Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Times

(2/16/2025) Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17,20-26

 

“Blessed Are You Poor – Yours Is the Kingdom of God”

 

Rejoice and be glad;

your reward will be great in heaven.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo Alban Asuncion

     In the old cowboy films set in the Wild West, it was the sheriff's job to catch the outlaw. Posters were printed depicting the wanted man and hung in saloons, usually with the caption: “Wanted Dead or Alive” and offering a reward. Modern police departments have developed a more sophisticated version of this. Where the criminal is unknown, they create what is called an identikit picture, from descriptions they get from interviewing eyewitnesses. A likeness is built up from the size of the mouth, nose and chin, the height of the forehead, the spacing between the eyes etc. The resulting portrait surprisingly often leads to the apprehension of the criminal.      

     It would be interesting to attempt to produce an identikit, not of the physical traits but of the personality make-up (or moral traits) of certain types. Let’s pick the obvious one, the one we are most familiar with, the pop-idol, media -mogul, star-athlete, leading politician, T.V. Personality, the one everybody is talking about. Mr. Success himself. The one we all yearn to be, model ourselves on, and encourage our children to be. The new secular saint.        

     He or she must be highly motivated. Money is the great driving force. Money means power. As Cardinal Newman put it: “All bow down before wealth. Wealth is that to which in the multitude of men pay an instinctive image.” To get it and the good life that comes with it, he or she must be aggressive, rough riding subordinates, trampling in underlings, ruthless with incompetent, unscrupulous with competitors. Needless to say, ambivalence towards the law and indifference to morality are prerequisites. The rash of corruption scandals presently making the headlines, not only in Italy but right across the globe, leave little doubt about that. Worldly success is rarely achieved with clean hands. Throw in a few other features, such as pride, avarice, covetousness, anger, and lust, and our portrait is complete.        

     No modern image – maker or star creator would look twice at someone whose outstanding qualities were humility, compassion, poverty, self-denial and selfless dedication to the service of others. Yet, these as the Sermon on the Mount outlines for us in this weekend's gospel, form the identikit of Christians.            

     The beatitudes we are promised, confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement -however beneficial it may be – such as science, technology or art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and all love.

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Meditation: When you encounter misfortune, grief, or tragic loss, how do you respond? With fear or faith? With passive resignation or with patient hope and trust in God? We know from experience that no one can escape all of the inevitable trials of life - pain, suffering, sickness, and death. When Jesus began to teach his disciples he gave them a "way of happiness" that transcends every difficulty and trouble that can weigh us down with grief and despair. Jesus began his sermon on the mount by addressing the issue of where true happiness can be found. The word beatitude literally means happiness or blessedness. Jesus' way of happiness, however, demands a transformation from within - a conversion of heart and mind which can only come about through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit.

True happiness can only be fulfilled in God
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and oppression.

The beatitudes strengthen us in virtue and excellence
Ambrose (339-397 A.D), an early church father and bishop of Milan, links the beatitudes with the four cardinal virtues which strengthen us in living a life of moral excellence. He writes: "Let us see how St. Luke encompassed the eight blessings in the four. We know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. One who is poor in spirit is not greedy. One who weeps is not proud but is submissive and tranquil. One who mourns is humble. One who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us. One who is merciful gives away his own goods. One who bestows his own goods does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. These virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that one who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the saints. Where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds... Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice has compassion, patience has peace, and endurance has gentleness." (EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.62-63, 68).

No one can live without joy
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No person can live without joy. That is why someone deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the joy and happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?

Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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