4^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

The Beatitudes: Paths to True Happiness

Readings: Zeph 2:3, 3:12—13; 1Cor 1:26-31; Mk 5:1-12a

Dear friends in Christ, the readings of today point us toward the paths that lead to true happiness—happiness in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come. The desire for happiness drives human aspirations, decisions, and sacrifices. People work tirelessly, often losing sleep, because they long for a secure and joyful future. In today’s Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as a teacher of the Way, seated on a small hill, teaching His listeners the true paths that lead to the happiness their hearts long for.

In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah speaks of the qualities of those who will be spared on the day of destruction. Zephaniah was a prophet who emphasized the doom awaiting the wicked people of Judah. Yet, in the midst of his warnings, he also affirmed that not everyone would perish—some would be spared. These remnants of Judah were called “blessed” because of the virtues they possessed. They sought justice, humility, truth, and righteousness. While others would groan in pain on the day of destruction, these virtuous ones would rejoice, for they would not be marked for destruction.

In today’s Gospel on the Beatitudes, Jesus expands this teaching by describing the qualities of those who will find true happiness—not only in this world, but in the eternal kingdom. He outlines the values and attitudes needed to enter this everlasting home of joy: poverty of spirit, hunger and thirst for justice, compassion, meekness, mercy, integrity, peace-making, and the willingness to suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness.

The word ‘beatitude’ comes from the Latin ‘beatitudo’, meaning blessedness, divine joy, or perfect happiness. Christ was essentially telling His disciples, “If you desire true happiness, be poor in spirit; hunger and thirst for what is right; be compassionate and meek; be a peacemaker and a person of integrity; and be willing to suffer for the sake of goodness. Embrace these virtues. Live them daily.”

If we were to survey opinions in today’s world about what leads to happiness, the qualities listed in the Beatitudes would hardly appear. Many would say happiness comes from having large bank accounts, exotic cars, luxurious homes, expensive food and wine, attractive partners, high political positions, job promotions, nightly entertainment, or the ability to travel anywhere at will. It may surprise many that none of these things appeared on Christ’s list of true happiness. This teaches us that lasting happiness cannot come from things that do not last. True and enduring happiness does not come from material or fleeting pleasures, but from possessing what is eternal—God Himself. Our true happiness comes when we possess God and His kingdom, and Christ gives us the dispositions needed to attain this. He is not condemning the good things of this world, but He warns that possessing material comforts without the virtues of the Beatitudes leads only to the destruction Zephaniah foretold.

In essence, the Beatitudes fulfil and complete the Ten Commandments. While the Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai present a series of prohibitions—things we must not do—Jesus presents the Beatitudes positively, as virtues we must cultivate to receive the reward of salvation. One of Matthew’s aims in his Gospel is to show Jesus as the Messiah foretold by the prophets, the One who fulfils the Law and the Prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew presents Jesus not only as a new Moses, but as one greater than Moses. Just as Moses ascended the mountain to receive the Commandments and give Israel the Law, Jesus ascends the mountain, sees the crowd, and gives the new Law to the new people of God. Obedience to the Commandments led Israel to the Promised Land; obedience to Christ’s teaching in the Beatitudes leads Christians—the new Israel—to the kingdom of God.

Let us now reflect more deeply on what the Beatitudes—the new laws of Christ—ask of us.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaims the poor in spirit blessed. It means poverty of spirit is the path to true happiness. We are poor in spirit when we trust God as our ultimate source of security, when we recognise our need for Him, when we surrender our plans to His will, and when we repent sincerely of our sins. We are poor in spirit when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Jesus also tells us that to be happy we must be meek—gentle. We are meek when we surrender ourselves to God instead of becoming aggressive or demanding. True meekness is the ability to be rightly angry at sin and injustice, but never at people.

Jesus says we are blessed when we hunger and thirst for what is right. To be righteous is to do God’s will. We hunger for righteousness when we respect others deeply and treat them with dignity. Jesus wants us to help those who have been abused regain their dignity. It is providential that the Bishops of Italy invite us today to give priority to children, especially those who are victims of war, violence, abuse, exploitation, indifference, and abandonment. This must be part of our mission this year.

Jesus also promises happiness to the merciful. He calls us to forgive unconditionally and to ask forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. A merciful heart is essential for peace and joy. When we hold grudges, we cannot be free or happy. Let us therefore forgive and be merciful.

Jesus says the pure in heart are blessed. Purity of heart means sincerity, honesty, and moral integrity. The pure in heart do not deceive others. They will see God face to face on the last day.

Jesus also blesses the peacemakers. A peacemaker works actively for reconciliation, is willing to forgive, to let go, and to help others resolve conflicts with love. We are called not only to live peacefully but to help others live in peace—beginning in our families and Christian communities.

Finally, Jesus says we are blessed when we are persecuted for our faith and for living a good life. He calls us to follow His example and that of the apostles who suffered for the truth. We must not renounce our faith in difficult times, nor be ashamed to stand for what is right, even if we stand alone. Today Christians face many forms of persecution. Jesus invites us to overcome them with steadfastness.

May the Beatitudes guide our daily choices and lead us to the eternal happiness God desires for us.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 4^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT: THE PATH TO BLESSEDNESS

(Matthew 5:1-12a)

In a world that emphasised affluence, riches, and position of honour, Jesus talks of poverty as a blessing. Who will understand that? In a world where poverty is a curse and everyone tries everything possible, even tries to package to look wealthy. Jesus addressed the poor to be blessed. Poverty is a state of lack, being in need, or not having what one wants. There are many different kinds of poverty: financial poverty, intellectual poverty, psychological poverty, environmental poverty, spiritual poverty, etc. Jesus was specific about the kind of poor people He addressed today as blessed with the kingdom of heaven.

THE POOR IN SPIRIT; Who are they? The poor according to Matthew's Gospel Jesus, meant were those who knew their need for God. They are like beggars for things of the spirit. They gasp and pant for the ruah Adonai (breath of God) They feel lifeless without the Spirit of God. They can do anything to preserve the life that God gives. They can go to any extent to avoid whatever that doesn't give God glory. They are those who long eagerly to be satisfied with blessings from above. They are those who have the wisdom to understand that no matter what the world promises that what God promises is the best. They are those who have understood the transient nature of the things of this world. They may be powerful in the human definition, but for the fact that they know that their power is given to them, they discharge it according to the directives of the one who gave it to them. They are those who understand that the position they occupy today, another occupied yesterday, that they will not be there forever. For this they are humble. They are the wise people who do not feel secure on the security they think they have achieved; financially, medically, politically, etc.  They know that there is a source to all they have, and because of this, they remain under the authority of God, respecting the dignity of their fellow human beings and living their lives without intimidating anyone.

 

WHAT POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT

The blessing Jesus gives to the poor is particularly for the poor in spirit.  The message is not for those who take themselves to be poor in the worldly usage of the term to clap for themselves and remain in poverty without making any effort. It is not a call for the rich to allow the poor to die in their poverty. It is not a licence for the world leaders, African leaders and even the Church to continue impoverishing the people and our world through their incentive policies. It is never a promotion of poor in the spirit teaching of Christ to give kudos to the negligence of the suffering in our midst. The poor in the spirit are not those who live unhappily because they do not have money or food and as such are ready to do anything at all without recourse to God. They are not the arrogant, malicious and selfish people in the high and low classes. They are simply in both high and low classes but have chosen to take up the heaven attitude, the attitude of being, the life of the beatitude which keeps them conscious of God as the all in all.

 

BLESSEDNESS UNTO BEATIFIC VISION

The whole eight beatitudes expressed our conditions of vulnerability on earth and our openness for divine assistance to reach our goal, which is heaven at last. The purpose for which Christ took His disciples to the mountain to announce these blessings is to make us focus on our heaven goal and never forget the roles we have to play to continue attracting God's blessings.

In whatever you are facing today, you must see it in the beatitude. After each of them, there is blessings when you pass through them with the vision of Christ before you. They are encouraging words. They help us know that God is in control of everything happening around us.

So, if you're poor in the spirit, you're blessed for the kingdom of God is for you. When you're mourning, you're blessed for God will comfort you. Are you meek? You're blessed even when your meekness is misunderstood as weakness by people around you. When it is for the sake of righteousness that people call you names and make fun of you, he will satisfy you. You are blessed for being merciful, pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted. All these, when undertaking for the heavenly riches, in the spirit of the first beatitude opens the kingdom of God for us where we shall be with Jesus as the head of the body, the Church.

In our longing to be poor in the spirit for the kingdom of God, may God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus for taking us to the mountain of the beatitude where You spoke words of blessings for us as a people and for me as an individual. Make me recognise how empty I am without You. Continue to bless us here on earth and bring us safely into Your kingdom unhindered by the riches of this world that have become abuse and distractions for many. Continue to bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Happy Sunday (4th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh