Listen

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:

“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.”

Matthew 5:1–6

Think

When I was sixteen, I had a crush on a boy. I was a youth leader. Even though I was the same age as the kids I was leading, I felt like I had to keep a lot of my feelings to myself. The boy showed interest, and I got my hopes up. Until one day I saw him approaching another girl. It hurt a lot, and I kept much of that disappointment to myself for quite some time.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus calls those who suffer “blessed” because they will be comforted. He also speaks of those who acknowledge their need, live with humility, and deeply desire justice. Jesus is not saying that suffering is pleasant. He is proclaiming that pain and need do not leave us outside of God’s care. Years later, I was able to look back on that story from a different perspective. The pain passed. My life went on. And I understood that what I longed for at age sixteen did not define my future.

What hurts today doesn’t tell your whole story.

Raquel López Oliver

Question to Ponder:

Is there a disappointment you need to stop carrying around in silence and share with someone you trust?

Pray

God, be with me in the things that hurt me today and that I still don’t understand. Give me people I can trust to talk to and the hope to keep moving forward. Amen.

Go

Now go back to your day. Look closely. Listen intently. Show your love through your actions. Follow Jesus in your daily life, remembering that you are not alone and that your life, too, can help someone else find their way.