Focussing the Gospel
Key words and phrases: Blessed are …, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
To the point: What identifies God’s chosen “remnant” is not wealth, possessions, or power over others but lowliness, humility, justice, and truthfulness (see first reading).Connecting the Gospel …
Jesus elaborates God”s call to this way of living when he proclaims the Beatitudes to his disciples. Our blessedness is both a quality of who we are and a blueprint for how we are to live as followers of Jesus.
We are to be the “remnant” of who carry forth God’s eternal plan for establishing a just reign.
… to the First Reading: The blessings Jesus announces continue an ancient tradition reflected in the first reading: God extends protection and refuge to the “humble and lowly.”
… to experience: When hearing these Beatitudes, many of us would not count ourselves among the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, etc. Nor do we tend to see ourselves as blessed.
However, our very living of the Gospel is a revelation of our blessedness and of the presence of God’s reign.
