Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zep 2:3; 3:12-13
1 Cor 1:26-31
Mt 5:1-12a

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth,” cries out the prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah calls out to the people to seek justice and humility in so that they may be a remnant left by the Lord, those who were protected on the day of the Lord’s anger. Do no wrong, speak no lies, be humble and be that remnant. Well, all of that is easy to say, yet difficult to do. How does one remain humble? How does one consistently avoid being deceitful? It sounds simple and straightforward, but is it really that simple? If we examine our own lives, honestly, I don’t believe that there is any doubt we would find instances when we failed to be humble, when we were deceitful. Unfortunately, those things seem to come to us all too easily. We need guidance, a map, a way to follow that helps us avoid these pitfalls. We need a way to live. In the Gospel Jesus provides the very map we need. People who mourn, who are meek, who hunger for righteousness, who are merciful, who are clean of heart, who are peacemakers, who are persecuted, all are blessed by God. Should we strive to be all of those things? Of course we should. Will we always succeed? Of course we won’t. That does not mean that we should not try. This is not, however, about rules. It is about living, seeking to live out the love that Christ calls us to live. It is about being working at being humble, working at not being deceitful. It is about being that remnant. It is about seeking the Lord.

Deacon John
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Feb. 3, 2008