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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Feb. 3, 2008
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
February 3, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle A Readings:
1) Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Psalm 146:6-10
2) 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a
My friend and all of her siblings had come from near and far and gathered for their beloved father's funeral. It was a rare, but certainly appropriate, occasion for them all to be together, she had told me with real gratification in her voice.
At the reception after the funeral Mass, I mentioned that it was nice for me to finally see all these people whose stories I'd been hearing from her for years. She raised her eyebrows but smiled affectionately as she said, "Yes, but you don't know who's who." Surprisingly she was right.
Even though I'd observed the family throughout the service, I couldn't tell who was the crazy one or the aloof one or the selfish one -- or the spiritual one or the generous one. On that day they were all the mourning one. Somehow, in their mourning, they also all were the meek one, and the one hungering for righteousness. They even all were the peacemaker. On that day, steeped in the death of their father, each one of them was keenly aware of the nearness of God and reminded of their need for God.
The beatitudes work that way. When we are poor in spirit, meek and merciful, we will realize our need for God. Conversely, if we recognize our need for God, we become meek, merciful, poor and thirsty for justice.
As they came together in mutual love for their father and mutual dependence on God, my friend's family -- at least on that day -- was a compassionate, holy family, a community fully attentive to each other's needs and supporting one another.
In this weekend's Gospel, Jesus offers us the beatitudes so that we conscientiously may make an effort to be poor in spirit, hungering for righteousness, mourning and meek, because when we are, we will become a community of humble, caring people centered on our fundamental need for God.
QUESTIONS:
What personal habit or attitude keeps you separated from God? Which of the beatitudes do you most need at this time in your life to remind you of your need for God? Why?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord" (Zephaniah 3:12).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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