January
29, 2017
Fourth
Sunday Ordinary Time
Zephaniah
2:3; 3:12-13; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a
I remember
reading a news article last year about an interesting study that named the happiest
countries in the world. According to the survey the top 10 happiest countries
are: Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Australia and Sweden. The Philippines was the 82nd happiest
place out of the 157 countries covered by the survey. How were they able to measure
happiness? According to the study, people who live in the happiest countries have
longer life expectancies, have more social support and have a higher gross domestic
product (rich countries). Perhaps this is how the world measures happiness. In
today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us another formula for happiness—the Beatitudes.
What is this formula all about?
Let us reflect on this in three points:
THE
BEATITUDES IS A FORMULA FOR A KIND OF HAPPINESS THAT THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE. In
the eyes of the world, it is a senseless formula. The first
beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there is the
kingdom of heaven.” How
can being poor make us happy? Poverty is not a good thing. If you are poor and
have no resources, how can that be considered as a happy state of
life? We need to be clear that Jesus does not glorify here economic poverty. Jesus
underlines “poverty in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to be rich in faith. Our first
reading tells us that during the time of Zephaniah the poor and
the lowly Israelites are more conscious of their
reliance on God than the wealthy ones. Without wealth, without status,
without influence, the poor naturally depend on God. Paul says in the second
reading that there is something we can learn from the poor and lowly ones – their
being poor in spirit. So aside from the Christian act of helping the poor, we must
also become like them – poor in spirit, detached from material things and attached only
to God. The Beatitudes is not a formula
for worldly happiness. The Beatitudes is a formula that will lead us to the
peace and happiness which the world can neither give nor take away.
THE
BEATITUDES INVITE US TO FIND JOY AND HAPPINESS IN SANCTITY. Oftentimes we see the path to
holiness a as burdensome and difficult. But Jesus tells
us in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are you! Happy are you!” because
perseverance in the path to holiness will give us ultimate happiness. To be holy does not
mean to be perfect. St Augustine once said, “Every saint has a sinful past. And
every sinner has a saintly future.” No one is born a saint. All of us are born sinners.
All of us can aspire for holiness. Perseverance in the path to holiness will give us
happiness because it assures us a place in the Kingdom of God. If we look at the Beatitudes,
how then do we become holy?
THE
BEATITUDES REMIND US TO PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES. This
is the core of true happiness and holiness. When we look at the Beatitudes we
must pay attention not only to the first part. Let us not forget the promise
they contain. Why are the poor in spirit blessed and happy? Because the kingdom
of heaven is theirs. Why are those who
mourn happy? Because they will be consoled by God himself. Why are the lowly
happy and blessed? Because they will inherit not just any land. They will inherit
the promised land – eternal life. Why are you blessed when you hunger and thirst
for holiness? Because you will be satisfied. When we hunger and thirst for pleasure,
money, power, we will never ever get satisfied. But when we hunger and thirst
for holiness, we will never go hungry and thirsty anymore for God will satisfy our
longings. Why are you happy and blessed when people insult you because of your faith?
Because your reward will be great in heaven.
What is it that
gives us happiness in life? Jesus gives us the Beatitudes as the formula for true
happiness that the world cannot give. Let us pray in this mass for the grace to
find joy in taking the path of holiness. May the Beatitudes be a constant reminder
for us to put God first in our lives so as to experience true and lasting happiness. Amen.
