your kingdom in our offices, our schools, and our homes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Click to read passage
Let us begin with the story of Teresa Hsu, who was known as “Singapore’s Mother Teresa”. She arrived in Singapore in the 1960s with a nurse’s training and a simple conviction: that caring for the forgotten elderly poor was the good life. She spent decades serving the aged, sick, and destitute — and she never stopped, remaining active in charity work past the age of 100.
She took an unpaid matron role at a home for the aged sick. When her sister died and left her an inheritance, she used it to buy flats for homeless families. She delivered rice and cash by hand to the destitute elderly in their homes. She owned almost nothing.
When a journalist asked if she had chosen a difficult path, she laughed: “”On the contrary. My possessions were a burden — I felt I was depriving the poor.”” She wasn’t performing sacrifice. She was describing her version of a blessed life — and she genuinely meant it.
That story is exactly what Jesus was doing in the Beatitudes. He wasn’t asking us to suffer as his disciples. He was telling us God’s version of an enviable, blessed life, and it is contrary to how our world defines it. In our world, blessed are those with a great net worth, blessed are the smart, blessed are those who got into top schools, blessed are the self-sufficient, blessed are those who can retire early and YOLO, blessed are those who are carefree, and blessed are those who can travel many times a year.
Listen in to how our Lord, King Jesus, defines an enviable or blessed life. Jesus says: “”Blessed are the poor in spirit … blessed are those who mourn… blessed are the meek … blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… blessed are the merciful… blessed are the pure in heart… blessed are the peacemakers… blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”” When Jesus said these words, He was making a radical declaration to the world in His time, and to our modern world: That in His Kingdom, His value is the reverse of the world’s.
As you step into the rush of this Monday, the city is going to propagate to you its version of a blessed life and tell you how to achieve it. But as you go about your day, remember the story of Teresa Hsu and remember that our King of kings has a different valuation system. You might seem like a loser by the world’s standards when you live out the Beatitudes, but you can be certain that yours is the Kingdom of God. Yours is the Kingdom of God.
Reflection:
First, look at your calendar and your worries for the upcoming week. Which “”ladder”” are you currently burning yourself out in trying to achieve the world’s enviable life, and what would it look like to step off it and rest at Jesus’ table today? Second, think about the people you interact with daily—at the food courts, in the offices, the cleaning staff, or a quiet colleague. Who has the society labelled as the “least” that Jesus is inviting you to honor today?
Let us pray:
Jesus, thank You for reversing the order and priority for us today. Forgive us for chasing the world’s definition of a blessed life. Give us strength, courage and wisdom to live out the Beatitude. Use our lives to demonstrate the value of your kingdom in our offices, our schools, and our homes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.