GROW AS A DISCIPLE
“It is so good to be poor, to have nothing, to await all from God!” These sentiments of the humble French religious sister St. Jeanne Jugan sum up the spirit of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel. Jesus praises poverty, hunger, sadness, and rejection, but certainly not as ends in themselves; God does not take pleasure in our suffering! He does use our suffering, however, to awaken us to our need for him. Poverty can spur us to pursue heavenly goods, and thus Jesus assures the poor, “the kingdom of God is yours.” Hunger can cause us to seek God who alone can truly satiate our desires, and thus Jesus says to the hungry, “you will be satisfied.” Those who weep will laugh, Jesus says – so long as their sadness inspires them to seek happiness in the service of God and the joys of eternal life. For all of us, no matter our means or our circumstances, today’s Gospel is a reminder to allow everything – including our difficulties, disappointments, and unfulfilled desires – to turn our hearts to God and rely on his loving care.
GO EVANGELIZE
It can be difficult to practice the spirit of the Beatitudes (as the “blessings” in today’s Gospel are called) in the moment. Suffering, distress, and confusion easily divert our attention from God as we attempt to “make the problem go away.” Sometimes we are even tempted to give up, to turn aside from God, and to seek consolation in other things. This is exactly the opposite of what he wants for us, and for good reason! God knows that it is best for us to always rely on him. This is why, as today’s first reading explains, the man who trusts in the Lord is secure – “like a tree planted beside the waters … it fears not the heat when it comes” – and fruitful – “its leaves stay green.” For those who trust in the Lord, help comes from the all-powerful, infinitely loving Creator of the universe. When we entrust ourselves to him, we have nothing to fear.
ACCOMPANY
Is there someone in your life who is struggling with fear, loneliness, anxiety, or sadness? Take time to pray with that person and, together, try to discover God’s invitation to a deeper reliance on him in the midst of the distress. These moments of suffering are never occasions for us to get “preachy.” Instead, accompany your friend and be a reminder of the hope we have in God.
By the Faithful Disciple