Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit; The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Theirs!

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law;
seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD’s anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge
in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
they shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.
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Responsorial
Psalm 146
 R: Blessed the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those
who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
The fatherless and the widow
the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
Alleluia.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
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Reading II
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Consider your own calling,
brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise
by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world
to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world
to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly
and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing
those who are something,
so that no human being
might boast before God.
It is due to him
that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”
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Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds,
he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down,
his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst
for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted
for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you
when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil
against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
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St. Hyacintha of Mariscotti
(1585-1640)

Hyacintha accepted God’s standards somewhat late in life. Born of a noble family near Viterbo, she entered a local convent of sisters who followed the Third Order Rule. However, she supplied herself with enough food, clothing and other goods to live a very comfortable life amid these sisters pledged to mortification.

A serious illness required that Hyacintha’s confessor bring Holy Communion to her room. Scandalized on seeing how soft a life she had provided for herself, the confessor advised her to live more humbly. Hyacintha disposed of her fine clothes and special foods. She eventually became very penitential in food and clothing; she was ready to do the most humble work in the convent. She developed a special devotion to the sufferings of Christ and by her penances became an inspiration to the sisters in her convent. She was canonized in 1807.

Comment:
How differently might Hyacintha’s life have ended if her confessor had been afraid to question her pursuit of a soft life! Or what if she had refused to accept any challenge to her comfortable pattern of life? Francis of Assisi expected give and take in fraternal correction among his followers. Humility is required both of the one giving it and of the one receiving the correction; their roles could easily be reversed in the future. Such correction is really an act of charity and should be viewed that way by all concerned.

Quote:
Francis told his friars: "Blessed is the servant who would accept correction, accusation, and blame from another as patiently as he would from himself. Blessed is the servant who when he is rebuked quietly agrees, respectfully submits, humbly admits his fault, and willingly makes amends."
(Admonition XXII).

Saint of the Day
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