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Sunday Breakfast with the Word Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
(Jer 17:5-8; 1Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17,20-26)
Introduction
In today’s liturgy, we learn that true happiness is enjoyed by those who trust in the Lord, while woe and condemnation awaits all who put their trust in man or material possession.
Beatitude as a genre is related to the congratulation that one is entitled to because of a favourable destiny. A woe, on the other hand, is a warning about a problematic destiny.
In the readings of today, blessings and woes are apportioned in ways that contradict human standards.
This World is not our Home
The prophet Jeremiah declares woe on those who place their confidence in material possession. True blessedness, however, is the portion of the one who trusts in God. He never lacks life and joy.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that this world is not our final destination. The goal of our striving is to glory in the resurrection of Christ after our earthly sojourn. Any hope not hinged on Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection is both baseless and worthless.
In the gospel, Jesus congratulates the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the persecuted. On the contrary, he declares works on the rich and those who enjoy the present life.
The poor are praised here, not because they are wretched alone. They are rather praised because in their difficult situation, they did not yield to despair and despondency but rather entrusted themselves to God and hinged in him their hope of attaining great reward in heaven.
Christ assures them that they will not be disappointed but will rather enjoy the true happiness that God gives. In the same vein, the rich are not condemned because of their wealth. They face condemnation because in their comfort, they tend to forget God and trust in their riches rather than God from whom all good things come.
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Our Today’s Reality
Beloved in Christ, the world is today characterised by quest for money, fame, and power. A lot have soiled their hands to acquire these.
Many more have sold their souls to the devil while seeking these worldly glories. God reminds us today that the only thing that lasts is the true happiness we enjoy in him.
In our moments of poverty, hunger and persecution, we should not despair. Because our God lives, we should persevere and be faithful. The assurance that “God no go shame us!” should strengthen our resolve not to give up on life.
When we are rich, comfortable and satisfied, we should not make these conditions our “god”. The blessings of God should not make us too big or too busy that we forget the God of the blessings.
The story of the rich fool serves as an example. We all should see ourselves as instruments of God to lessen the burden of the poor, the hungry and the persecuted. Because these conditions are not normal, God promises them happiness. We will be judged according to how we contribute or fail to contribute to the blessedness of those at the edge of the society. The story of the rich man and Lazarus and the final judgment should inspire us on this.
True Blessedness
Whether rich or poor, we must always remember that true blessedness lies not in material possession but in total reliance on God’s grace and the hope of the resurrection. While struggle to make ends meet, we must not forget that we will one day depart this world to face our creator on his judgment throne. Whether we be poor or rich, hungry or satisfied, the goal of our striving is not just to make it in this temporal life. It is rather to enjoy God’s glory in this life and in the world to come.
May our striving and toil in this world gain us true happiness in this world and eternal happiness in the world to come.
May God’s love be upon us as we place all our trust in him.
Happy Sunday!
#Chukwudalu
Homily written by Rev. Fr
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