Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck
Dear friends in Christ,
Simon hadn’t thought about his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Marples, in years. She was always cheerful and often said, “Every cloud has a silver lining, Simon—especially when we trust in God. You just have to look for it.” At the time, Simon dismissed her words as just another cliché. But sitting outside the hospital, anxious about his father’s illness and his own job troubles, he remembered her kindness as a child—how she shared her struggles and her faith that God would provide, even if help came in unexpected ways.
That night, Simon prayed not for a miracle, but for trust—to see the silver lining, whatever it might be. The next day brought no sudden solutions, but he felt a new peace in his heart: his father was awake and smiling, and his boss offered support instead of criticism. Simon realized that God’s promise isn’t always to fix things instantly, but to love us through them—and that grace, even in hardship, is the true blessing. Mrs. Marples’ lesson echoed in his heart: with faith in God’s love, blessings can be found even in the hardest moments, just as Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel through the Beatitudes.
The Beatitudes: God’s Promises for the Humble and Hopeful
Today’s Gospel from Matthew 5:1-12a is the beginning of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, and these opening lines are what we call the Beatitudes. They’re a set of teachings where Jesus flips the script on who is “blessed” or “favored” by God. Instead of the powerful or wealthy, he singles out the poor in spirit, the meek, the mourning, the merciful, and others who don’t fit the world’s idea of success.
Jesus calls “blessed” the people who are usually seen as weak or unfortunate—the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, the persecuted. He’s saying that God’s favor isn’t about wealth, comfort, or reputation. It’s about a deeper, spiritual reality. Each Beatitude pairs a present struggle or quality with a future promise from God. The poor in spirit are promised the kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn will be comforted. The merciful will receive mercy. These promises aren’t always about immediate, earthly rewards, but they’re guarantees that God sees, values, and will ultimately care for those who trust Him.
To live out these qualities—to be meek, to hunger for righteousness, to be merciful or persecuted for what’s right—requires deep trust in God. You have to believe that God’s promises are real, even when the world seems to be telling you the opposite.
The Beatitudes aren’t just a list of “good Christian behaviors.” They’re a portrait of the kind of people who rely on God rather than themselves. Each blessing is paired with a promise that only makes sense if you really believe God is active and faithful.
Consider the poor in spirit: these are people who know they need God. They don’t pretend to have it all together. Jesus says that’s exactly the posture that opens you up to God’s kingdom—you’re empty enough to receive what God wants to give.
For those who mourn, sorrow and loss aren’t signs that God’s forgotten us. In fact, Jesus promises comfort—both now through His presence, and fully in eternity.
The meek? Meekness is the opposite of self-assertion. It’s trusting that you don’t have to grab power or control, because God sees you and will give you what you need.
Faith in the Hard Times: God’s Blessings for Those Who Trust
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: if you’re longing for things to be right—in your own life or in the world—God promises that longing won’t go unfulfilled. He will satisfy that deepest hunger.
And for those persecuted for righteousness’ sake: when you trust Jesus and live out your faith, you may get pushback. Jesus reassures us that God sees our struggles, and the reward isn’t just in this life, but in heaven.
Jesus is teaching that real blessing comes from God, not from the world. And the way to receive those blessings is through faith and trust—even (and especially) when life is hard or unfair. The Beatitudes are God’s promise that if you trust Him, He will provide—maybe not always in the way you expect, but always in the way you most need.
Dominican theologian Servais Pinckaers wrote: “Morality is a search for happiness.” Pinckaers emphasizes that the Beatitudes are not just ideals but concrete promises from God of the happiness found when we trust fully in His love and follow Christ’s way, especially when it seems hard or countercultural.
Living the Beatitudes: Trusting God’s Way in Daily Life
So how can we as Christians learn to practice the Beatitudes in our lives? The Beatitudes call us to trust God’s way, not the world’s, by practicing humility, mercy, and a hunger for what’s right—even when it’s difficult. We can live them out by treating others with compassion, seeking peace, and standing up for truth, all while relying on God’s strength. When we face hardship or feel overlooked, remembering Jesus’ promises helps us persevere with hope. Living the Beatitudes is about letting God reshape our hearts and finding true blessing in His love.
Friends, if you want to grow in trust and faith, the Beatitudes are a roadmap. Like Simon searching for the silver lining in his darkest moments, we are invited to look for God’s blessings even when life feels uncertain. The Beatitudes remind us that God always has His eye on those who turn to Him, and He never forgets His promises. Blessed are those who trust Him—they will not be disappointed.
About Our Guest Blogger
Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.
I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.
My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.
