Homily from Sunday February 13th, 2022: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus spoke often and with great passion about the real problems of life. It troubled him that some people had too little, while others had too much. He knew why many were so reluctant to be of help to others. Yes, money certainly fits in there, compassion does also, but so does justice and mercy. And believe me – Justice will always win out, not necessarily right away, but it has a way of weaseling its way into any serious problem. We can call that God’s providence.
As far as we know, not one rich person was present when Jesus spoke that day. His audience was made up of ordinary people like us. Jesus did not know anyone with overabundance of money. To him, rich was a anyone who could meet all their needs, with a little left over. His “woe” applied to those who could help someone else a little – but did not.
Poverty is not a passport to God’s Kingdom, even though much of Christianity has taught that it is. Jesus ate with sinners, touched lepers, and was a friend with the poor and oppressed people, and it was in order to integrate them and their situation into society.
In this gospel when Jesus refers to all those He calls Blessed He also tells them yours is the Kingdom of Heaven / you will be filled/ you will be able to laugh.
The blessedness of the poor, the hungry, the sorrowing all come from injustice, things we do have some power over all that.
Dorothy Day once said: “Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable (this is the heart of the Christian gospel). Go read up on Dorothy Day – it is good Spiritual Reading.
We are nearing Lent – 2 weeks. The season that challenges us to check our attitude toward life and those who need us. May it be a time for us to become more open and aware of our need for our Creator and for one another. Somebody once said, the only real security is in other people.
Lent is around the corner, it is a good time for all of us to sink our roots into the deep, clear waters of God’s life – again.
Holy Rosary Ottawa 