“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt. 5:1-12)

Jesus’ sermon in today’s gospel is probably his most well-known and likely his least heeded words.  Those who live the virtues humility, mourning, gentleness, peace, mercy Jesus refers to as blessed.  These are the virtues to which we are called.  In Jesus, we have the perfect example of one who lived each one throughout his life, especially when he began to face opposition from religious authorities and ultimately Rome. As in so many ages, we see the great contrast of the world’s values of power, domination, riches, and calls that there is, figuratively speaking, “no more room at the inn.”  Nonetheless, we are to imitate Jesus as we minister within contexts that shout a different set of values.