First Reading - 1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Gospel - Luke 6:20-26
In the first reading, Paul discusses the topic of virginity and stresses that he has no direct teaching from the Lord on this matter. His views are shaped by his expectation that the second coming of Christ is imminent and that an "impending crisis" will soon arrive. Because of this, he encourages believers to live with the mindset that this world is passing away. For Paul, relationships, joys, and sorrows, including the duties of married life, must be seen in light of eternity. He calls Christians to live with their focus on the eternal and the immortal, not the temporary and passing.
The Gospel passage from Luke presents the Beatitudes as part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, which followed immediately after He chose the twelve apostles. The Beatitudes were originally taught in Aramaic and were not simply statements but exclamations of joy and congratulations to those who are blessed. In today’s terms, it might be said, “Congratulations to the poor in spirit!” Luke emphasizes that material poverty can lead to a greater detachment from worldly things, allowing us to focus more on spiritual values. The blessings Jesus speaks of are eschatological, meaning they look at and evaluate the present in light of the future. Similarly, the woes He pronounces on the rich, full, and laughing are expressions of sorrow for their future destiny, not their present situation.
Dear friends, we are invited to respond to the challenges of the Beatitudes in our daily lives. Many people around the world are suffering from hunger, persecution, homelessness, and hopelessness. The promises of the Beatitudes can only become real for them through our efforts. As Jesus Himself says, we will be judged based on our acts of mercy and charity (Matthew 25:31-46). Figures like St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), her Missionaries of Charity, and many others, both religious and lay, have taken up this challenge, showing us how to live the Beatitudes in today’s world. Every time we help the needy, the sick, or the oppressed, we give them a glimpse of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now. Our service to others must come from love, not obligation, just as the apostles were called to serve those society had rejected. Similarly, we are called to minister to the marginalized and discriminated against in our modern world.
We must be mindful of the path we choose. The “Didache,” a first-century Christian catechism, begins with these words: “There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways.” The way of life is the way of Jesus, the way of the Beatitudes, and the way of loving service to God and our neighbors. This path leads to eternal life. The other way is the way of death—a path marked by self-centeredness, immorality, indulgence, and seeking immediate gratification. It leads to spiritual death and separation from God. The challenge of the Beatitudes is to ask ourselves, “Are we seeking happiness in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?” If we choose the world’s way, we are looking for blessings in the wrong place.
May we choose wisely and walk the path that leads to true happiness in Christ.
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