6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
We always question ourselves about the best practices to attain the kingdom of heaven. We seek to know the best things to do for us to serve God better. We strive to find out what God requires most from us as His children. Prophet Jeremiah gives us the answer to these questions as he tells us the true purpose of Christian life and of God’s infinite love for us as His children. Prophet Jeremiah reminds us in today’s first reading Jer 17:5-8, that "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit." Some of us if not all of us here can affirm that these words of Prophet Jeremiah as true. We are living examples of it. We have been through a lot, struggled with many things and experienced so much difficulties, hardships and struggles in life but the only thing that keeps us going is God’s graces, mercies and blessings to us. That is why we are reminded today by Prophet Jeremiah to Trust and Hope in God. Without God, we will not be here today. Without God, we will not be who we are today. Never forget that - One with God is majority and fears nothing, because God is in control and in charge. So Trusting and Hoping in God, is a characteristic of a true follower and disciple of Christ. To remind us of the reasons why we are called to Hope and Trust in God, Jesus points out in the beatitudes in today’s gospel from the gospel of Saint Luke 6:17, 20-26 the blessings that will come our way or the rewards that we will receive when we Hope and Trust in God. Jesus emphasizing the rewards set aside for all who hope and trust in Him by saying, "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven."
My brothers and sisters in Christ, do you trust in God? How firm is your trust in Him if you truly trust in Him? Do you put all your hope in God or in people or things? Do you have doubts in your mind about your belief in God that shows your lack of hope and trust in Him?
We are reminded today by Jesus in the gospel reading and by Prophet Jeremiah in our first reading to hope and trust in God always as His children and disciples so as to bear fruit that will last, because blessed indeed are those who hope and trust in the Lord as the Psalmist reminded us in our Responsorial Psalm today.
