Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 30, 2011

The Beatitudes are one of the most beloved passages from the Gospels. It opens the famous Sermon on the Mount that was masterfully recorded by Matthew. Mountains are often places of revelation in the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus rightly is taking his place on the mountain in a way similar to an Oriental teacher. He address, as in concentric rings, first the disciples, next the crowds who gathered, and then all peoples, even the Gentiles, from the lands beyond Galilee. This is meant to show the shining power of Jesus who his mighty in both words and deeds.

The Beatitudes set a high standard of moral wisdom about life and are not meant to be exhaustive, but they also are not arbitrary. Most of the Jesus sayings are taken from the "Q" source that helped shaped the Gospels. Matthew probably took some of his expressions from the Psalms. Mark records no such speech and Luke provides four "blesseds" and four "woes" given on a plain instead of a hillside. Though we can never know for sure what Jesus actually said, it is very likely that he said something akin to these sayings. It carries through in the development of his thought.

These sayings represent a form of congratulations that recognize an existing state of happiness. Categories of people are rejoicing because the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed to them. The poor, the mourners, and the hungry are recipients of Jesus' mission to the needy. His preaching ushers in the dawn of a new era of salvation history. Jesus is not saying the poor are happy because of their condition in life. Poverty was seen as an evil; wealth as a blessing. Jesus is telling the poor that they are happy because they receive God's special care for them, just as an Oriental king specially provides for his people.

Matthew emphasizes God's justice as it is a major theme of his Gospel, hence the concentration on one's persevering through terrible persecutions. The poor are the needy ones in Israel who prefer divine service to financial advantage and yet he adds "in spirit" to move the emphasis from social-economic to a personal-moral, voluntary poverty with highlights of humility and detachment from wealth. Wealth carries with it an inherent risk of neglecting God and others who are needy. The meek show a form of charity; some mourn to see evil reign on earth; the merciful pardon one's neighbors; the pure of heart stand close to justice; and peacemakers are no longer only mighty monarchs, but can be anyone. Hence, the Beatitudes become a program of life for the believer. God will stand by those who strive for these lofty virtues.

Jesus is not asking the people to change their status in life, only their attitudes. These actions will influence their hope-filled future and will make them able to notice God's steadfast presence in their life today - a presence that reaches everyone, especially the neediest in society. Following the way of Jesus is sure to bring us happiness today because we are in right relations with others and with God. We can see ourselves as blessed because our saving God stands by us. This changes our attitudes and we learn to see others as God does. Everyone wants to be happy. We are to realize it is within our grasp today - and always. It really is.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: Hebrews tells of our ancestor's sacrifices in the face of adversity. God approved their good efforts as they lived according to God's promise. When you offer worship, you approach Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and of his angels and spirits. You also approach Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, whose sacrifice was far greater than that of Abel. Because of the Christ event, we are to let fraternal love continue while we are mindful of those whose lives are vulnerable. The Lord will never forsake them. Through Jesus, we are to continually offer God a sacrifice of praise. God is pleased with our good actions towards one another.

Gospel: Jesus enters the 10 Gentile cities of the Decapolis where he meets a strong man possessed by demons named Legion. After exorcising them from him, Jesus sends the spirits into the swine who are impelled to jump into the sea and drown. Jesus crosses back into Galilee where he is met by a synagogue official whose daughter is near death. Jesus heals her from afar. He also heals the woman suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years. He then calls the Twelve together and sends them forth with instructions for preaching and healing. Herod wonders about Jesus, but at a banquet he foolishly grants his daughter a wish, which she misuses as she asks for the head of John the Baptist. Jesus withdraws with his disciples to a quiet place so they can rest and tell their stories of preaching. The crowds arrive and Jesus' heart is moved with pity for them.

Saints of the Week

Monday: John Bosco, priest, (1815-1888) grew up in Turin, Piedmont in the northwest corner of Italy. As a priest, he surveyed the fate of children in prison and formed a religious order to help them build better lives for themselves. He educated working class boys in the evenings and in factories or fields or wherever he could reach them. He was noted for his charity in finding the goodness in these boys.

Wednesday: The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. Often called the Purification of Mary, it remembers her fulfillment of Mosaic law that demands new mothers to present themselves to the priest who will adjudge their cleanness. She and Joseph brought the child to the Temple with an offering so as to be cleansed by prayers. During this time, Mary and Joseph met the elders, Simeon and Anna, who represented the passing of the old covenant of God.

Thursday: Blaise, bisop and martyr (c.316) was from Armenia was died under the persecution of Licinius. He received fame for curing a boy who nearly choked to death by a fishbone that was lodged in his throat. He has been invoked for many throat afflictions. The rite for blessing throats is done on this day in commemoration of his legendary miracle.

Ansgar, bishop (801-865) was a French bishop who became a monk to preach to pagans. He preached in Denmark and Sweden and met great success and became archbishop of Hamburg. He is known as the Apostle of the North.

Friday: John de Brito, priest, martyr, and Carlos Spinola, Rudolph Acquaviva, and companions, martyrs of the missions, are celebrated for giving their lives for the build up of the faith in foreign missions. John de Brito was a Portuguese who ministered in India; Spinola, an Italian, went to Japan, and Acquaviva, from Naples, was killed with companions near Goa, India.

Saturday: Agatha, martyr, (d.251) was a martyr in the Decian persecution. When she was forced into a brothel to give up her faith, she was tortured and killed. Agatha's intercession is attributed for the stilling of Mount Etna's eruption the year after her burial. The faithful began to invoke her protection against fire. She is mentioned in the first Eucharistic prayer.

This Week in Jesuit History

• Jan 30, 1633. At Avignon, Fr. John Pujol, a famous master of novices, died. He ordered one of them to water a dry stick, which miraculously sprouted.
• Jan 31, 1774. Fr. General Laurence Ricci, a prisoner in Castel S Angelo, claimed his liberty, since his innocence had been fully vindicated. He received from the Papal Congregation the reply that they would think about it. Pope Clement XIV was said at this time to be mentally afflicted.
• Feb 1, 1549. The first Jesuit missionaries to go to Brazil set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, under Fr. Emmanuel de Nobrega.
• Feb 2, 1528. Ignatius arrived in Paris to begin his program of studies at the University of Paris.
• Feb 3, 1571. In Florida, the martyrdom of Fr. Louis Quiros and two novices, shot with arrows by an apostate Indian.
• Feb 4, 1617. An imperial edict banished all missionaries from China.
• Feb 5, 1833. The first provincial of Maryland, Fr. William McSherry, was appointed.

Groundhog Day

Spring is seven weeks from February 2nd, Groundhog Day. If the groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and sees his shadow, it will return to its burrow and wait out the winter. If the day is cloudy and he does not return, an early spring and moderate weather is predicted. Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous of the groundhogs where crowds of over 40,000 have been known to gather on February 2nd to find out if spring will come early.

The tradition arises from German folklore that was brought to the United States. This poem was proclaimed on Candlemas, which is also the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop

Candlemas is 40 days after Christmas. The priest will bless candles that will be used throughout the liturgical year during Mass on this day.