Wednesday, September 23, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest

 (Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Today’s readings provide an explanation of the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Proverbs asserts that rich people, trusting in their wealth, are likely to deny God as the source of their well-being.  The gospel illustrates Jesus’ awareness of God’s graciousness as he sends his apostles on mission.  He tells them to take with them no more than the clothes on their backs. His directive implies that God will provide for all their needs.

 To be poor is one thing and to live in misery is another.  The poor have bread to eat but little more.  The miserable live in dire need. They lack what is essential to live, be it food, peace of mind, or whatever.  They may steal, as the proverb indicates, or commit another kind of atrocity which only multiplies their troubles.

 Most of us have a good deal more than enough.  Yet many forget to thank God for what they have as they grasp for more.  If we do that, we become pitiable like the scrounging miserable. We will roam with unsettled hearts worrying without cause.

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2020

 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest

(Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Today’s readings provide an explanation of the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Proverbs asserts that rich people, trusting in their wealth, are likely to deny God as the source of their well-being.  The gospel illustrates Jesus’ sense of God’s graciousness as he sends his apostles on mission.  He tells them not to take more than the clothes on their backs.  He is implying that God will provide for all their needs.

To be poor is one thing and to live in misery is another.  The poor have bread to eat but little more.  Lacking even food, the miserable live in dire need.  They may steal, as the proverb indicates, and that only multiplies their troubles.

Most of us have a good deal more than enough.  Yet sometimes we seek even more without thanking God sufficiently.  If we do not show gratitude but reach for more, then in a sense we become like the scrounging miserable. We will roam with unsettled hearts worrying over nothing.

 

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Death is our biggest fear and greatest natural threat.  It may be considered the work of the devil.  It is not so bad when it comes after a long life.  The one who has lived eighty-five or ninety years may even welcome death as the end to the pains and humiliations of old age.  But when it threatens a young person or someone in middle age, it becomes a scourge.  For this reason Jesus gives his choice Twelve disciples power over demons and the ability to cure diseases.

Their mission is to proclaim the Kingdom of God.  This is no monarchial territory but the reign of justice and peace.  Subjects of the Kingdom are to live righteously, but they are freed from the terror of an early death.  The Kingdom’s full beneficence is not revealed until the end of the gospel.  It bestows not only a long, worthwhile life but also the prospect of eternal bliss.  Those who prove themselves righteous will share in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

It is fashionable today to reject eternal life as fanciful.  Some try to content themselves with following the customs and most of the commandments of Christianity.  They reason that these traditions provide a satisfying rhythm to life and a more or less workable morality.  Not only will this mental picture prove insufficient when life’s challenges mount, but it also betrays the wisdom of today’s first reading.  We are to accept the gospel in its entirety.  We also walk as Jesus’ his disciples – poor but not wanting with the gracious help of one another.  With those disciples as well we look up the road to an eternal destiny where every need is more than satisfied.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Today’s readings provide an explanation of the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”  The text of Proverbs explains why one should not desire riches: they make her forget to seek her welfare in God’s Providence.  The gospel illustrates Jesus’ sense of Providence’s bounty as he sends his apostles on mission with just the clothes on their backs.

To be poor is one thing and to live in misery is another.  The poor have bread to eat but little more.  Lacking food, the miserable live in constant need.  They may steal, as the proverb indicates, and multiply their troubles.

Most of us have a good deal more than enough to live.  Yet we likely seek more rather than give thanks to God for our fortune.  In a sense we become like the miserable when we have much more reason to rejoice like the poor in spirit.