What does it mean to be a Christian? We may sometimes think that it is about doing things – going to Mass on Sundays, going to confessions, saying our prayers, doing fasting and works of penance, or giving financially to a good cause. And although these have a certain place in our Christian life, ultimately being Christian is far more than this. Today’s readings give us great insight. It first involves a foundation of trust in God, which is based on our faith, a gift given to us, to believe in God and all that he has revealed to us and living a life in him. The Psalmist reminds us that “Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord” (Ps 40 (39): 5a) for as the Prophet Jeremiah says, “He is like a tree planted by water, that send out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heart comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (cf. First Reading: Jeramiah 17:8). This trust is based on the reality that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, that he conquered sin, death, and destruction, and that we will rise again in glory (cf. Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20). With this in mind, we hear in today’s Gospel of how Christians are to be in the world through living out the Beatitudes. In a sense, it is a job description of the values, the attitude, the ethos that we stand for as being followers of Jesus Christ. In some of the Eastern Churches’ liturgies, the Beatitudes are sung almost every Sunday to remind the faithful of how important they are.  Yes, the Beatitudes are radical, and go against the flow of the world and culture that we live in. But as Pope Francis mentions that “we can only practise them if the Holy Spirit fills us with his power and frees us from our weakness, our selfishness, our complacency and our pride.” (Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate, 65) The Beatitude make an excellent examination of conscious to see if our life is alighted to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Hearing the Word of God and celebrating the Eucharist together shapes and forms us to be more conformed to Jesus Christ and to be his living presence in the world through living out the Beatitudes.

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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 1820: Christian hope begins in the giving of the Beatitudes
CCC 2544-2547: poverty of heart; the Lord grieves over the rich
CCC 655, 989-991, 1002-1003: hope in the Resurrection

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Today is a National Day of Prayer for Racial Justice.

We are just over two weeks away from Ash Wednesday, so time to gather last year’s palm crosses if that is how you source your ashes.

Our Gospel today begins three weeks of Luke’s “pocket” version of St Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain. Both begin with beatitudes but there are clear departures from one another. Additionally, Matthew uses the third person, Luke uses the second. Does this make a difference? Our Lectionary now uses the word “blessed” instead of the Jerusalem Bible’s “happy”. Again, does this make a difference? For a concise treatment of the Beatitudes see CCC para 1716 – 1729.

Today’s Collect resonates with the Beatitudes; “… you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you”. So, too, does Today’s Prayer over the Offerings; “… may it come for those who do your will the source of eternal reward”. Today’s Psalm neatly mirrors the Gospel with its distinction between goodness and wickedness.

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Note: These hymns have been chosen from different sources.

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Blest are the pure in heart (CFE88, L908, LHON174, TCH208)

The kingdom of heaven is yours (CFE702, L816, LHON654)

Be not afraid (CFE830, L964, LON757)

Key

CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone

L – Laudate

LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)

TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)