THE WORD
1 Cor 7,25-31 / Lk 6,20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. 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. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
IN OTHER WORDS
“Beatitude” literally means happiness or blessedness. Jesus in this gospel is presenting us with the qualities of life that should make us happy and live in blessedness. A High School student in Colegio Verbo Divino, Guaranda, Ecuador came up to me with tears in her eyes: “Me sentimuyenojado con mi familia y no estoy feliz!” (I feel very angry with my family and I am not happy.) Coming from a rich family she didn’t need money but the warmth and loving caress of her Mom and Dad.
Her experience challenged me and made me reflect on the importance of Christ’s message in the gospel today. What then is the true source of happiness in life? From his teaching of God’s Kingdom, Jesus addresses the issue of true happiness as demanding a transformation from within and a conversion of heart and mind with the help of the Holy Spirit. Sure enough we can be lled with happiness if we empty ourselves first of the “extra baggage” of worldly things in our lives. For a man of faith, possessing God and Him alone is surely the greatest treasure in life. Working with the Indiginas in the mountains of Guaranda, Ecuador and with the Mangyans of Mindoro gave me great rejoicing that such people taught me to be happy in spite of their “nothingness.” It was a challenge that inspired me to offer more time with them even beyond the call of duty. Let us not forget the promise of Jesus to his disciples when he told them that the joys of heaven will compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world.
- Fr. Jun Pateño, SVD | U.S.A.
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
