Something is lost, But now is found

One day, explaining to my freshman Religion Class the beautiful and much beloved eight  beatitudes. And how all eight  all begin with “blessed,” one bright and alert young man shouted: “I found a lost one!”

Then in a triumphal voice , he read for all to hear: “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” Then grinning from ear to ear, he sat down.

My young Scripture scholar didn’t realize that what he found were  Jesus’ words to a doubting apostle, Thomas.  And when this happened Jesus was far from the mountain ,  where he spoke  the “eight” beatitudes,.  At that time Jesus may have thought eight was enough.

No indeed , thought my eager freshman, he had found a  lost one,  and he wanted full credit for  it.  He was standing his ground .

In a sense , if we had an opportunity to ask  Jesus, he may surprise us and agree with this perceptive freshman. He might say “ Don’t we, all in someway, when seeking Him in our everyday lives often doubt that He is even there?  Don’t we want better or greater certitude like reaching out when we are fearful. How about touching his cloak or having the pleasure of seeing His face in a crisis just to be sure he is around?

Yet Jesus says in regards to this ‘lost” beatitude that he wants His disciples to be faithful, no matter what: “Blessed are those who

have not seen, and yet believe.”

Perhaps this freshman is wise beyond his years.  We should not lose this beatitude, but keep it very near the other eight for it still has meaning we can use.

St. Francis de Sales supports this “lost beatitude” when he writes:

Although we may not see the next step of our journey, we remain always on the path of faith for God is always there.