4th Sunday Ordinary Time A
4th Sunday Ordinary Time A – How Happy Are We?
How happy are we? How happy are we in our current state of life: with the state of the world’s economy, its politics, its fairness to all in every situation, with our own faith and the practice of that faith?
I suppose the answer is really dependant on where we wanted to be in relation to all of these elements. Is our measure of happiness based on our levels of satisfaction with each of these elements? Are we looking to be financially secure or in fact well-to-do? Are we only happy and satisfied if our shade of politics is in power? Do we give much of a hoot about fairness to all just so long as the world is overly fair to me? These are all questions that we would do well to ponder this weekend as we take in our readings and think on what they might mean to and for me.
Zephaniah, in our first reading is calling on the humble of the earth to seek integrity and humility and to put their trust in the Lord. Those with no riches to offer, other than themselves, their lives and the living of those lives, to offer these, with everything involved in them, to the Lord.
Paul makes an echo of this in our second reading when he reminds the people of Corinth that they were called to follow Jesus, not because they were rich and influential figures but because of the opposite: they had nothing but the recognition that Jesus was their Saviour and Lord and their lives now had to be centred on Him. Paul tells them not to get ahead of themselves and to start boasting about positions and placements within their faith-groups. He reminds them that those who appear as nothing at all will show up those who believe they have and are everything. They are nothing without the Lord.
And so to our Gospel reading, the Beatitudes, the job description for any and all who want to call themselves Christians. Matthew tells us that to be blessed in the Lord, to be happy in our lives, we must seek to be the lowliest of all and the servant to all. And he gives us this list of what to do and how to do it. Nowhere in it does he stress that to be happy or blessed we must be rich and influential. Neither does he emphasise the need to be in charge, to dictate to others how they should live their lives or to oversee their every move.
Instead he takes the opposing view. He emphasises to us all that we need to be humble in heart and steadfast in spirit. We need to show an awareness of the plight of others and to do our utmost to ease this whenever and wherever we can. We can each take this reading and its many elements and use it as a checklist of how we are living our lives; what good are we doing; what impact are we making; what support are we offering to others.
Life is not about being the first at everything or the best at everything. It isn’t about being richest, or highest or about any measures like these. Life is about how we show our understanding of God’s love for me, for us, in our everyday dealings with each other. It’s about recognising those others who are worse off than we are and doing whatever we can to make their lives that little bit better. If every one of us did just that little bit extra – be it a pound in the plate or an extra tin of soup or packet of rice for the Foodbank – then think of the impact we could all have across our community.
Maybe think about finding the names of some of our parishioners who have become housebound or who have moved to Care Homes, like Peggy McAllister, who celebrated her 101st birthday last week – and write them a card or a short letter. I know that the Minnie Vinnies from our Junior School sent her about a dozen Get Well cards that she still brings out to read and to show to staff and visitors, with pride, with gratitude and with love.
None of us need to move mountains to demonstrate the strength, depth or breadth of our faith. But if we all sought to plant a small seed of determination, of humility, of care and of love – think what a garden we could produce – full of flowers in praise of God.
Bidding Prayers
1. That we might recognise those in need in our parish community and take actions to help improve their lives. Lord in your mercy
2. That we each seek to identify our own personal strengths and use these to build up our church community. Lord in your mercy
3. That our world becomes a happier and more blessed place in which all levels of society are recognised and supported in their lives. Lord in your mercy
4. That there is an increase in peace and unity across our troubled world. Lord in your mercy
5. That all those who are ill in mind or body or spirit are given the help and support they need to then live full, happy and blessed lives. Lord in your mercy
6. That those who have died recently may find eternal rest with the Lord. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Lord in your mercy
7. And we ask Mary our Mother and the Mother of our Saviour to intercede for us as we now pray together – Hail Mary, full of grace. . .