Today's Thoughts to Live by| 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Pro-Life Sunday, Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking

by Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, O.M.I, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cotabato

Today an intention for victims of human trafficking is included in the Prayers of the Faithful.

1st Reading Zephaniah. 2:3; 3:12-13

During the time of the reforming King Josiah, the prophet Zephaniah warns of impending doom and exhorts the people to seek the Lord and turn away from their wicked ways and be humble, just and righteous (2:3).

Then he leaves them his promise of a "new people" - the Lord "will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord the remnant of Israel (3:12). They shall do no wrong and speak no lies." They shall pasture undisturbed (3:13). They are "the anawim," the lowly, humble, obedient and righteous ones assured of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew's 1st Beatitude).

Resp Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

Theme: The Lord is faithful forever, loves the poor -- "secures justice to the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets captives free (vv. 6-7), gives sight to the blind, raises up those bowed down, loves the just, protects strangers, sustains the fatherless and widow, and thwarts the wicked (vv. 8-9). "The Lord, your God, O Zion, will reign forever" (v. 10).

2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

God's Love for the Poor. Paul indicts the Corinthians for their pride. Not many of them are wise or strong or of noble birth. They have nothing in themselves to boast before God (v. 26). The ground of their salvation is God's saving act in Jesus Christ. "God chose the foolish to shame the wise; the weak to shame the strong; the lowly, despised, and those who count for nothing -- so that no one can boast before God (vv. 27-29). But it is due to God that you are "in Christ Jesus, who became for us as God's wisdom," our righteousness, sanctification and redemption (v. 30). Hence, "whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord" (v. 31).

Gospel Matthew. 5:1-12.

The Beatitudes. Jesus sees the crowds who had come to listen to him, he goes up the mountain, sits down (v. 1, alluding to Moses giving the Law at Mt. Sinai, Matthew presents Jesus as the Lawgiver of the New Covenant), his disciples come to him. He begins to teach them (v. 2, but see 7:28 - at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, "the crowds" were astonished at his teaching).

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (v. the "anawim" in Zep 2:3). Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land (see Ps. 37:11, but "land" here is the Kingdom). Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (vv. 3-6).

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God (see Ps. 42:3). Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom" (vv. 7-10).

"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven" (vv. 11-12).

The Beatitudes (vv. 3-10) describe the life of Jesus and his attributes of poverty, of meekness, compassion and peace. He is the personification of "the anawim." The Lord Jesus calls us and our Church to live the Beatitudes . The 1st Beatitude calls the Church to be what the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines envisions as a "Church of the Poor."

Prayer -- Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth and heart, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.