“Rejoice and Be Glad”
This Sunday’s Gospel is Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, sterner than Matthew’s: Instead of “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” we get “Blessed are the poor”; instead of “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” we get “Blessed are the hungry.” Yet the main message is the same, and the Beatitudes anchor the Church’s teaching on how to follow Jesus. (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1716ff.)
Last year Pope Francis published an apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, “Rejoice and Be Glad,” essentially a reflection on the Beatitudes, to call each and all of us to holiness in a practical way. He wants each of us in his own way not to be flawless, but to become the saints God intends. For most of us, that means patience with family, kindness to neighbors, working first for the common good rather than our own interests. Your life is a mission, a way for God to speak his word of love to the world. For this, you will need both prayerful devotion to God and committed service to others. Holiness will require sacrifice, but it leads to the vitality and joy of becoming the person God created you to be. Allow God to transform you.
To be holy you must be oriented to God and others, not too wrapped up in yourself. You can’t be too concerned with your own thoughts or feelings, still less whether these are perfectly refined. Nor should you be too absorbed in your own accomplishments or willpower. We begin the walk of holiness by responding to the Lord’s initiative, and by continuing in humble dependence upon his favor and forgiveness.
Jesus’ first great sermon, the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:1—7:28) begins with the Beatitudes, in which Jesus outlines how we can grow in holiness. Elsewhere, Pope Francis has encouraged us to recite the Beatitudes daily:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Pope Francis also cites Matthew 25:31-46—“whatever you did for one of these little brothers and sisters, you did for me”—as a guide to holiness. Here Christians can make two mistakes: (1) They can separate their good works from a personal relationship with the Lord, neglecting prayer and grace and Gospel; or (2) they sideline some social engagement, neglecting to see each person in immediate need as like Christ himself.
Some of the signs by which we can navigate our path of holiness are (a) perseverance, patience, and meekness, (b) joy and a sense of humor, (c) boldness and passion, (d) sharing life “in community,” (e) living “in constant prayer.” It will be a constant battle with the Devil, who opposes us on this path and whose goal is to make us stumble or turn away. Make a daily examination of conscience and ask God for the gift of discernment in finding our way.
Please pray for the 8th graders of St. Malachy and St. John of God Parishes, on retreat today in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
—Fr. Dave
