Living the Beatitudes: A Reflection on the Sixth Sunday

02-16-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

Today The Church marks the Sixth Sunday in the year. The Gospel is taken from St. Luke 6:17, 20-26. What Christ said to his disciples that day long ago in far-off Galilee applies equally well to every true Christian today. We must never let the things of this world keep us from God. We may acquire and use earthly goods, but we must acquire and use them justly, charitably, and responsibly. While only a relatively small number of Christians are called on to take a vow of Poverty, all Christians are forbidden to take a vow of wealth, that is to make the acquisition of wealth their purpose in life. While only a few special disciples of Christ are asked to give up even the lawful pleasures of the senses, all Christians are commanded to avoid unlawful indulgence in sensual pleasure.

No follower of Christ is forbidden to enjoy the legitimate joys of life, but every Christian must be prepared to accept life's pains and sorrows as well. We are pilgrims and strangers on this earth, weeding our way to heaven. The lighter our pack the easier and faster we travel. But there are cares and responsibilities, according to each one's vocation in life, which we may not and must not shirk. If we face these responsibilities honestly and cheerfully, realizing that they are the means by which God wishes us to gain our eternal rewards then they will be less burdensome and less heavy for us.

These Beatitudes are personally important to all of us. If we are true followers of Christ and sincere Christians, we will take the rough as well as the smooth, the poverty as well as plenty, the sorrows as well as the joys. These are the stepping stones which God has laid down for us to help us get across the river of life to the eternal shore.

Whatever we hope for, we hope in the Lord. It is not for us to parcel out for ourselves a little suffering here, and a little resurrection there. The only thing we can hope for in our lives is the will of our Father in Heaven and often we are given to learn what that is far in advance. Often God asks us to walk step by step through our lives, dependent upon Him each day. Consider the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales, who said, "We in this life are walking, as it were, on ice." At times, we have no idea how thick or thin that ice is. At times, it seems we are not merely walking but skating on thin ice.