The
beatitudes are spiritual teachings Jesus gave during his Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5:3-12) and can be understood as blessings for those who live
according to His message. There are eight beatitudes that describe
qualities of character: "humility," "truthfulness," "meek/restraint,”
“dedication to fairness," “empathy,” “integrity,” “peacemakers,” and
"resilience to criticism."
- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matthew 5:3):
- Officials' quality: Humility and
self-awareness. A good official understands they are not perfect
and need support and training to improve. They are part of a team of
officials, not an individual, and operate under the league's authority
and guidelines.
- "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4):
- Officials' quality: Acknowledging mistakes. Officials
are human and make errors; The ability to acknowledge a mistake, correct
it if possible, and move on is a key aspect of resilience in officiating.
- "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5):
- Officials' quality: Composure under pressure and restraint. Officials
demonstrate meekness by not reacting to verbal abuse from fans, players,
or coaches. They enforce rules with quiet authority rather than an
overbearing or arrogant attitude, allowing the game to proceed with
minimal disruption.
- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6):
- Officials' quality: A dedication to
fairness and correct application of the rules. Officials have a
strong desire to make the correct, fair call, ensuring justice is served
on the field according to the established guidelines. They are neutral
and show no prejudice towards either team.
- "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7):
- Officials' quality: Empathy and appropriate
judgment. While enforcing rules strictly, an official must also
exercise discretion and "people skills" when dealing with
players and coaches. They may issue warnings when appropriate,
demonstrating an understanding of context and human emotion.
- "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8):
- Officials' quality: Integrity and lack of
bias. Purity of heart in officiating translates to impartiality
and an honest approach to every decision. Officials must be driven by an
commitment to the rules, not personal gain or team preference.
- "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children
of God" (Matthew 5:9):
- Officials' quality: Conflict resolution and
maintaining order. Officials act as mediators in a contentious
environment, working to de-escalate conflicts and ensure the game flows
smoothly and safely.
- "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10) and “Blessed are you when others revile you
and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my
account.” (Matthew 5:11)
- Officials' quality: Resilience to criticism. Officials often face intense criticism and are frequently "persecuted" by fans and media for their decisions, even when they are correct. The Beatitude offers the perspective that doing the right thing, despite public backlash, is a worthy endeavor.
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