GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 29TH JANUARY 2017
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
PSALM: Psalm 146:6-10
SECOND READING: 1Corinthians 1:26-31
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12
THEME: THE PATH TO BLESSEDNESS
St. Augustine is credited with the saying, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
A trademark of humble people is that they are ‘angelic’. They have a value-system that is other-worldly and often countercultural. They are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers etc. They walk on this earth and yet are not earthly in their disposition and actions.
In the face of an impending danger, the prophet Zephaniah exhorts the people of Judah in these words, “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility…” (Zeph. 2:3).
The verb, “to seek” as used in the above text takes the form of an imperative (a command). The object of the verb also places the ‘Lord’, ‘righteousness’ and ‘humility’ on the same radar. From this perspective, humility is given a high level of importance.
The importance of humility is further explicated in our Second Reading. Paul writes, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1:27-29).
In one of the Jewish rabbinic writings as enshrined in the ‘Talmud’, it is stated, “He who sacrifices a whole offering shall be rewarded for a whole offering; he who offers a burnt-offering shall have the reward of a burnt-offering; but he who offers humility to God and man shall be rewarded with a reward as if he had offered all the sacrifices in the world”. The school of thought here is that humility surpasses all other forms of sacrifice.
There are many different ways of gaining human approval but there is only one way to arrive at blessedness; it is the way of humility. Just as a bee is attracted by the nectar of a flower, the fragrance of humility attracts the favour of God. Do you desire to be blessed? Then seek humility with all your heart.
PRAYER: Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).