Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends,
The Beatitudes in today’s Gospel remind us that God does not operate in the ways of the world. The world rewards power, wealth and admiration while God rewards those who are poor in spirit, meek and persecuted. When I prayed with this Gospel passage, I was convicted that I had gotten stuck in thinking the way that the world does. That I needed to expand my mind and be open to what God is trying to tell me, even if it doesn’t make sense right away. When we are surrounded by so many voices, from social media to television shows, it’s important to once again immerse ourselves in the Word of the Lord. As we hear in Isaiah 55:8 “For my ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts”. The best way to become familiar with the voice and the will of God is to read Scripture.
Some of the virtues highlighted in today’s Gospel include meekness, purity of heart and peacemakers. All of these stem from a disposition of humility. Are our hearts open or closed? Are they docile or hardened? Are we chasing after these virtues or are we seeking something else? Praying with the beatitudes is a great opportunity to reflect on our desires and the way that we are approaching God. Are we asking for help or simply telling God what we want? Are we praying for others but not asking for our own needs? Are we refusing to acknowledge a difficult truth in our lives and trying to distract ourselves?
When Jesus speaks of persecution, it is an important reminder that living as Christians means that not everyone will agree with us. We are called to speak out against injustice, stand up for the vulnerable and bring light to the darkness. When we do these things, we are not alone. God is with us and affirms in today’s Gospel that these actions will be rewarded. Bearing witness to the love of God is not just a single act but a way of living. There will be moments in our lives where we are called to be heroic and truly do what is difficult. But if we are already cultivating the beatitudes and making those small heroic decisions everyday, the bigger ones will come easier.
In the Gospels, Jesus often says what his disciples do not expect. He challenges and exhorts. He also gives us the grace we need to heed His command and follow His words. Today, may we reflect on how God is calling us to bring peace, purify our hearts and share His light with the world.
Amy Burghardt
Development Manager
