Sunday, February 1, 2026

 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a)

Today's Gospel records the beginning of the most famous discourse in history. As a work of rhetoric and as an outline for a worthwhile life, the Sermon on the Mount is unparalleled. The opening is renowned in itself. The Beatitudes paint a portrait of the perfect disciple whose destiny is none other than the Kingdom of God. Jesus is considered wise for placing the reward first, before mentioning the associated sacrifices.

The reading begins with Jesus taking a seat on a mountain. The mountain represents the pantheon of gods among whom Jesus, the “Son of God,” has a place. His disciples stand near him, and behind them, the crowd. Jesus proclaims, “Blessed…” or “Happy,” to nine kinds of people. Each member of these groups deserves eternal life for having lived the justice of the Kingdom.

The first group mentioned is “the poor in spirit.” They live dependent on God in life and in death, not on their own resources or the help of men. They are not lazy, and much less presumptuous. They simply recognize that the goal of life lies in God, not in material things. This characteristic is often found in the economically poor, but even the rich can entrust their lives to God. Saint Bridget of Sweden and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary were queens of nations who, as soon as they could, shared their wealth with the needy.

“Those who mourn” weep for their own sins or for the way evil has taken root in the world. With tears in his eyes Saint Dominic cried out: “What will become of sinners?” Of course, those who mourn are simply imitating Jesus weeping at the entrance to Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). In fact, Jesus is the model for each of the Beatitudes.

“The meek” do not insist on their own agendas but accept God’s inscrutable designs. Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers in history. When he became so infirm that he could no longer compete, he was asked if he resented what had happened to him. No, he said, “…in golf as in life, you have to play the ball where it lies.” Jesus promises that the suffering “will inherit the earth.”  But he is not referring to any worldly property but to the Kingdom of God.

In its list of beatitudes, the Gospel of Luke emphasizes physical deprivation, while Matthew expands the scope of deprivation. The fourth beatitude serves as an example. Luke has Jesus saying, “Blessed are you who hunger now…!” Biblical scholars comment that Jesus probably spoke this way in the style of the Hebrew prophets. But Matthew considers the message of Jesus’ the entire life: how he ministered and how he died. This is why he has Jesus saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” The blessed ones in Matthew have a spiritual hunger and thirst to always live in accordance with God's will. In the Gospels, Jesus never transgresses the Law. Even in death, he followed the Father's directives. Eric Liddell was an athlete from Scotland competing in the 1924 Olympics. When the 100-meter dash was scheduled for Sunday, Liddell refused to participate. He considered running on Sunday a violation of the Third Commandment. With a life oriented in this way, Liddell ultimately achieved the fulfillment of his heart's deepest desires. He died a missionary martyr in China during World War II.

In his confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus warns them: “You tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness!” (23:23). Mercy will always require more of the individual than simply fulfilling the minutia of the law. Christ's disciples do not neglect to fulfill it. These are the ones the Lord will choose when He comes on the last day. The merciful include members of other faiths. In regions of Africa affected by Boko Haram terrorists, Muslim families have hidden Christians in their homes, risking deadly reprisal.

Mr. Bill Tomes was a businessman from Chicago. In the middle of his career, he traded his suit and tie for a blue denim religious habit. He began working among the gangs in his city. When he heard about a gang fight, he went to stand between the two sides until they stopped shooting. He is the kind of person Jesus has in mind when He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The last two beatitudes are really just one. Jesus pronounces “blessed” those who suffer persecution to become holy like Him. Holiness is not achieved simply by praying in a pew. It also requires a life dedicated to others. Jesus adds that this struggle to be holy is at its root a quest for him. When we find him, our “reward will be great in heaven.”