Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)
Both readings today speak of the Lord’s care for those who
love Him. The context of the first
reading is important. Elijah is
announcing to King Ahab God’s guilty verdict.
Israel’s ruler has married a pagan woman and worshipped her god. Having spoken truth to power, Elijah is
forced into exile. He might perish, but
the Lord has ravens bring him food.
Once again, we hear the gospel pronouncing as "blessed" those who overcome pride and do good. Although
the world may be blind to their sanctity, the Lord will not let it go
unrewarded. He will grant Jesus’
faithful disciples the most wanted real estate of all, a place in the Kingdom
of heaven.
As good as it sounds and as reliable as it has been, we may still
doubt God’s beneficence. Doubting and
temporizing, we don’t place ourselves in God’s hands when in trouble. Rather we let ourselves worry. Yet our experience is quite the contrary. Like me, you probably ask yourself why God is
so good to you. We just cannot place
ourselves outside the infinite reach of His mercy.
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