Seeing the crowds that are following him, Jesus ascends the Mount of the Beatitudes and begins to teach his followers a new way to look at life, blessings, and what it means to be his disciple. It’s not about riches, or strength, or wisdom – it’s about being poor in spirit, being meek and humble, being reviled, persecuted, and foolish in the eyes of the world. These words are spoken to us as modern followers of Jesus and they are, perhaps, much more important now than they were when they were first spoken. Each and every Christian needs to hear and internalize these words today! But this message is the opposite of what society tells us, what politicians and internet influencers tell us, and often what our friends and family tell us. So, how do we turn down the world and listen to the quiet voice of Jesus?
This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 5: 1-12a
1st Reading – Zephaniah 2: 3a; 3: 12-13
Psalm 146
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31
