Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.” This opening verse of the second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reminds us to listen to God’s voice calling out to us and trust in His wisdom and will in our lives. What is it that God is calling us to? In today’s readings, I see that God is calling us to be His light and presence in a world consumed with division, pain, and hatred. To be His strength, by His grace, so that His divine Love may be made manifest to the world. How are we to live out this divine will? How are we to become an icon of God’s love and mercy? Our answer comes to us in today’s Gospel as Jesus speaks to us from the mountain. If we wish to become God’s light in the world, we must first live in the light. We must be poor in spirit so as to see the Kingdom of God. We must mourn with those who mourn so as to receive the comfort of God’s love. We must be meek and humble so as to inherit the land of heaven. We must seek righteousness, and not only seek it but hunger and thirst for it, so that God’s righteousness may live through our desire for it. We must be merciful and loving to all so that we, too, may be worthy of mercy. Our hearts must be clean so that we can see God. We must ask for God’s strength and courage to be made clean in His Love.
Let us become the peacemakers in our world and live as God’s children. Let all say about us, “we know they are Christians by their love.” And when the world scorns our efforts and persecutes our good works, let us remember that we are blessed in our persecution. Let us take heart in Jesus’ words to us: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
My brothers and sisters, let us strive to become the remnant of God’s people in the land, a people humble and lowly. May we live our lives to bring the love of Christ into the world and to be His light in the darkness so that all may see His light and Love.
Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections