Sixth Sunday of the Year
The Beatitudes are such a familiar part of the gospel that when we hear them read during the liturgy we can easily miss their meaning. The message they contain may take a lifetime to learn, but unless we take it to heart there will be no entry into the kingdom of heaven. They explain how to spend this life in order to attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Following Christ is not meant to be easy and it is a challenge we must face every day. We are invited to do things that do not come naturally to us like being humble, showing mercy and opening our hearts to those in need. On the surface, the gospel might appear to be a plea for poverty and a condemnation of riches. Jesus does not idealize poverty as a value to be sought for its own sake but as a means to giving us greater freedom to follow Christ without compromise.
If we take Jesus seriously, we will come to realize power and affluence are two of the greatest threats to the Christian way of life. We live in a world, which praises efficiency, glorifies success and worships power. Society announces that happiness comes from wealth, affluence and freedom from any form of pain. The trouble with reliance on such material resources to bring happiness is that, in the final analysis, it does not work. The truth is we have not got a steady grip on life, for death is a reality, which has always plagued the human race. Even if all other problems were suitably resolved we would still have to contend with death. Jesus is not against our striving for true happiness; but he bluntly warns us against putting our trust in material comforts because, in the long run, it will turn out to be a misplaced confidence. There is more to life than superficial passing things. We are created to share God's joy, and anything that calls us away from this goal is not good for us.
The message contained in this gospel is both severe and challenging because it is at odds with our customary way of thinking. Many of us who profess Jesus to be our Savior, live life without any thought for our religious beliefs. As we face the task of developing a proper relationship with God, we are frightened by the deep demands, which the beatitudes make on us. We are called not to worship wealth, food or comfort, but to worship the God who alone can grant us all good things.
Aware of the danger arising from putting our trust in
the pleasures of this world, we lift up our hearts in fervent prayer to the
Father.
1. We pray that the church throughout the world may be an effective sign of the way to everlasting happiness and eternal life. Lord, hear us.
2. That we may learn to place our trust in spiritual values, which enrich our being, and not in material possessions, which bring discontent to our soul. Lord, hear us.
3. That we may never close our hearts to those in need, but consciously involve ourselves in Christ's work of healing and reconciling. Lord, hear us.
4. For the sick and disabled. May they experience the Lord’s care through the love of their neighbors and friends. Lord, hear us.
5. We pray that our deceased relatives and friends may enjoy peace and rest with the Lord in heaven. Lord, hear us.
Father, look with compassion on the needy. Enlighten
our lives with your truth and give us the grace to live out the high ideals put
before us by your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you forever and
ever. Amen.