Choices for Life - The Beatitudes for Daily Living, Kevin Treston 2024
- Michael Furtado
- Aug 26, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 26
The thing about the Beatitudes is that they are so profoundly counter-cultural.
Kevin Treston's selection of the Beatitudes as providing a gateway to exploring the spiritual life has particular relevance in a society obsessed with material matters. Moreover, in a postmodern world in which the boundaries of all things are smudged and deliberately challenged, selecting The Beatitudes as a text for challenging our lifestyles and behaviour has radical relevance, offering, in his own words, an ecumenical charter for moral communal living grounded in the oneness of all creation.
What is meant by this?
Prior to Vatican II, most people's ideas of spirituality were monastic, belonging to the Trappists, Enclosed Carmelites or some other mendicant orders. From the Sixties onwards, youth disgruntled with the Vietnam war and searching for new meaning in life, embraced Eastern practices, dropped out of society, travelled to India and sought various means of turning their/our backs on society and its conventional religious and other practices.
The Beatitudes pursue a different spiritual path, equally at odds with conventional mores of society, especially Western culture with its accent on individualism. Treston shows this by exploring them as a new way of critiquing and challenging conventional wisdom, which, when one comes to think of it, teaches the Gospel of 'Blessed are the Rich', 'Do Harm to Those that Harm You' (the promotion of retaliation and revenge), etc., and which encapsulate everything in our culture that is designed to appeal to the need for instant gratification and escape from commitment.
Imagine a society or culture in which we placed as our priority epithets such as 'Feed the hungry', 'Care for the downtrodden' and 'Do good to those that harm you'?
What would happen in The Ukraine and, come to think of it, the two sides locked into a battle to the death in the Middle East. I commend to you Kevin's selection of the Beatitudes, reproduced in another scriptural text as the Sermon on the Mount, as a new way of living our spirituality, first and foremost without escaping from the world, as the Hippies did seeking escape in drugs and, equally importantly, in offering an alternative vision of the world as we know it as a place in which we can restore the integrity of all Creation through acting for peace and justice.
FAQs: Choices for Life - The Beatitudes for Daily Living
What are the Beatitudes and why do they matter for daily life?
The Beatitudes are a set of blessings from Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 5:3-10) that describe traits of character God honours: humility, mercy, peacemaking, purity, being poor in spirit, and more. According to the Garratt Publishing description, Kevin Treston treats these not as ideals out of reach but as life goals we can aspire to with a gracious God guiding us. (Source: Garratt Publishing) garrattpublishing.com.au They matter because they offer a vision for how to live that resists the usual values of power, pride, and comfort.
How does “Choices for Life” help people live out the Beatitudes practically?
Treston’s book reflects on each of the eight Beatitudes, exploring how each one reveals mystery of who God is and our connection with all living things. (Source: Garratt Publishing) garrattpublishing.com.au This helps readers move from theory to practice by offering insights into behavior, attitudes, and personal responsibility in everyday situations - in relationship, in work, in justice, in peace.
Are the Beatitudes impossible to live out in modern society?
Many people think so, especially with pressures from work, social media, and fast-paced life. But Treston argues that the Beatitudes are not meant to shame but to invite: to stir something alive in us, pointing us toward love, justice, peace. According to reviews, the book is “deceptively simple” yet enriched by a lifetime of teaching, prayer and practical wisdom.
(Source: Garratt Publishing)
What difference does living the Beatitudes make - for individuals and communities?
Living the Beatitudes shapes character. For individuals it can bring greater humility, compassion, integrity, peace. It shifts motives away from self-interest toward love for others. For communities, it fosters justice, reconciliation, unity, care for the marginalized. For example, in “Living Out the Beatitudes in Our Daily Lives” reflections from parish contexts, practising meekness, mercy, peacemaking etc. is shown to transform relationships and social attitudes.
(Source: Our Lady of the Lake Parish reflection)
How can I begin to integrate one of the Beatitudes into my daily life now?
Here are some starter steps:
Choose one Beatitude and commit to one small action each day reflecting it (e.g. merciful words, acts of kindness, seeking peace).
Reflect in journal or prayer: where did I fail? Where did I see God working through me?
Read scripture, stories or teachings that highlight that Beatitude (Treston’s reflections can help), so your mind is renewed.
Practice in relationships: family, friends, strangers. For instance if choosing “peacemakers,” look for ways to promote reconciliation instead of division.
At St Lucia Spirituality we believe the journey is richer when it’s shared. If you’re seeking a place to explore questions, practice mindfulness, or simply belong to an inclusive spiritual community, we invite you to join us. From online discussion groups and meditation gatherings to our growing library of resources, there’s space here for every seeker. Step into the conversation, connect with others, and discover how community can nurture your spiritual growth.
About the Author - John Scoble
John's journey began in the heart of a traditional Roman Catholic family in Sydney, where he was raised with steadfast faith and reverence. Now residing in the serene surroundings of St Lucia, Brisbane, alongside his beloved wife, John finds solace and inspiration in the tranquil rhythms of life. With four adult children and a cherished grandchild also calling Brisbane home, John's family is his anchor, providing love, support, and a sense of belonging.
While spirituality has always been a cornerstone of his life, it was three transformative events in 2012, including a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, that ignited a profound shift in John's spiritual trajectory. Embracing retirement as an opportunity for deeper exploration, John immersed himself in extensive reading and soulful reflection.
Over the course of a decade, this journey of self-discovery has led John to reevaluate and transcend many of his traditional beliefs, embracing instead the timeless wisdom and cosmic perspective inherent in Christianity. Influenced by luminaries such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, and Richard Rohr, John's spiritual evolution has been marked by a deepening resonance with the essential truths of his faith and a profound connection to the divine unfolding within and around him.
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