In the Old Testament and again in the New, God calls His people to do good, trust in Him, and obey His will in all things...
Reflections on the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 13, 2022): JER 17:5-8; PS 1:1-2,3,4,6; 1 COR 15:12,16-20; LK 6:17,20-26
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
But this last definitive time, it is not a prophet but the Son of God who summons us.
Jesus preached to people about the way they need to look at themselves, their neighbors and the whole world. In what has come to be called the Sermon on the Plain, He addresses the many Jews and Gentiles who came to hear Him about the way God sees them as well as their relationships with each other and with Himself. He starts by saying that the very ones who experience pain of body and soul are actually blessed. “And raising His eyes toward His disciples He said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. … Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven” (Luke 6:20-23).
If these ideas are not stunning enough, our Lord goes on to say that the people who are rich, satisfied, jocular, and honored will have their world turned upside down. He surely did not expect His listeners to think that being poor, hungry, grieving, or despised is good in itself. However, Christ does want us to understand that suffering of any kind is an opportunity to entrust ourselves to God’s will, to allow Him to guide our lives. Those who are self-satisfied and think themselves better than others, somehow worthier of enjoying the good things of life are not simply mistaken. They are deluded. Jesus is trying to teach us that whatever our place in society, whatever we possess, whatever we experience, God wants us to depend on Him. He expects us to recognize His blessings and share them with others. We demonstrate our love for Him by loving others and even sacrificing for their welfare, especially those in need. Moreover, He asks us to be willing to suffer for His sake. Only then will we truly serve His kingdom.
Suggested missionary action: Let us take time to reread today’s Gospel and commit ourselves to aiding our suffering neighbors. Whether near us or far away, people need our help to heal their physical or spiritual wounds.
