There is an old beautiful hymn that goes like this…”Thank you, Lord, for the trials that come my way. In that way I can grow each day as I let you lead.” A truth which is hard to accept due to our human nature, but one that every disciple appreciates as necessary to grow in deeper faith and loving relationship with the Lord our God. “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Jn 15:2
St Paul in today’s first reading reaffirms the love of God our Father, sharing with us that He is a gentle Father who comforts His children in all their sorrows so that we can offer others in their sorrows the consolation we have received from our Loving Father in Heaven. As we unite our sufferings with that of Christ and share in our sufferings, so too we will share in our consolations.
This is how we can live out the beatitudes in our lives, with the peace, love and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
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First reading
2 Corinthians 1:1-7 ·
God comforts us so that we can console others
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, one of the brothers, to the church of God at Corinth and to all the saints in the whole of Achaia. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves. Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so, through Christ, does our consolation overflow. When we are made to suffer, it is for your consolation and salvation. When, instead, we are comforted, this should be a consolation to you, supporting you in patiently bearing the same sufferings as we bear. And our hope for you is confident, since we know that, sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolations.
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Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12
How happy are the poor in spirit
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven: this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.’
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