Fr Christophe Ndiwe Chiza
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. February 13, 2022
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus declares blessed those who are poor, those who weep, and those who are hungry and persecuted. In contrast, Jesus declares bound to unhappiness those who are rich, those who laugh, and those who are satisfied or praised by all.
Which kind of happiness does Jesus attribute to the poor, to those who are hungry or persecuted? Can someone find happiness by suffering? Or can someone be unhappy by and continue to laugh? The declaration of Jesus seems to be in contrast with our daily experience and aspiration of life. Do you think that a poor or a hungry person is really happy? Keeping these questions in mind, which result from our daily experience of life, let us try to understand the biblical or Christological meaning of beatitudes or happiness which seems to be the ultimate aspiration of every human being. Who does not what to be happy or praised? And what does it mean to be happy in the context of the sermon on the mountain?
“Blessed are the poor. Woe to you who are rich.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke presents the first part of the sermons (Lk6, 20-26) which starts with a provocation or a contrast. “Blessed are you who are poor….But woe to you who are rich. Lk 6: 20.24” It is on the level ground that Jesus proclaimed this beatitude. However, we cannot understand this word of Jesus if we remain on the level ground of human understanding of poverty and happiness.
It is important to underline that the Gospel according to Luke is more focused on the poor and the rich. Who is a poor and who is a rich? We have noticed that the Gospel according to Matthew is more clear and specific about this first beatitude. “Blessed are the poor in spirit! Mt 5, 3.” Matthew underlines the spiritual poverty. Luke without ignoring spiritual poverty, he seems to be more radical by denouncing injustice and social inequality. For Luke, are poor those who are excluded and marginalized and those in need and search of divine grace who abandon themselves in the divine providence. The disciples are also poor and Jesus assures: “theirs is the Kingdom of God”. The evangelical poverty is a choice of life and not a social position. God bestows freedom on all creatures. Unfortunately, the evil is somehow bound up with this freedom. We understand that to be a rich or a poor people in the context of beatitude is a matter of choice. If the poor are blessed it is because they chose the life of humility and self-abandonment. They put their trust in divine protection and providence. They are more focused on fraternal life characterizes by solidarity, generosity and sharing of material goods without discrimination. “You know well the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Although he was rich, He made himself poor to make you rich through his poverty. 2Cor8, 9. “This first beatitude shows us how poverty can become a choice of life and not a fatality or a curse for specific social class. Jesus Himself chose to be poor in order to enrich those who are poor. God has a preferential choice and much concern about the poor, the gentle, the merciful and the pure of heart. We understand how God turns what the world considers misfortune into channels of blessing and happiness.
“Woe to you who are rich.”
Who is a rich? A rich is a person whose life is centered on material goods and who does not care about others’ sufferings or life. We understand that being poor, someone can be a rich and vice versa. We should keep in mind that every human being has his or her own particular need and problems, but all have a common aspiration for happiness. On our journey to happiness, we are called to help each other and to care about each other. The situation of poverty in the world is a big opportunity to put into practice the love of neighbor which is the testimony of the love of God. And a poor is a person who needs my help or my assistance. No one has the right to be happy alone or to make other people unhappy.
From this Sunday Gospel focuses on beatitudes, Jesus does not bring us a message of social revolution as argued by Karl Marx who wanted the working class to overthrow the capitalist class and seize the control of the economy. Jesus does not want the rich to become poor and the poor to become rich; rather, Jesus brings us a message of faith bases on hope. We are called to put all our trust in God and not in human beings or material things. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah calls our attention by saying “cursed is the one who trusts in human beings; blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Jeremiah 17, 5” We should not turn away our hearts from God and the excluded or the poor. Human science and revolution must be appreciated but should not take away our trust in the Lord. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain.., 1Cor 15, 14.” This message of hope which Saint Paul emphasizes in the second reading echoes in today’s Gospel. “Blessed are the poor” is a message of consolation, faith and hope. May the message of this Sunday’s Gospel help us to deepen our faith, our trust in God and to dedicate our entire life to the service of the poor and the excluded who always find favor in front of the God of love and mercy revealed by the risen Lord, Jesus Christ our redeemer and savior.
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. February 13, 2022
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus declares blessed those who are poor, those who weep, and those who are hungry and persecuted. In contrast, Jesus declares bound to unhappiness those who are rich, those who laugh, and those who are satisfied or praised by all.
Which kind of happiness does Jesus attribute to the poor, to those who are hungry or persecuted? Can someone find happiness by suffering? Or can someone be unhappy by and continue to laugh? The declaration of Jesus seems to be in contrast with our daily experience and aspiration of life. Do you think that a poor or a hungry person is really happy? Keeping these questions in mind, which result from our daily experience of life, let us try to understand the biblical or Christological meaning of beatitudes or happiness which seems to be the ultimate aspiration of every human being. Who does not what to be happy or praised? And what does it mean to be happy in the context of the sermon on the mountain?
“Blessed are the poor. Woe to you who are rich.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke presents the first part of the sermons (Lk6, 20-26) which starts with a provocation or a contrast. “Blessed are you who are poor….But woe to you who are rich. Lk 6: 20.24” It is on the level ground that Jesus proclaimed this beatitude. However, we cannot understand this word of Jesus if we remain on the level ground of human understanding of poverty and happiness.
It is important to underline that the Gospel according to Luke is more focused on the poor and the rich. Who is a poor and who is a rich? We have noticed that the Gospel according to Matthew is more clear and specific about this first beatitude. “Blessed are the poor in spirit! Mt 5, 3.” Matthew underlines the spiritual poverty. Luke without ignoring spiritual poverty, he seems to be more radical by denouncing injustice and social inequality. For Luke, are poor those who are excluded and marginalized and those in need and search of divine grace who abandon themselves in the divine providence. The disciples are also poor and Jesus assures: “theirs is the Kingdom of God”. The evangelical poverty is a choice of life and not a social position. God bestows freedom on all creatures. Unfortunately, the evil is somehow bound up with this freedom. We understand that to be a rich or a poor people in the context of beatitude is a matter of choice. If the poor are blessed it is because they chose the life of humility and self-abandonment. They put their trust in divine protection and providence. They are more focused on fraternal life characterizes by solidarity, generosity and sharing of material goods without discrimination. “You know well the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Although he was rich, He made himself poor to make you rich through his poverty. 2Cor8, 9. “This first beatitude shows us how poverty can become a choice of life and not a fatality or a curse for specific social class. Jesus Himself chose to be poor in order to enrich those who are poor. God has a preferential choice and much concern about the poor, the gentle, the merciful and the pure of heart. We understand how God turns what the world considers misfortune into channels of blessing and happiness.
“Woe to you who are rich.”
Who is a rich? A rich is a person whose life is centered on material goods and who does not care about others’ sufferings or life. We understand that being poor, someone can be a rich and vice versa. We should keep in mind that every human being has his or her own particular need and problems, but all have a common aspiration for happiness. On our journey to happiness, we are called to help each other and to care about each other. The situation of poverty in the world is a big opportunity to put into practice the love of neighbor which is the testimony of the love of God. And a poor is a person who needs my help or my assistance. No one has the right to be happy alone or to make other people unhappy.
From this Sunday Gospel focuses on beatitudes, Jesus does not bring us a message of social revolution as argued by Karl Marx who wanted the working class to overthrow the capitalist class and seize the control of the economy. Jesus does not want the rich to become poor and the poor to become rich; rather, Jesus brings us a message of faith bases on hope. We are called to put all our trust in God and not in human beings or material things. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah calls our attention by saying “cursed is the one who trusts in human beings; blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Jeremiah 17, 5” We should not turn away our hearts from God and the excluded or the poor. Human science and revolution must be appreciated but should not take away our trust in the Lord. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain.., 1Cor 15, 14.” This message of hope which Saint Paul emphasizes in the second reading echoes in today’s Gospel. “Blessed are the poor” is a message of consolation, faith and hope. May the message of this Sunday’s Gospel help us to deepen our faith, our trust in God and to dedicate our entire life to the service of the poor and the excluded who always find favor in front of the God of love and mercy revealed by the risen Lord, Jesus Christ our redeemer and savior.