Trust in God, not in worldly things.
Listening the Spirit
Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word so that all your people may know and love You more and understand You better.
As I go about my day may I not forget the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my family and in the world.
Amen.
Listening the Word: Luke 6:17, 20-26
Jesus came down with the Twelve
and stood on a stretch of level ground
with a great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
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 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.
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.”
Reflection
Last Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, year C, the Gospel (Luke 5:1-11) helped us meditate on the miraculous catch of fish by Peter and companions. After a fruitless fishing night, Jesus who was teaching the crowd from Peter’s boat, ordered him to “put out into the deep” water and lower their nets to catch fish. Peter probably saw it illogical, for they passed the night fishing in vain; however, out of obedience, he lowered the net, and to their surprise, they caught plenty of fish. The problem was that they had been fishing in the “shallow water”the whole night. The shallow water may represent a life without trust in God, a self-sufficient life. When we rely solely on our own strengths, our own intelligence or possessions, we are still the shallow water. Whereas, when we trustfully involve God and let him to be the guide, he makes our work fruitful. On this, Jeremiah prophesies: “Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters…” (Luke 20: 7-8
The readings of this 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, continue the theme of trust in God, giving us a deeper understanding of what trusting in God means, especially in a world that strives for fleeting things. In the first reading, the Prophet Jeremiah starts by pointing out the tragedy of those who put their trust in human beings or in things of this world (not in God). “Cursed is one who trusts in human beings, who seeks strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from God” (Jr 17:5). These people are like “a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no changes of season but,stands in a lava waste” (Jr. 17:6). If we trust ourselves or in the things of this world such as power, wealth, social position, honor, … though we may have the impression of enjoying, our enjoyment is fleeting, it is like the “shallow water”. We need to involve God, and act according to his will.
The Gospel presents us the beatitudes. This word“beatitudes” comes from the Latin adjective “beatus” meaning “happy, prosperous, blessed”. Jesus proclaims the blessedness of the poor, the hungry, those who are weeping, and those who face rejection and persecution…in this world. They are, in fact, the people who trust in God despite the challenges they face. They are happy because they are grounded in God, who becomes the source of their happiness. Thus, Jesus’ words are an invitation to deeper faith in God, living a life in imitation of Jesus, a life of obedience.
Furthermore, Jesus warns those who trust in riches, who accumulates for themselves ignoring the needs of others, those who are filled, who laugh, who crave for fame…for they have received their earthly recompense. Saying this, Jesus is not condemning wealth, but trust in wealth which may turn into idolatry. Jesus warns against the search of happiness (or blessedness) away from God. You may have success in your business, academic or professional progress, without God, all these are meaningless. Also, Jesus is not against food enjoyment, but He warns against the attitude of relying on temporary satisfaction, physical needs, pleasures while forgetting one’s spiritual satisfaction, connection to God. Also, the Lord is not against those who laugh, but calls us to beware of enjoying life ourselves, laughing, while ignoring those who have lost their smile. Thus, we should be aware of the danger of being caught up the pursuit of wealth at the expense of our spiritual goodness, of satisfying our selfish desires and forgetting the common good.
Overall, the word of God on this 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time is inviting us to place our trust in God, and not rely on things that are transient, things of this world. Only He can give us true happiness, different from the seemingly happiness from earthly success. As we continue our journey of the Jubilee year, ley us renew our trust in God, to allow him to be the source of our strength, joy, and happiness. May the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church intercede for us.
Reflection Questions
1. In what ways are we tempted to trust in worldly things rather than in God, and how can we shift our trust to God in our daily lives?
2. How do the beatitudes challenge our understanding of happiness and success, and how can we live out this call to deeper faith and reliance on God?
