Fr. Jerome Pistoni, sx
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The first thing that calls my attention, when I read the Beatitudes in the gospel of Matthew, is the reaction of Jesus after seeing the crowds. He goes up the hill, sits down and begins to teach them at length. They need food, health, and he teaches them the Beatitudes, which are the heart of Christian life. Jesus believes that offering wisdom, through his message, is as important as giving food or helping people in their basic needs, such as education, health, nutrition etc.
That’s why sometimes I am surprised that some people look at us missionaries with scornful eyes when we ask them help us to build churches, as if they were just optional structures not indispensable for the welfare of human beings. They claim that the satisfaction of basic needs comes first. Which ones are the basic needs? Is it not a fundamental basic need to relate with God through religion? Does religion make people blind to the needs of the others? It was the familiarity with the word of God that inspired the missionaries to commit themselves to developmental projects.
This is why the first action of Jesus is ‘Teaching’: the word of God is food for the mind, the heart and the will.
Jesus mentions 8 beatitudes: “Happy are you…” Happiness!!! Is it not what we look for all our life? Many show to us their own roads to happiness: power and wealth. Jesus offer his own way. He does not declare: “happy those who have a lot of money, or power or great influence in society…” etc. he does not mention food or medicines, but attitudes that everybody can live out.
The first, the origin of all the other Beatitudes is Poverty: “Happy the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Is poverty something we fight for? We rather fight against it!! Who really wants to be poor? Many people, here in Sierra Leone are fed up with poverty and struggle with all their strength to get rid of it.
Which poverty does Jesus mean?
It is the humble awareness of our limits that allow us to seek the help of God and of others. It is the understanding that we cannot be complete without the intervention of the members of our Christian community and therefore we open our lives to them and become part of the family of God.
This poverty rejects arrogance, violence, scorn and, instead, it welcomes, as positive attitudes, respect, openness to others, kindness. This is the gate to a deep and real happiness.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The first thing that calls my attention, when I read the Beatitudes in the gospel of Matthew, is the reaction of Jesus after seeing the crowds. He goes up the hill, sits down and begins to teach them at length. They need food, health, and he teaches them the Beatitudes, which are the heart of Christian life. Jesus believes that offering wisdom, through his message, is as important as giving food or helping people in their basic needs, such as education, health, nutrition etc.
That’s why sometimes I am surprised that some people look at us missionaries with scornful eyes when we ask them help us to build churches, as if they were just optional structures not indispensable for the welfare of human beings. They claim that the satisfaction of basic needs comes first. Which ones are the basic needs? Is it not a fundamental basic need to relate with God through religion? Does religion make people blind to the needs of the others? It was the familiarity with the word of God that inspired the missionaries to commit themselves to developmental projects.
This is why the first action of Jesus is ‘Teaching’: the word of God is food for the mind, the heart and the will.
Jesus mentions 8 beatitudes: “Happy are you…” Happiness!!! Is it not what we look for all our life? Many show to us their own roads to happiness: power and wealth. Jesus offer his own way. He does not declare: “happy those who have a lot of money, or power or great influence in society…” etc. he does not mention food or medicines, but attitudes that everybody can live out.
The first, the origin of all the other Beatitudes is Poverty: “Happy the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Is poverty something we fight for? We rather fight against it!! Who really wants to be poor? Many people, here in Sierra Leone are fed up with poverty and struggle with all their strength to get rid of it.
Which poverty does Jesus mean?
It is the humble awareness of our limits that allow us to seek the help of God and of others. It is the understanding that we cannot be complete without the intervention of the members of our Christian community and therefore we open our lives to them and become part of the family of God.
This poverty rejects arrogance, violence, scorn and, instead, it welcomes, as positive attitudes, respect, openness to others, kindness. This is the gate to a deep and real happiness.