Just a word before we go...Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time...January 29, 2023
In an age when those who were the most powerful, wealthy, or prominent in society were thought to be those most favored by God, Jesus delivers his radically inclusive Beatitudes, turning that way of thinking upside down. In what some refer to as Jesus’ mission statement, he points to those who suffer, whether from poverty or grief or persecution, as being blessed. It is not that their suffering is good in itself, but rather that at the heart of such suffering resides a blessing, in that the current situation does not have the last word, but is moving them forward toward a new way of being. Other of the aphorisms, such as being merciful, clean of heart or peacemakers, point toward the restoration of right relationships and the growth of compassion necessary for the transformation of persons and communities toward a way of living that is grounded in God. Jesus the prophet offers a road map of sorts to guide us toward kingdom living.
If we let them, the Beatitudes can remind us of our blessedness. Who among us at some point in our lives has not been poor in spirit, or mourning someone or something lost, or marginalized in some way. The comfort of a current blessing, along with the promise of future redemption, can ease our periods of suffering. And the knowledge of being blessed ourselves has the potential to open our hearts to extend blessing to others, enabling us to see more deeply our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.
Living lives grounded in God, kingdom living, is taking a prophetic stance, and we know what happened to Jesus the prophet. Theologian John Shea writes, “the greater God’s presence, the greater the resistance. Prophets are always persecuted.” As with Jesus, so also with us. But what better company can we be in? Rejoice and be glad!
Let us be prophetic in the living of our lives and in this community of faith. Let us proclaim and live the inclusivity of the Beatitudes and model a new way of being, as we help the reign of God unfold in our world.