This Sunday’s responsorial psalm states: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord”. This phrase captures the message of the readings.
The poor, and those who are afflicted in a variety of ways, very often have neither the ability nor opportunities to improve their status by their own efforts. If they do not fall into the trap of utter despair, they will turn to God for assistance and loving care.
There is a clear warning for the rich and powerful in today’s Gospel. They can easily believe that the whole world is at their feet and that God is not needed in their lives. However, the facts of life prove that their fortune can be lost overnight.
Whether poor or rich, everyone should have the basic necessities for a dignified life. The four blessings and the four woes, from today’s Gospel reading, implicitly appeal for a generous sharing among us, and promise God’s blessing for those who do it.
The second reading exhorts us to expand our trust in the Lord beyond the present life. This is based on Christ’s resurrection, and on the fact that His followers will share the same destiny of eternal unity with the triune God.
Fr. Toni Baranowski SJ