“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Sunday, 29th January 2017.
Fourth Week in the Ordinary Time
Zep 2: 3; 3: 12-13;
Ps 145: 6-10;
1Cor 1: 26-31;
Mt 5: 1-12.
THE HAPPY LIFE!
All of us want to be happy, and we strive for this end in different ways. The readings of the day offer to us the means to have a happy life. However it is surely contrary to our thinking. We consider being poor, meek and persecuted does not lead us to a happy life rather in boasting of our greatness, success, productive life, pride leads us to happy living.
In the first reading we hear that living poor in spirit which means living humbly will give us the happy life. In the second reading we hear St. Paul highlighting God’s choices that are contrary to the choices that we human beings make. God chooses who are less valued in the society and weakest in the eyes of the world so as to reduce the proud to nothing. We have in Gospel the inaugural address of Jesus, as he offers us the means to a happy life. Jesus through the beatitudes offers the true way to live a happy life. They lead us to have first, a relationship with God and then it is God who will bless us with a blessed and happy life. They make it clear that it is not human condition that makes one happy rather it is God and our attitude towards life.
In the readings since Christmas, Jesus has been revealed as the new royal son of David and Son of God. As Moses led Israel from Egypt through the sea to give them God's law on Mount Sinai, Jesus too has passed through the waters in baptism. Now, in today's Gospel, He goes to the mountain to proclaim a new law—the law of His Kingdom. The Beatitudes mark the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham—that through his descendants all the nations of the world would receive God's blessings (see Genesis 12:3; 22:18).
The Beatitudes reveal the divine path and purpose for our lives. All our striving should be for these virtues—to be poor in spirit; meek and clean of heart; merciful and makers of peace; seekers of the righteousness that comes from living by the law of Kingdom. The path the Lord sets before us today is one of trials and persecution. But He promises comfort in our mourning and a great reward.
The beatitudes are in unique order, beginning from the first beatitude that is poverty in spirit. It is being humble in spirit and to allowing the love of God to penetrate into our lives. For humility of spirit will make us face all distress, humiliation, persecutions and struggle in our life. Ultimately we will experience the sense of happiness and satisfaction. God has chosen to bless the weak and lowly, those foolish and despised in the eyes of the world, Paul says in today's Reading. The poor in spirit are those who know that nothing they do can merit God's mercy and grace.
We are in an age where we are attracted by illusionary happiness and satisfied with worldly pleasure, possessions and success. These give us moments of excitement. But in reality we are not satisfied and look for still more. The richest man still wants more, he has everything at his disposal, but not a happy life. We see that in the life of accomplished celebrities like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and of recent George Michael. It is never enough, this temporal happiness.
Last Sunday readings spoke of the universal call to be a disciple. We are given the mission to be the light of the world. And today Jesus, gives us the light - the words of eternal life. Jesus shows the way that is practical not theoretical alone. Because he himself embodied all the beatitudes from his Birth to Resurrection. It is a way to happy life and that is eternal life. It is not an easy journey, since we may face in life poverty, distress, humiliation, struggle for justice and persecution. But, it is when we open our hearts to Jesus that we will be able to experience the happiness and satisfaction in life that is given to us by his infinite love.
Beatitudes are perfect measurement of happy life and specially our Christian living. They call us to go out of our comfort zone. We need to have the courage to swim against the tide and say ‘no’ to our superficial and throw away culture, which gives us the illusionary happiness of life.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that I may embrace all of the Beatitudes that You have taught us. I pray, especially, that my heart may grow humble. May it grow in empathy for those who are hurting, confused and caught in a life of sin. I thank You for the blessings You have and you continue to bestow upon me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen