WHERE
EARTH MEETS THE HEAVENS.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME.
YEAR A.
February 3, 2008.
(First reading: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13) (Psalm 146:6-10)
(Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31) (Gospel reading: Matthew 5:1-12)
WHERE EARTH MEETS THE HEAVENS.
By revealing the beatitudes, Jesus sets the
foundations of heaven here on earth; he invites human
beings to merge their
earthy lives with the life of the Kingdom. He reveals that he unity
of earthly life and heavenly life can be achieved by living the beatitudes.
Who are they who live the beatitudes?:
- "The poor in spirit"
are those whose confidence is in God (as opposed as in material possessions);
they are capable of utilizing the earth's wealth for the common good
of all human beings.
- "They who mourn"
are the ones capable of joining in the suffering of the oppressed, are
the ones who have the sensitivity to identify themselves with the oppressed.
- "The meek"
are the ones who are sincere and honest in their relations with other
human beings (as opposed to being deceitful, false and dishonest); they
are the ones who can restore truth and trust to the relations between
men.
- "They who hunger and thirst for righteousness"
are the ones who can lead mankind to its liberation and keep it on track
in its way toward the Kingdom.
- "The merciful"
bring compassionate justice (as opposed to vengeance) to their fellow
human beings.
- "The clean of heart"
are the ones who can clearly see and pursue the well-being of their
fellow human beings (as opposed to their own selfish interests), are
the ones who can be entrusted with leading their fellow human beings.
- "The peacemakers"
are the ones who see in every human being a brother or sister. The peacemakers
are the ones who believe that all human beings are children of God.
- "Those who are persecuted for the
sake of righteousness" are the ones who will
not compromise with injustice and oppression, are the ones who will
not settle for anything less than the kingdom of heaven, are the ones
who have began to build the kingdom of heaven here and now.
The beatitudes always enhance the life of human
beings.
Those who live the beatitudes enhance their life with the life of God
who is constantly, incessantly acting in and through them, intervening
in human history.
Psalm 146:7-9 shows us
how to live the beatitudes: By "securing
justice for the oppressed, giving food to the hungry... setting prisoners
free... giving sight to the blind... raising up those who are bowed
down... loving the righteous... protecting the stranger, sustaining
the orphan and the widow, but thwarting the way of the wicked".
The prophet Zephaniah
encourages us to embrace the beatitudes: "All
you humble of the earth... seek justice, seek humility"
(Zephaniah 2:3).
The beatitudes will overcome the world's injustice
and oppression.
Saint Paul tells us that those who embrace the beatitudes will overcome
the world's standards because "God chose
the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of
the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised
of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those
who are something" (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
It is only by embracing the beatitudes that earth
meets heaven.
