REFLECTION FOR MONDAY 10th Week in Ordinary Time

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Assistant Parish Priest,Manjeshwar,Kasargod

 Reflective Reading of the Word of God 


 Matthew 5: 1-12 

How happy are the poor in spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;

  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle:

  they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn:

  they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:

  they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful:

  they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart:

  they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers:

  they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:

  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven: this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.’

 Reflection on the Readings 

Principles To Live By

People who are More Poor & Neglected are Not Necessarily Holier or More Spiritual. Poverty is Not in Itself a Biblical ideal, but Sometimes It Brings Out the Finest Qualities in a Disciple. 

Paul Makes a Connection between Our Need & GOD'S Gracious Help; & then the Gift of Being Able to Console Others. But Poverty can just as Easily Lead to Vice, to Stealing, Disregard for the Property & Even the Lives of Others. 

Of Course These Vices are also Found Among the Wealthy, only under More Sophisticated Forms of Greed, Dominance or Arrogance. Without Money or Rank, We are Forced to Rely on Basic Human Resources.

Notably, the 1st of the Beatitudes is Spoken to the “Poor in Spirit”, a Kind of Humility based upon Dependence on GOD rather than on Fame & Fortune. It is Linked to the Patience & Compassion which Mark People as True Disciples of JESUS. 

Poverty & Mildness of Spirit can be the School of Compassion as well as Purity of heart. More People are Attracted to the Faith by the Compassion of Its Religious Leaders than by Any Other Virtue; More are Turned Away from Religion by Arrogance & Dominance than by All Other Faults of Those in Charge of Others, whether Parents, Teachers, Priests or Ministers. 

Today’s Texts are a Call to Merciful Spirit of Servant-Leadership & Point to the Good Results to be Achieved. In such a Community, Those who have Shared the Suffering of CHRIST will Richly Share in HIS Consolation. 

When We are Poor in Spirit, We let GOD Accomplish the Beatitudes in Us, & then Through Us for Others.

Portraying GOD

I like to Think of the Beatitudes as Painting a Portrait. When JESUS Spoke Those Beatitudes HE was Painting a Portrait of HIMSELF. HE is Poor in Spirit, in that HE Depends on GOD for Everything; HE is Gentle & Humble of heart; He Mourns because GOD'S Will is Not Being Done on Earth as in Heaven; HE Hungers & Thirst for what is Right, for what GOD Wants, & is Prepared to Suffer to Bring that about; HE is Merciful to the Broken & the Sinner; HE has a Purity of Intention, Wanting only what GOD Wants; HE Works to Make Peace Between GOD & Humanity & Among Human Beings. In Painting a Portrait of HIMSELF, JESUS was also Painting a Portrait of HIS Followers. It is Our Portrait, & We are Called to Try & Fit that Portrait. 

We Cannot Become the Person of the Beatitudes on Our Own; We Need the Help of the HOLY SPIRIT who Works Within Us to Mould Us into the Image & Likeness of CHRIST.


Good Morning to all

Have a lovely day and a great week ahead

God bless you all.

Let's continue to pray for peace in Manipur and also for the needed rains.