Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 359
Lectionary: 359
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab:
“As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve,
during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.”
The LORD then said to Elijah:
“Leave here, go east
and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
You shall drink of the stream,
and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”
So he left and did as the LORD had commanded.
He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the stream.
“As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve,
during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.”
The LORD then said to Elijah:
“Leave here, go east
and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
You shall drink of the stream,
and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.”
So he left and did as the LORD had commanded.
He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.
Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the stream.
Responsorial Psalm PS 121:1BC-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (see 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven
and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Gospel MT
5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Meditation: "Blest
are the poor in spirit"
What is the good life which God intends for us?
And how is it related with the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is it not our
desire and longing for true happiness, which is none other than the
complete good, the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired? Jesus
addresses this question in his sermon on the mount. The heart of Jesus' message
is that we can live a very happy life. The call to holiness, to be saints who
joyfully pursue God's will for their lives, can be found in these eight
beatitudes. Jesus' beatitudes sum up our calling or vocation - to live a life
of the beatitudes. The word beatitude literally means
"happiness" or "blessedness".
What is the significance of Jesus' beatitudes,
and why are they so central to his teaching? The beatitudes respond to the
natural desire for happiness that God has placed in every heart. They teach us
the final end to which God calls us, namely the coming of God's kingdom (Matthew 4:17), the vision of God (Matthew 5:8; 1 John 2;1), entering into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21-23) and into his rest (Hebrews 4:7-11).
Jesus' beatitudes also confront us with decisive
choices concerning the life we pursue here on earth and the use we make of the
goods he puts at our disposal. God alone satisfies. Teresa of Avila's
(1515-1582) prayer book contained a bookmark which she wrote: "Let
nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; All things pass: God never
changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God lacks nothing,
God alone suffices." Is God enough for you? God offers us the
greatest good possible - abundant life in Jesus Christ (John 10:10) and the
promise of unending joy and happiness with God. Do you seek the highest
good, the total good, which is above all else?
The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign
of contradiction to the world's understanding of happiness and joy. How can one
possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? Poverty
of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God 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 spiritual oppression. 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 (1225-1274) said: "No one can live
without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal
pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting
for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and
show me the way that leads to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you
above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."
 Blessed Are You 2014-06-09 |
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Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after
he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they
will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed
are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and
utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the
prophets who were before you."
Introductory Prayer: Father of
love, source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you
lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died
for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love
for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit,
sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire
from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence
within me.
Petition: Jesus,
help me to love your beatitudes and adopt them as my standard for life.
1. A Mountain as a Cathedra: Let’s imagine ourselves that memorable day, sitting with the
multitudes on a sunny mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is
preaching to the crowd from below, using the steep incline as a natural
amphitheater. The soft breeze coming off the water and running up the
hillside seems to carry his gentle voice to all of the hundreds of anxious
listeners. We are impressed that the Teacher, despite the fact that he is
authoritatively delivering a strong message, seems so happy and full of
peace. He exudes an interior freedom that allows him to devote himself
entirely to serving God and others. The world seems to have no hold on him.
Listening to Jesus we are drawn to exclaim, “This man knows what he is
talking about." He knows what heaven is like. He knows firsthand that
heavenly blessedness far outstrips any worldly happiness I could imagine.”
2. Going Against the Current: It could feel like we have just heard the most powerful sermon
ever delivered, and yet it will take us a while to digest it all. It was
absolutely counter-cultural, even shocking. And yet, as challenging as it
was, it all seemed to ring true in our hearts. Jesus boldly proposed to us in
the Sermon on the Mount a fresh, new roadmap to true happiness and
blessedness. All of us have a deep desire to be happy and live in peace, and
we had thought before that we had it all figured out. But Jesus’ ways are the
very opposite of the ways of the world. He scorns all false beatitudes which
make happiness depend on self-expression, license, having a good time, or an
attitude of “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you shall die.” He knows
that the results of these false beatitudes are mental disorders, unhappiness,
false hopes, fears and anxieties.
3. Contrasting Solutions: As the keys to success and happiness, the world often
proposes to us one or more of the seven deadly sins. We hear the catchwords:
“security,” “revenge,” “laughter,” “popularity,” “getting even,” “sex,” “armed
might,” and “comfort.” Jesus, without batting an eyelash, just turned all of
these shallow ideals on their head, calling them all a dead end. He bravely
challenged the spirit of the world — accepting the fact that such a move
would make him very unpopular with some, and even seal his fate at Calvary.
In place of the worldly pleasure route, he offered us a better way, the only
way to true blessedness, as expressed in the Beatitudes, one that he himself
would walk until the day he died for us. Perhaps these words ring true in my
heart…, but am I prepared to cut the strings that keep me running after the
false beatitudes?
Conversation with Christ: Dear
Lord Jesus, you dwell in heaven with all your blessed ones. You have called
me to be holy. You have called me to be a saint, blessed and happy. Enlighten
my mind today to know where true happiness lies. Grant that I may desire only
this true happiness and reject all deceiving imitations that the world throws
my way.
Resolution: I will get myself back on track to true happiness by getting
to the sacrament of confession this week.
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ORDINARY TIME
Ordinary Time is called "ordinary" because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English wordorder. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in penance (as in Advent and Lent), but in watchfulness and expectation of the Second Coming of Christ. There are two times we are in Ordinary Time. There are 28 weeks of Ordinary Time after Easter and 5 weeks of Ordinary Time after Christmas. However, this varies depending upon when Easter falls in a particular year. The actual number of weeks of Ordinary Time in any given year can total 33 or 34.
TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, MONDAY, JUNE 9, MATTHEW 5:1-12
(1 Kings 17:1-6; Psalm 121)
KEY VERSE: "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven" (v 12).
READING: Scholars note that there are five discourses, or sermons, given by Jesus in Matthew's gospel, which may parallel the five books of the Torah. The Sermon on the Mount is the first sermon (Matt 5-7). Matthew depicts Jesus as the authoritative teacher who, like Moses, went up a mountain to proclaim God’s law. In the Beatitudes (vs. 1-12), Jesus overturned human expectations of those who were presumed to be blessed – the rich and powerful. In the time of Christ, blessings of health and material prosperity were seen as rewards for one's righteousness, whereas, affliction was considered to be punishment for sin. Jesus reversed this concept and announced that true happiness was not found in wealth and power. The anawim, the poor and the outcast, exemplified the attitude of trust and humility needed to enter God's reign. These poor lacked the basic necessities of life; they had no prestige or reputation to uphold. Because they were aware that they had nothing, they trusted God to provide for their needs. Jesus promised spiritual reward for all who are compassionate, just, and who humbly sought to do God's will despite persecution (see Micah 6:8).
REFLECTING: Do I share my material blessings from God with those in need?
PRAYING: Holy Spirit, teach me to give generously and trust God for all my needs.
Optional Memorial of Ephrem, deacon and
doctor of the Church
Ephrem the Syrian was born sometime around the year 306 in Nibisis, a Syrian town located in modern-day Turkey. The Church was suffering under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Ephrem may have been ordained a deacon at the age of 18. Since one of the chief activities of a deacon is the preaching of the Gospel, Ephrem began to write deeply theological hymns and biblical commentaries. In his lifetime, he may have written as many as three million lines, and 400 of his hymns still survive. His hymnography earned him the title "Harp of the Spirit." Fleeing westward from the Persians, who were ravaging Turkey, Ephrem settled in Edessa, in southern Turkey, in 363. There, he continued to write hymns, especially defending the teaching of the Council of Nicea against the Arian heretics. He died tending plague victims in 373. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1920.
"Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened and serve you with renewed purity. Sunrise marks the hour for men to begin their toil, but in our souls, Lord, prepare a dwelling for the day that will never end."Sermon of St. Ephrem
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Get Involved
Next time you begin complaining about why your parish,
neighborhood, or community isn’t doing something about a problem, pray for
guidance on how you can become part of the solution.
Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth
What really matters is often the simplest of concepts.We tend to make life quite complicated. The Beatitudes remind us that often the simplest things are the most deeply profound—and that often they are the hardest but most rewarding to live. Through Jesus’ words, God promises blessing and happiness to those who live faithful and faith-filled lives. Living the simple truths of the Beatitudes requires faith and trust in God. The Old Testament is filled with stories of people who trusted God by doing the simple but often frightening thing. Elijah trusted God, and in the midst of famine he was fed and his thirst was quenched. Trusting in God’s faithfulness even in difficult situations is not easy, but the rewards are eternal.
June
9
St. Ephrem
(306?-373)
St. Ephrem
(306?-373)
Poet, teacher, orator and defender of the faith, Ephrem is the
only Syrian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He took upon himself the
special task of opposing the many false doctrines rampant at his time, always
remaining a true and forceful defender of the Catholic Church.
Born in
Nisibis, Mesopotamia, he was baptized as a young man and became famous as a
teacher in his native city. When the Christian emperor had to cede Nisibis to
the Persians, Ephrem, along with many Christians, fled as a refugee to Edessa.
He is credited with attracting great glory to the biblical school there. He was
ordained a deacon but declined becoming a priest (and was said to have avoided
episcopal consecration by feigning madness!).
He had a
prolific pen, and his writings best illumine his holiness. Although he was not
a man of great scholarship, his works reflect deep insight and knowledge of the
Scriptures. In writing about the mysteries of humanity’s redemption, Ephrem reveals
a realistic and humanly sympathetic spirit and a great devotion to the humanity
of Jesus. It is said that his poetic account of the Last Judgment inspired
Dante.
It is
surprising to read that he wrote hymns against the heretics of his day. He
would take the popular songs of the heretical groups and, using their melodies,
compose beautiful hymns embodying orthodox doctrine. Ephrem became one of the
first to introduce song into the Church’s public worship as a means of
instruction for the faithful. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of
the Holy Spirit.”
He
preferred a simple, austere life, living in a small cave overlooking the city
of Edessa. It was here he died around 373.
Comment:
Many Catholics still find singing in church a problem, probably because of the rather individualistic piety that they inherited. Yet singing has been a tradition of both the Old and the New Testament. It is an excellent way of expressing and creating a community spirit of unity as well as joy. Ephrem's hymns, an ancient historian testifies, "lent luster to the Christian assemblies." We need some modern Ephrems—and cooperating singers—to do the same for our Christian assemblies today.
Many Catholics still find singing in church a problem, probably because of the rather individualistic piety that they inherited. Yet singing has been a tradition of both the Old and the New Testament. It is an excellent way of expressing and creating a community spirit of unity as well as joy. Ephrem's hymns, an ancient historian testifies, "lent luster to the Christian assemblies." We need some modern Ephrems—and cooperating singers—to do the same for our Christian assemblies today.
Quote:
Lay me not with sweet spices,
For this honor avails me not,
Nor yet use incense and perfumes,
For the honor befits me not.
Burn yet the incense in the holy place;
As for me, escort me only with your prayers,
Give ye your incense to God,
And over me send up hymns.
Instead of perfumes and spices,
Be mindful of me in your intercessions.
(From The Testament of St. Ephrem)
Lay me not with sweet spices,
For this honor avails me not,
Nor yet use incense and perfumes,
For the honor befits me not.
Burn yet the incense in the holy place;
As for me, escort me only with your prayers,
Give ye your incense to God,
And over me send up hymns.
Instead of perfumes and spices,
Be mindful of me in your intercessions.
(From The Testament of St. Ephrem)
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 5,1-12
Lectio:
Monday, June 9, 2014
1)
OPENING PRAYER
God of wisdom and love,
source of all good,
send your Spirit to teach us your truth
and guide our actions
in your way of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
source of all good,
send your Spirit to teach us your truth
and guide our actions
in your way of peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - MATTHEW 5,1-12
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went onto the mountain. And when he was
seated his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
3)
REFLECTION
• From today, beginning of the 10th week of Ordinary Time, up to
the end of the 21st Week of Ordinary time, the daily Gospels are taken from the
Gospel of Matthew. Starting from the beginning of the 22nd week
of Ordinary Time, up to the end of the Liturgical Year, the Gospels are taken
from the Gospel of Luke.
• In Matthew’s Gospel written for the communities of the
converted Jews of Galilee and Syria, Jesus is presented as the New Moses, the
new legislator. In the Old Testament the Law of Moses was codified in five
books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Imitating the
ancient model, Matthew presents the New Law in five great discourses spread
over in the Gospel: a) the Sermon on the Mountain (Mt 5,1 to 7,29); b) the
Discourse on the Mission (Mt 10,1-42); c) The Discourse of the Parables (Mt
13,1-52); d) The Discourse of the Community (Mt 18,1-35); e) The Discourse of
the Future of the Kingdom (Mt 24,1 a 25,46). The narrative parts, which have
been put in among the five Discourses, describe the practice of Jesus and show
how He observed the New Law and incarnated it in his life.
• Matthew 5, 1-2: The solemn announcement of the New
Law. In agreement with the context of the Gospel of Matthew, in the
moment when Jesus pronounces the Discourse on the Mountain, there were only
four disciples with him (cf. Mt 4, 18-22). Few people. But an immense multitude
was behind him (Mt 4, 25). In the Old Testament, Moses went up to Mount Sinai
to receive the Law of God. As it happened to Moses, Jesus went up to the
Mountain, and seeing the crowd, he proclaimed the New Law. The solemn way in
which Matthew introduces the proclamation of the New Law is significant: “Seeing
the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples
came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed
are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of Heaven is theirs”. The eight
Beatitudes open in a solemn way the “Discourse on the Mountain” – the sermon on
the Mountain. In them Jesus defines who can be considered blessed, who can
enter into the Kingdom. There are eight categories of persons, eight entrance
doors to the Kingdom, for the community. There are no other entrances! Anyone
who wants to enter into the Kingdom should identify himself with at least one
of these eight categories.
• Matthew 5, 3: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Jesus
acknowledges the richness and the value of the poor (Mt 11, 25-26). He defines
his own mission in these words: “to proclaim the Good News to the poor” (Lk 4,
18). He himself lives poorly. He possesses nothing for himself, not even a
stone where to rest his head (Mt 88, 20). And to anyone who wants to follow
him, he orders to choose: God or money! (Mt 6, 24). In Luke’s Gospel it is
said: “Blessed are you who are poor!” (Lk 6,20). But who is poor in
spirit? It is the poor person who has the samespirit that
animated Jesus. It is not the rich person, neither the poor person who has the
mentality of a rich person. But rather it is the poor person who acts as Jesus,
he thinks of the poor and recognizes the value in him. It is the poor person
who says: “I think that the world will be better when the little one who
suffers thinks of the least.
1. Blessed the poor in spirit => for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven
2. Blessed the meek => they shall have the earth as inheritance
3. Blessed those who mourn => they will be consoled
4. Blessed those who hunger and thirst for justice => they shall have their fill
5. Blessed are the merciful => they shall have mercy shown them
6. Blessed are the pure in heart => they shall see God
7. Blessed are the peacemakers => they shall be recognized children of God
8. Blessed those persecuted in the cause of justice => theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed the meek => they shall have the earth as inheritance
3. Blessed those who mourn => they will be consoled
4. Blessed those who hunger and thirst for justice => they shall have their fill
5. Blessed are the merciful => they shall have mercy shown them
6. Blessed are the pure in heart => they shall see God
7. Blessed are the peacemakers => they shall be recognized children of God
8. Blessed those persecuted in the cause of justice => theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Matthew 5, 4-9: The new project of life. Every
time that in the Bible they try to renew the Covenant, they begin by
re-establishing the rights of the poor and of the excluded. Without this, the
Covenant cannot be renewed! This is the way the Prophets did, this is how Jesus
did. In the Beatitudes, he announces the new Project of God which accepts the
poor and the excluded. It denounces the system which excludes the poor and
which persecutes those who fight for justice. The first category of the “poor
in spirit” and the last category of those “persecuted for the cause
of justice” receive the same promise of the Kingdom of Heaven. And
they receive it beginning now, in the present, because Jesus says: “theirs is the
Kingdom!” The Kingdom is already present in their life. Between the first and
the last category, there are six others categories which receive the promise of
the Kingdom. In them there is the new project of life which wants to
reconstruct life totally through a new type of relationship: with material
goods(the first two); with persons among themselves (2nd two);
with God (3rd two). The Christian community
should be an example of this Kingdom, a place where the Kingdom begins ands
takes shape, form beginning now.
• The three duos: First one: the meek
and those who mourn: the meek are those poor of whom Psalm
37 speaks. They have been deprived of their land and they will inherit it again
(Ps 37, 11; cf. Ps 37.22.29.34). Those who mourn are those who weep in the face
of injustices in the world and in people (cf. Ps 119,136; Ez 9,4; Tb 13,16; 2 P
2,7). These two Beatitudes want to reconstruct the relationship with material
goods: the possession of the land and of the reconciled world.
Second duo: those who hunger and thirst
for justice and the merciful: Those who are hungry and thirsty
for justice are those who desire to renew human living together, in
such a way that once again it may be according to the demands of justice. The merciful are
those who feel in their heart the misery of others because they want to
eliminate the inequality between brothers and sisters. These two Beatitudes
want to reconstruct the relationship among persons through the practice of
justice and solidarity.
Third duo: The pure in heart and the peacemakers: The pure
in heart are those who have a contemplative look which allows them to
perceive the presence of God in everything. Those who promote peace,
the peacemakers, will be called children of God, because they make an
effort so that a new experience of God can penetrate in everything and can
integrate all things. These two Beatitudes want to build up the relationship
with God: to see the presence of God which acts in everything, and be called
son and daughter of God.
• Matthew 5, 10-12: The persecuted for the cause of justice
and of the Gospel.The Beatitudes say exactly the contrary of what society
in which we live says. In fact, in society, those who are persecuted for the
cause of justice are considered as unhappy, wretched persons. The poor is
unhappy. Blessed is the one who has money and can go to the Supermarket and
spend as he wishes. Blessed is the one who is hungry for power. The unhappy and
wretched are the poor, those who weep! In television, the novels diffuse this
myth of the happy and fulfilled person. And without being aware, the novels
become the model of life for many of us. Is there still place in our society
for these words of Jesus: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the cause
of justice and of the Gospel? Blessed are the poor! Blessed are those who
weep!”? And according to me, being a Christian, in fact, who is blessed?
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• We all want to be happy. All of us! But are we truly happy?
Why yes? Why no? How can we understand that a person can be poor and happy at
the same time?
• In which moments of your life have you felt truly happy? Was
it a happiness like the one proclaimed by Jesus in the Beatitudes, or was it of
another type?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
where is my help to come from?
My help comes from Yahweh
who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121,1-2)
where is my help to come from?
My help comes from Yahweh
who made heaven and earth. (Ps 121,1-2)
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