+ We generally
hear this gospel passage three times a year - so
important is it in the description of the life of “discipleship in Christ.” We
hear it today, again in the summer months and then on the Feast of All Saints, Nov 1st.
What
is so special about it is that it first states, and then
constantly reminds us, that most everything that “the world” values, applauds and touts is the exact opposite
of what Jesus and his Church (that is us)
values, applauds and touts. It is not the rich who are blessed, but the poor in spirit; not the
comforted, but rather those who mourn
for their sins; not the landowners,
but the meek who will inherit land in
another kingdom; not the powerful
but the lowly; not warriors, but the peacemakers;
not the sensual, but the pure of heart; not the merciless, but the merciful:
these make up the very Kingdom of God.
And
since this perspective is
so contrary to that of “the secular world” Jesus tells us to expect to be misunderstood, misquoted,
misinterpreted and mistreated and even some, killed – like he was! But he
says then a very comforting thing: in the
long run, in the big picture, when all is said and done: you will rejoice
because you will have a great reward in my Father’s house: eternal life in joy
and peace!
God chooses the weak and the
meek and
the humble to confound the proud, the haughty and the arrogant – not
just for the sport of it, but because he is teaching us that all richness, all power, all strength, all
intelligence, all of everything comes from him – and the glory for its use
needs to be given back to him!
There
will always be at least a small remnant of people who truly
understand these things! May we be among them – and may we think, talk and act like it is
so for us – every single day!
Blessed are the poor in
spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
is ours!
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