THE BEATITUDES

This stained glass suncatcher is centered on the eight beatitudes. The beatitudes recorded in St. Matthew’s gospel(5: 3-10) were given by Jesus in the sermon on the mount and read as follows: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven – Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land – Blessed are those who morn: for they shall be comforted – Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after Justice: for they shall have their fill – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy – Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God – Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God – Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

The Beatitudes express the meaning and way of discipleship. What the beatitudes mean cannot be expressed in purely theoretical terms; it is proclaimed in the life and suffering, and in the mysterious joy, of the disciple who gives himself ever more completely to following the Lord Jesus. The Beatitudes are what Jesus lived perfectly and hence following – becoming like him in communion means living as he did the beatitudes within the framework of one’s vocation in life.

At the center of the suncatcher is Jesus in the Eucharist. It is in Eucharistic communion with and adoration of Jesus that we are most enabled to live the Beatitudes. The eight yellow circles symbolize the eight Beatitudes of Jesus.