6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 14, 2010

Jer 17:5-8
1 Cor 15:12-16.20
Lk 6:17.20-26

The idea presented in today’s Gospel is going to cause difficulties to some people, if not to most of us. It is easy just to read or hear the words and we may even nod our heads in agreement. But actually putting it into practice is not something we would think of taking seriously.

Happy are you who are poor? Who can stomach such statements? Who can take this seriously? Are we not being constantly pushed by society that the ideal is to be rich because this is the key to happiness and life.

A group of schoolchildren wrote in their essays the following:

“It means God does not just love the rich, but the poor. The poor are just as special as the rich,” says Ellen, 8.

“I think it means the ones who need God the most, he will be there for them. The people who have a poor spirit are helped by God,” says Anna, 9.

Jesus then is speaking to people who have very good reason to be deeply unhappy. How can they be spoken of as “blessed” or “happy” or “fortunate”?

To them Jesus is speaking about God. These people are blessed and fortunate because, in spite of their condition, God deeply loves them. God loves the poor not because they are good but because they are poor. The poor may be despised, resented or pitied. God however, loves them deeply in their poverty, their sadness, their hunger and deprived status.

This is the last interview of Mother Theresa conducted by Time Magazine before she died:

Time: What is God’s greatest gift to you?
Mother Theresa: The poor people.
Time: How are they a gift?
Mother Theresa: I have an opportunity to be with Jesus 24 hours a day.

Fr. Sonny de Rivera, SVD
Italy
The Word in Other Words