January 29, 2023 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel passage from Matthew this Sunday, the eight beatitudes (attitudes or ways of being in our world) begin the core teaching of Jesus to his disciples that is called the Sermon on the Mount. This teaching is the opening of the heart and mind of Jesus to those who would be his followers. Each of the beatitudes has two parts. In the first part, Jesus pronounces a blessing on certain people (“Blessed are they who mourn”). In the second part he provides the reason for this blessing (because “they will be comforted”). These beatitudes are heart statements, love in action statements. They are not pious hopes of what might be, they are exclamations of what is as we practice love in action to those in our world. The word “blessed” used in each beatitude is a translation from the Greek word “Makarios”, which describes a deep Godlike joy that shines through tears, a joy which nothing in life can take away because it comes from walking in the company and presence of Christ. Why not take a closer look at each of these beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Which one are you attracted to or curious about? Find out more about it, then practice it through the coming year. At year’s end, you might find that in some way you will be living out all of the other beatitudes as well! Fr. John Mark Ettensohn, OMI