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The Beautiful Beatitudes a Word from by Fr Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 29, 2017 The Beautiful Beatitudes A Word From By Fr. Mark Haydu, LC Pope Francis What must we do, Father? Look, o follow Christ is to seek “greater precepts of righteousness.” read the Beatitudes: that will do you lowliness, humility, mercy, The new law contradicts what our good. If you want to know what you and righteousness. The Ten wounded human nature tends to think actually have to do, read Matthew TCommandments summarize God’s and feel. We are challenged to believe chapter 25, which is the standard by teaching to his people. Jesus gives us a blessings can come from tears, meekness, which we will be judged. With these new law that builds on the old. Before it and poverty. two things you have the action plan: was, “You shall not...”; now it is, “Blessed “Blessed are they who are persecuted the Beatitudes and Matthew 25. You are you when...” He calls us to greater for the sake of righteousness” (Matthew do not need to read anything else. I happiness, greater blessing, but it comes 5:10). Appreciating these truths requires ask you this with all my heart....But with a challenge. Saint Augustine says transforming our minds and hearts. Faith do not forget: make yourselves heard; that Jesus went up the mountain to is required. Deeply desiring and living in take care of the two ends of life, the preach the Beatitudes because he was the right does bring satisfaction. There is two ends of the history of peoples: preaching a higher moral doctrine: consolation in mourning the things that the elderly and the young; and do not sadden Christ’s heart. water down the faith. If we live by the Beatitudes, many — Morning Meditation, will treat us more generously. We know Chapel of the Domus Sunday Readings people who are merciful, and we are Sanctae Marthae, July 25, 2013 Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13 quick to show them mercy. When our hearts are clean, we can see God more “A people humble and lowly, clearly. Those who seek and create peace who shall take refuge in the are considered by all to be children name of the LORD—the remnant of God. They are not without trials of Israel.” and suffering, but they are blessed and happy. Christ calls us to store up 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 treasures in heaven, spiritual blessings “God chose the foolish of the that cannot be taken away. Even if world to shame the wise...the we experience difficulty, we will still weak of the world to shame receive the highest and greatest gift: the • In what areas of your life do the strong.” kingdom of heaven. † you need to focus on living the Matthew 5:1–12a Beatitudes? “Rejoice and be glad, for your • How can you show others they reward will be great in heaven.” are creatures of God this week? Liguori Publications l Liguori.org goes up a mountain in Galilee to present his Beatitudes and teachings. Jesus’ The Beatitudes: “commandments” go far beyond—but do not supplant—those given Moses. An Overture to the The Beatitudes call up the picture of heroic saints, of incredible courage in Sermon on the Mount suffering, total generosity to others. But we shy away from questioning these By Leonard Foley, OFM statements too closely. They are certainly n overture introduces and As we look at the Beatitudes found in not self-evident, and some people find plays with various themes of the Matthew (as distinguished from those them to be beyond human reach: “Of music to follow. A hint here, full in Luke), we see a definite Jewish cast, course you can’t really run a business or a Apromise there, a startling burst of color. written as they were for a predominantly life on such principles!” we say. “They’re So it is with the Beatitudes. They’re the Jewish Christian community. The Gospel just ideals, right? That’s it! They’re ideals overture to the Sermon on the Mount. In is divided into five booklets, suggesting for a favored few to follow.” The Beatitudes Matthew’s Gospel, there are eight or nine, that this is the new Pentateuch, or haunt us. They are like the thorn in St. depending on how you count. They are Torah—the Law of Moses contained in Paul’s side. Are we ready to hear Jesus explained in the sermon that comes after the first five books of the Bible. Jesus is say, “Congratulations! You are blessed for the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:13—7:29). the new Moses, far outshining the former. being poor in spirit?” † Some Beatitudes would be unintelligible As Moses ascended Mount Sinai to Source: Catholic Update, December 2013 without the words of Jesus that follow. receive the Ten Commandments, so Jesus © Liguori Publications human bodily requirements after the When we grasp his hand and experience Reconciliation fall. Instead, we were created with these his mercy, we can heal and become more bodily needs. open to love. We become more whole, By Dr. Shawn McCauley Welch It may be tempting to say we can’t be and thus we have more love to offer our like Gertrude or other saints. We don’t neighbor. † elf-examination can be difficult. At have enough time to reflect or pray. We Source: Liguorian, April 2014 times we may seem too busy. Saint have real work responsibilities, but we also © Liguori Publications Gertrude the Great, a German nun have a responsibility to pray. Practicing Swho entered the convent of Helfta at five regular self-examination along with prayer years old, was often worried about the is important and will help us be devout in poor souls who didn’t have enough time ordering our deeds and help ensure all of to pray, like the sisters who worked hard our service is oriented toward God. While making things to sell to pay off the debts those deeds, done lovingly, can be another of the convent. form of prayer and worship, it is important Lord, you dwell in the depth of my Gertrude brought these concerns to be in constant communication with being. May your Spirit help me to before the Lord. He assured her that God and not neglect prayer itself. seek and to know you with all my what he wanted most was their wills When we do find ourselves falling short, heart, mind, soul, and strength. oriented to him. It didn’t matter whether trapped in a hedge of thorns of our own — From Peaceful Meditations their labor was exterior or spiritual. making, we need to reach for the Lord’s for Every Day in Ordinary Time, He explained that if all he wanted was hand as Gertrude did. The sacrament of Rev. Warren J. Savage spiritual exercise, he would have changed reconciliation is a good place for this. and Mary Ann McSweeny Mon. Weekday: Thu. Presentation of the Lord: WEEKDAY Heb 11:32–40 / Mk 5:1–20 Mal 3:1–4 / Heb 2:14–18 / Lk 2:22–40 READINGS Tue. St. John Bosco: Fri. Weekday: Heb 12:1–4 / Mk 5:21–43 Heb 13:1–8 / Mk 6:14–29 January 30– Wed. Weekday: Sat. Weekday: February 4 Heb 12:4–7, 11–15 / Mk 6:1–6 Heb 13:15–17, 20–21 / Mk 6:30–34 © 2017 Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org. Designer: John Krus. Scripture quotations in this publication are from New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Pope Francis quotation is used with permission and copyright © 2017 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488. January 29, 2017 All rights reserved. Distribution rights granted only to license holders. BHW001.
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