Videns Jesus turbas ascendit in montem: et reliqua.
The holy gospel, that has just now been read before you, accords greatly
with this festival, for it sets forth in order the eight beatitudes, which
have brought the holy to heavenly honours.
Matthew wrote in this day's gospel, that Jesus at a certain time "saw a
great multitude following him; then he went up on a mount. When he sat his
disciples approached him, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, thus
saying, Blessed are the spiritual poor," etc.
The wise Augustine expounded this gospel, and said, that the mount which
Jesus ascended betokens the high commandments of true Righteousness: the
less commandments were appointed for the Jewish folk. One God,
nevertheless, appointed, through his holy prophets, the less commandments
to the Jewish nation, which was yet bound by fear; and he appointed,
through his own Son, the greater commandments for the christian folk, whom
he with true love came to redeem. He taught sitting: that belongs to the
dignity of teachership. His disciples approached him, that they might be
nearer bodily, who with mind approached to his commandments. Jesus opened
his mouth. Verily he opened his mouth to the evangelic lore, who in the old
law was wont to open the mouths of the prophets. Yet the opening of his
mouth betokens the deep speech which he then drew forth. He said, "Blessed
are the spiritual poor, for of them is the kingdom of heaven." Who are the
spiritual poor but the humble, who have awe of God, and have no {551}
arrogance? Awe of God is the beginning of wisdom, and pride is the
beginning of every sin. Many are poor through indigence, and not in their
spirit, because they desire to have much. There are also other poor, not
through indigence but in spirit, because they are, according to the
apostolic saying, "As having nought and possessing all things." In this way
Abraham was poor, and Jacob, and David, who, raised on his throne, showed
himself poor in spirit, thus saying, "I truly am poor and needy." The proud
rich are not needy through indigence nor in spirit, for they are enriched
with possessions and swelled up in mind. Poor through indigence and in
spirit are those perfect monks, who for God so completely forsake all
things, that they will not have their own bodies in their power, but live
by direction of their ghostly teacher; and therefore as much as they here
for God continue in indigence, so much will they be hereafter enriched in
the glory to come.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land." They are meek and
gentle, who withstand not the evil, but with their goodness overcome the
evil: they shall have the land of which the psalmist spake, "Lord, thou art
my hope: be my portion in the earth of the living." The earth of the living
is the stability of the eternal country, in which the soul rests as the
body does on earth. That country is the rest and life of the chosen saints.
"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." They are not
blessed who mourn for calamities or losses of transitory comforts; but they
are blessed who bewail their sins, for the Holy Ghost will comfort them,
who grants forgiveness of all sins, who is called Paraclete, that is
Comforter, because he comforts the hearts of the penitent by his grace.
"Blessed are they who are hungry and thirsty after righteousness, for they
shall be filled." He is hungry and thirsty {553} after righteousness who
joyfully hears God's commandments and more joyfully by works fulfils them:
he will then be filled with the meat of which the Lord spake, "My meat is,
that I work my Father's will, that is righteousness." Then may he say with
the psalmist, "Lord, I will appear with righteousness in thy sight, and I
shall be filled, then will thy glory be manifested."
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall get mercy." Blessed are they who
help miserable men through mercy, for they shall be so rewarded that they
themselves shall be redeemed from misery.
"Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God himself." Foolish
are they who desire to see God with fleshly eyes, when he will be seen with
the heart; but it is to be cleansed from sins, that it may see God. So as
earthly light cannot be seen but with clean eyes, so also God cannot be
seen but with a clean heart.
"Blessed are the peaceful, for they shall be called children of God." In
peace there is perfectness where nothing thwarts: therefore are the
peaceful children of God, because nothing in them is adverse to God.
Peaceful are they in themselves, who order all the perturbations of their
mind with reason, and govern their fleshly desires so that they are
themselves God's kingdom. This is the peace which is given on earth to
those men who are of good will. God our Father is peaceful; verily
therefore it befitteth the children to imitate their Father.
"Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven." Many are they who suffer persecution for divers
causes, so as murderers do, and robbers and all criminals; but to them
persecution leads to no beatitude; but the persecution only which is
suffered for righteousness leads to everlasting beatitude. The persecution
of perverse men is not to be dreaded, but rather {555} to be patiently
borne, as the Lord said to his disciples, "Fear not those who slay your
body, for they cannot slay your soul, but dread God, who can fordo both
soul and body in hell-torment." Yet should we not irritate the perverse to
persecute us, but rather, if they be provoked, still them with
righteousness. But if they will not cease from persecution, better will it
be for us to suffer persecution than to forsake the right.
Eight beatitudes are set forth in this gospel; but there is yet one
sentence remaining, which seems as though it were the ninth step, but it
truly belongs to the eighth beatitude, for they both speak of persecution
for righteousness and for Christ. The eight beatitudes belong to all
believing men, and the last sentence, though it was particularly said to
the apostles, belongs also to all members of Christ, for it is not the
ninth, but follows the eighth beatitude, as we before said. Jesus said,
"Blessed are ye when men curse you, and persecute you, and lying speak
every evil against you for me." He will be blessed and happy who for Christ
suffers malediction and insults from false hypocrites, because false
malediction becomes a blessed benediction to the righteous.
"Rejoice and be glad, for your meed is manifold in heaven." It befits the
faithful to glory in tribulations, for tribulation works patience, and
patience trial, and trial hope. But hope is never confounded, because the
love of God is poured into our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to
us. Of this spake the apostle James, "O ye my brothers, hope for yourselves
every bliss, when ye are in divers temptations, for the trial of your faith
is much more precious than gold which has been tried by fire." Again, holy
writ says, "Vessels of clay are tried in a furnace, and righteous men in
the affliction of their temptation." Of these said Jesus also {557} in
another place to his disciples, "If this world hate you, know ye that it
hated me before you; and if they persecuted me, then will they also
persecute you." Christ himself was slain by impious men, and so also his
disciples and martyrs; and all those who desire to live religiously in the
faithful church shall suffer persecution, either from the invisible devil
or from visible impious limbs of the devil: but these transitory
persecutions or tribulations we should with joy undergo for Christ's name,
because he has thus promised to all the patient, "Exult and rejoice, behold
your meed is manifold in heaven."
We might more elaborately expound this holy text, according to the
interpretation of Augustine, but we doubt whether ye can accurately judge
of greater deepness therein; but let us with inward heart pray to the
Almighty Ruler, who has gladdened us to-day with the manifold celebration
of all his saints, that he grant us abundance of his mercy through their
manifold intercessions, so that we ever in their sight may rejoice with
them, as we now with transitory service honour them.
Be glory and praise to Jesus Christ, who is the beginning and end, Creator
and Redeemer of all saints, with Father and with Holy Ghost, ever to
eternity. Amen.
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