Christian Identity Card
The beatitudes as the identity of the Christian
This Christian identity card can be downloaded and filled out with your name, date and place of baptism, as another means to remember who we are called to be.
Each beatitude is manifested into attitudes
They all stand out in the life of Jesus and Christians seek to make them their own. They know that they can do nothing alone, but they count on an effective help which is the grace of God.
The beatitudes appear engraved on the cross of Christ, who said: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24). They are a panorama of growth and maturity, with an essential psychological and spiritual characteristic: getting out of oneself.
The beatitudes integrate the DNA or genetic material of a child of God
They fill the world with meaning in life, joy, comfort and peace. We find them narrated by Saint Matthew and Saint Luke.
Why do the beatitudes cause scandal?
Some have not understood them. They were the main target of Nietzsche’s criticism, who considered them abominable: “What has been the greatest sin on earth until today?” he asked: “Have they not perhaps been the words of the one who said: Woe to those who laugh?”
Delving into the beatitudes, as notes of a Christian identity, avoids the sad conclusion of thinking that “God is dead.” It is always useful to do an-examination or self-test on them, as we saw in another article.
From each beatitude attitudes emerge
They are born from humility, from the humus or clay of our condition, and grow like a tree: the tree of the cross. Let’s look at it from its base to the top:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
To be poor is to preserve an untethered spirit, to rise above the earth and fly. The riches sought in themselves are burdens and weights that make it difficult to get out of oneself and be aware of others.
2. Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted.
Taking up the wood of the cross makes people compassionate: able to understand and share the feelings of others, cry with those who cry, rejoice with the truth.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Be meek with everyone and docile to the will of God. Avoid being haughty or bellicose, transform the humus of our condition into humility.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Righteous, we read on one of the arms of the cross: it is the attitude of giving each one his due, of serving with full hands, of judging people and things with the light of heaven.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
In the center of the cross beats a misericorde heart: it is Christ who cleanses our heart and removes misery from it. With his two arms he welcomes all of humanity and asks us to do the same. And that heart of his rejoices if we do good and suffers if we are hurt by sin.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The second arm of the cross reminds us of purity: a clean heart that knows how to love, essential to see God and discover Him in others.
7. Blessed are the peaceful, for they will be called children of God.
From the top of the cross, we are invited to be peaceful: not to take peace from anyone and sow it around us, throughout the world.
8. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Next to the crown of the cross we read: model. Jesus of Nazarene, King of the Jews (INRI), is the model of every Christian, head of the church. It encourages us to bear witness to the truth to be happy, without being the stars. With him we can be good testimonies of his message, despite our limitations.
The identity card of the beatitudes is kept in the heart
I met a Coptic Christian some time ago. In a conversation we touched on the topic of tattoos, and he showed me his: a small cross tattooed on his neck. When I asked why he carried it, he said that if he was ever forced to renounce his faith to save himself, the cross was there to give him strength and serve as proof. He did not speak in a poetic way. In his country many die for being Christians, and many have a cross tattooed…
The Christian identity is not showy, but from the bottom of the heart it illuminates the entire being and actions of the person. It helps him mature and makes him capable of leading a life far beyond her strength: the supernatural life.
The beatitudes in the gospel of Matthew 5, 1-12:
Mt 5:1-12: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; He sat down and his disciples came to him; and opening his mouth he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peaceful, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they when they revile you, persecute you and, lying, say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven: in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
The beatitudes in the gospel of Luke 6, 20-26:
“And he, lifting up his eyes toward his disciples, began to say: — Blessed are the poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they cast you out, revile you, and banish your name as accursed, because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice on that day and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; for this is how their fathers behaved toward the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your consolation! Woe to you who are now fed up, for you will be hungry! Woe to you who laugh now, for you will moan and cry! Woe when men speak well of you, for this is how their fathers behaved toward false prophets!
Christian ID card: see animated image on YouTube
