Different country has a different system of education. For one to graduate from High School in Vietnam, one has to pass the High School test including four subjects: Math, Writing, and English are always in these four subjects. The fourth subject is either Geography, History, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. The highest score of each subject is ten points, and the lowest score of course is zero points. To pass High School to take a test to enter College or University, one has to make at least twenty points total. If one does not get enough total of twenty points, one has to study at the twelfth grade again for another year and to take the test again.

I remember the date that I went to see my grades. Many students came. Some came very early. Some came on time, and others came late. I came right on time when they brought out the roster of all the names with the grades on it. I came in and looked for my name. I saw my name with the score of the first subject with only three points in English. The second score was only two points, and that was writing. I was released when I saw the scores on the next two subjects. One was ten points, and the other was nine points. I was happy and released. However, that joy and release didn’t last long. It lasted only ten minutes when I knew that I passed High School with a score of 24/20. After many years of study, I finally graduated High School and was ready for college. Reflecting on this, I had the same feeling when I got my education in America. After some years of study to get this degree and that degree, happiness and joy came on the day that I completed them. However, the joy and happiness of my accomplishments didn’t last long. It quickly brought me back to reality, the reality of my being, a being of Catholics, a follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian. Just as it takes time to study to get this degree or that degree, does it take time to be a Catholic, a follower of Christ, a Christian? Is there a set time to become a Christian? A Catholic? How do people know that you are a Catholic or a Christian?

What does it mean to be a Catholic or a Christian? It means to practice the Eight Beatitudes that are reported in today’s Gospel of Saint Luke. Are they easy or difficult to practice? Perhaps, they are not easy to practice, but that’s what we need to practice to be called Catholics or Christian. Do you practice these Eight Beatitudes? Which one of these eight that you find difficult for you to practice? Why does it difficult with that particular Beatitude than the other Beatitudes for you? Do you need to improve that particular Beatitude to make it perfect or to practice all Eight Beatitudes in which you can never make better in any one of them? Practice makes perfect, so try to practice to make it perfect at least one out of eight. The decision is yours.