6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
As Catholic Christians, we are always reminded to always trust in the Lord. This might seem strange in our secular world today as the world we live in does not acknowledge God or His importance in our lives and the media has continually pushed to silence our belief in God. Trust is an essential component in our lives as Christians and God’s children. What is Trust? Trust is defined as the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. In the Catholic faith, trust is defined as a virtue that involves relying on God and others, and believing in their promises. It is a response to God's invitation to surrender to His will. What does it mean to trust in God? Trusting in God means: believing in His reliability, truth, ability, and strength. It is a form of hope that God will not deny His grace to those who cooperate with it. It is an active surrender of your life to God. And trust is something that can be experienced in many ways, including hardships and suffering.
My dear friends in Christ, we are constantly questioned, cajoled and mocked for believing in God and trusting in Him while still experiencing hardships, suffering and pain in our lives today. Today’s first reading and gospel reading teaches us to trust in the God which entails allowing Him be in charge and in control of our lives; seeking His guidance and wisdom in everything we do; and acknowledging His presence in our lives especially in our struggles and challenges. In our first reading from the book of prophet Jeremiah, we are reminded to always trust in God because “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD…. But 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.”
Our gospel reading today gives us the Beatitudes to show us how placing our trust in God will never disappoint us as it emphasizes that God is always there for us and will lead us to lasting joy in His presence in heaven. Jesus in today’s gospel reading teaches us how to trust in Him by giving us four beatitudes that will help us truly trust in Him and attain the kingdom of heaven. He also gives us the four woes or limitations that we will face if we do not trust in Him. Since the word “beatitude” comes from the Latin word which means happiness, the Beatitudes are conditions that will bring about happiness in our lives as Christians when we trust in God. This Happiness is not just any kind of happiness, but a special Happiness that the world cannot give, that only comes from the Lord, a happiness that is eternal and would not pass away like the pleasures of the world. This eternal happiness is the goal that Christ has in mind for us as He presents these four beatitudes to us today. What are these beatitudes?
Being poor, which is not just about physical poverty but about storing up treasures for ourselves in heaven and not material wealth. Being hungry, which isn’t just about physical hunger but is about searching for, seeking for, and desiring for justice, salvation and the kingdom of God. Weeping (or mourning) in the beatitudes is an indication and an invitation to love, to assist, to aid and to show genuine concern for others. Being hated means undergoing persecution, and enduring pain and suffering for the sake of Christ. Jesus also mentioned the woes of these beatitudes not to condemn those who are rich, or those who content or satisfied, or those who are happy or those who are well spoken of or loved, rather He is condemning those who have made these physical gifts or blessings they have received an end in themselves and more important than God. This is a reminder that the happiness the world gives from wealth, food, fame, and pleasure are fleeting and will not lead us to the eternal happiness of heaven.
Hence my brothers and sisters in Christ, like today’s first reading and gospel reading teaches us, let us bypass the pleasures of this world by truly trusting in God and always pleasing Him, so as to receive the eternal reward - the unlimited happiness of heaven set up apart for us.
