![\"Beatitudes\"](\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Beatitudes.jpg\")
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Back when I started this blog, I led a Young Adult Bible study group, so each week I would post my notes concerning the upcoming Mass\u00a0Readings. My goal was to produce a commentary for the entirety of the Sunday Lectionary<\/a>. However, this came to an end when\u00a0I started attending an Eastern-Rite parish and handed the Bible Study over to another leader. The\u00a0Eastern Churches have a different liturgical calendar and Lectionary, so the project came to an end.<\/p>\n This Wednesday\u00a0I was\u00a0leading a Bible study at a Roman-Rite parish, so I thought I would revive my tradition of posting my notes for today’s readings…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without a doubt, the jewel in this Sunday’s Readings is Christ’s Sermon on the Beatitudes. The other readings provide ample preparation for this Gospel passage by focussing upon the virtue of humility, as well as our attitude towards God which is best expressed in Christ’s opening statement that “Blessed are the poor in Spirit…”<\/span><\/p>\n Zephaniah (“Yahweh protects”) is one of the minor prophets, whose book is found towards the end of the Old Testament. Zephaniah himself was of high social standing in Judah (possibly a descendant of King Hezekiah) and lived in the early 600’s BC, contemporaneous with the prophets Jeremiah, Nahum and Habakkuk.<\/p>\n Recent times had been rather dark. The previous king,\u00a0Manasseh, had been\u00a0possibly the worst king in Judah’s history. Most importantly, he had encouraged idolatry and immorality.<\/p>\n Zephaniah announces a coming judgement, which ultimately arrived in the form of the Babylonian invasion. The prophet\u00a0spends most of his\u00a0book warning the people about\u00a0this coming “day of the Lord”<\/span>. Fortunately, like many other prophets, he ends on a high note, looking forward to a future restoration of Judah. He truly “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable”<\/span>.<\/p>\n Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,<\/span> But I will leave as a remnant in your midst<\/span> Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,<\/span> He calls the people to humility, which would involve the abandonment of idolatry and immorality and turning in repentance to God.\u00a0In Gospel, as Jesus presents the New Law, Jesus will speak of the “poor in spirit”<\/span> and “the meek”<\/span>.<\/p>\n The prophet will go on to speak judgement and destruction, but in exhorting people to “seek the Lord”<\/span>, he appears to be holding out some hope that this could possibly still be averted. Either if it doesn’t hold back the destruction, it’s still good advice \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n …seek justice, …<\/span><\/p>\n In the Gospel we will speak of those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness”<\/span>. Zephaniah’s mention of this suggests that the people had not previously been practising justice.<\/p>\n …seek humility;<\/span><\/p>\n This is the second time “humility” has been mentioned. This suggests that pride was also one of the key sins responsible for the coming judgement.<\/p>\n perhaps you may be sheltered\u00a0<\/span> Zephaniah speaks of future judgement, which will be fulfilled by the Babylonians.\u00a0The verses preceding this extract describe the\u00a0judgement in vivid terms.<\/p>\n Even after prophesying this punishment, there is mercy and hope. Zephaniah holds out the hope that those who are “humble”<\/span> and “seek justice”<\/span> will somehow be protected from the oncoming onslaught.<\/p>\n But I will leave as a remnant in your midst…<\/span><\/p>\n The Lord promises that the people will not be utterly<\/span> destroyed. A portion will survive.<\/p>\n a people humble and lowly,<\/span> Those who remain will throw themselves upon the mercy and providence of the Lord. They will be a purified, holy people.<\/p>\n They shall do no wrong<\/span> The remnant\u00a0will live upright lives (“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”<\/span>). Virtue concerning their tongues is emphasized.<\/p>\n they shall pasture and couch their flocks<\/span> …and through this purification and preservation, they will live in peace. In the Gospel we will read that “Blessed are the peacemakers…”<\/span><\/p>\n The response from today’s psalm is drawn directly from today’s Gospel. The psalm itself deals with some of the same themes: the oppressed, hunger, justice<\/p>\n R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The LORD keeps faith forever,<\/span> R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The LORD gives sight to the blind;<\/span> R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,<\/span> R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The LORD keeps faith forever,<\/span> God is faithful in his covenant love for His people.<\/p>\n The LORD gives sight to the blind;<\/span> We are told about God’s ability to reverse situations.\u00a0His love\u00a0is promised for the just.<\/p>\n The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,<\/span> God cares for the vulnerable.<\/p>\n The LORD shall reign forever;<\/span> The psalmist testifies to Jerusalem.<\/p>\n This\u00a0also points forward (in the anagogical sense) to our reward in Heaven.<\/p>\n Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians\u00a0during his time in Ephesus, most likely on his “Third Missionary Journey”, around AD 56. <\/span>Paul himself had founded this congregation in Corinth around AD 51. It was a very diverse congregation, with rich and poor, free and slave, Jewish and Gentile. However, the congregation did not represent the “movers and shakers” of the city. The Church\u00a0was\u00a0tremendously blessed in terms of spiritual gifts, but this appears to have become a source of boasting among them.<\/span><\/p>\n Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.<\/span> Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. The makeup of the Corinthian congregation was mixed, and as a whole they did not represent the societal elite of Corinth.<\/span><\/p>\n Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, This is a consistent pattern in God\u2019s operation, using weak things so that His power and glory can shine through. Those “who count for nothing”<\/span> may well refer to Gentiles.<\/span><\/p>\n It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, The Corinthians can\u2019t boast in anything, since everything ultimately comes from Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n “Christ was made our sanctification, not so that he might change what he was but that he might sanctify us in the flesh.” <\/span><\/p>\n – St Ambrose of Milan (A.D. 381), The Holy Spirit 3,4,26<\/span><\/p>\n so that, as it is written, This is a paraphrase of the Greek version (LXX) of Jeremiah 9:24. In its original context, the prophet challenged the wise and well-to-do of Israel to stop boasting about their worldly blessings and instead give glory to the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n The Corinthians were boasting about their spiritual gifts, rather than giving glory to God.<\/span><\/p>\n I have heard it said that evangelism is simply one hungry beggar telling another hungry begger where the food is.<\/p>\n The Beatitudes represent the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Although I typically don’t like “The Message” translation, I do find its rendering of this text<\/a>\u00a0to be very thought-provoking.<\/span><\/p>\n When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)<\/h1>\n
1st Reading (Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13)<\/h2>\n
\n who have observed his law;<\/span>
\n seek justice, seek humility;<\/span>
\n perhaps you may be sheltered<\/span>
\n on the day of the LORD’s anger.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n a people humble and lowly,<\/span>
\n who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:<\/span>
\n the remnant of Israel.<\/span>
\n They shall do no wrong<\/span>
\n and speak no lies;<\/span>
\n nor shall there be found in their mouths<\/span>
\n a deceitful tongue;<\/span>
\n they shall pasture and couch their flocks<\/span>
\n with none to disturb them.<\/span><\/p>\nQuestions<\/h3>\n
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Commentary<\/h3>\n
\nwho have observed his law; …<\/span><\/p>\n
\non the day of the LORD’s anger.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwho shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:<\/span>
\nthe remnant of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nand speak no lies;<\/span>
\nnor shall there be found in their mouths<\/span>
\na deceitful tongue;<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwith none to disturb them.<\/span><\/p>\nPsalm (PS 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10)<\/h2>\n
\n secures justice for the oppressed,<\/span>
\n gives food to the hungry.<\/span>
\n The LORD sets captives free.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.<\/span>
\n The LORD loves the just;<\/span>
\n the LORD protects strangers.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n but the way of the wicked he thwarts.<\/span>
\n The LORD shall reign forever;<\/span>
\n your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.<\/span><\/p>\nQuestions<\/h3>\n
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Commentary<\/h3>\n
\nsecures justice for the oppressed,<\/span>
\ngives food to the hungry.<\/span>
\nThe LORD sets captives free.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthe LORD raises up those who were bowed down.<\/span>
\nThe LORD loves the just;<\/span>
\nthe LORD protects strangers.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbut the way of the wicked he thwarts.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nyour God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.<\/span><\/p>\n2nd Reading (1 Cor 1:26-31)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nNot many of you were wise by human standards,<\/span>
\nnot many were powerful,<\/span>
\nnot many were of noble birth.<\/span>
\nRather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,<\/span>
\nand God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,<\/span>
\nand God chose the lowly and despised of the world,<\/span>
\nthose who count for nothing,<\/span>
\nto reduce to nothing those who are something,<\/span>
\nso that no human being might boast before God.<\/span>
\nIt is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,<\/span>
\nwho became for us wisdom from God,<\/span>
\nas well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,<\/span>
\nso that, as it is written,<\/span>
\n“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”<\/span><\/p>\nQuestions<\/h3>\n
\n
Commentary<\/h3>\n
\nNot many of you were wise by human standards,
\nnot many were powerful,
\nnot many were of noble birth.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nand God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
\nand God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
\nthose who count for nothing,
\nto reduce to nothing those who are something,
\nso that no human being might boast before God.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwho became for us wisdom from God,
\nas well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,<\/span><\/p>\n
\n“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”<\/span><\/p>\nGospel (Mt 5:1-12)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nand after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
\nHe began to teach them, saying:
\n“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
\nfor theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
\nBlessed are they who mourn,
\nfor they will be comforted.
\nBlessed are the meek,
\nfor they will inherit the land.
\nBlessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
\nfor they will be satisfied.
\nBlessed are the merciful,
\nfor they will be shown mercy.
\nBlessed are the clean of heart,
\nfor they will see God.
\nBlessed are the peacemakers,
\nfor they will be called children of God.
\nBlessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
\nfor theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
\nBlessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
\nand utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
\nRejoice and be glad,
\nfor your reward will be great in heaven.”<\/span><\/p>\nQuestions<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/span><\/li>\nCommentary<\/span><\/h3>\n