SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FEBRUARY 13, 2022

CHURCH OF THE BEATITUDES

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 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

Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

We get told that we can achieve all we want. We can do it! Many believe this with its underlying implications that “you can do it on your own”. Some will succeed and some will fail. Some had the natural talents or gifts, some did not.

We should know our frailties and limitations and what we can and cannot accomplish in this life.

What about our souls? Do we dare try on our own? Risk staying stuck in the middle of the desert, with mirages all around us? Or do we look for the life giving waters that God has in store for us?

We have been promised by Jesus that He is the way, the truth and the light for our sanctification. Our human efforts alone without God won’t do. Refuse to be discouraged no matter where you find yourself right now. All who trust and follow the Lord have no fear. God knows you are there. He knows what you need.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. No matter what we see in the outside, it’s what God is allowed to do through His graces in the inside that counts. Our negatives can be opportunities to show God’s love in us at work.

All the saints prayed for unity with God. They asked for and received this persevering gift. Heaven could not be attained on their own. They lived as grateful children.

Do we want a personal and profound relationship with God? Let go of yourself, your life and pursue the Lord through your given vocation. Love as God’s adopted children, taught by Him what true love is. We begin with baby steps and then big strides toward Him as our souls love as He.

God has engraved our names on the palm of His hand. Only through His help can sanctity be achieved. Then we can live joyously for eternity with God.

Thanking God for His eternal love. God bless you.