Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures given to us, all of us are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to remain truly and firmly faithful in the Lord, in doing whatever is right and just, and in accordance to the Law of God at every available opportunities that have been granted to us. Each and every one of us should do our best to obey God’s will, His Law and commandments so that in everything that we say and do, in how we interact with one another, all of us will always be exemplary and good in our Christian life and actions, and it is in doing so that we truly live a worthy life that all of us as Christians are expected to live. That is the essence of what we have been reminded to do today and henceforth, to be the inspiration and role model for others around us in how we ought to live our lives.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistles of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in Corinth, St. Paul the Apostle reminded the Christian faithful to keep being faithful to the Lord, and to endure the many challenges and trials that they might have to face amidst living their lives in the world. St. Paul reminded all the Christian faithful that although they may have to face hardships and difficulties in life as they carry on living their lives as Christians, but they should not lose hope and despair, as the Lord would comfort them and help them throughout their most difficult moments. We also should not forget that the Lord Himself has come into our midst and endured on our behalf the most terrible and harshest of oppressions, challenges and hardships so that by His loving sacrifice and sufferings, all of us might be healed and spared the destruction facing us because of our sins.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the teachings of the Lord in the famous Beatitudes, or also known as the Sermon on the Mount, during which time the Lord laid out what His followers and disciples should be like, in their way of life, beliefs and actions. If we are to follow Him and believe in Him, therefore all of us are expected to do what the Lord Himself has told us all and revealed through the Eight Beatitudes. The Beatitudes themselves are a series of blessings and praises that the Lord uttered on those who have upheld the important Christian virtues and values, in living their lives in accordance to the Law and commandments of God, in loving God and in loving their fellow brethren just as much as they have loved themselves. In essence, the Lord was exhorting His people to do as He has commanded them to do in their lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all remember again the words of the Beatitudes, in the Lord telling us all how blessed are all those who have been poor in spirit, as this spiritual poverty signifies one’s willingness to humble themselves and to seek the Lord’s mercy and providence, His love and compassion, in acknowledging that we have been faulty and mistaken in our way of life, and how we truly need the Lord in our lives to guide us and to help us. Let us all remember how the Lord told us all that those who are gentle are blessed, because in gentleness lies the patience and love which the Lord Himself has shown us, in continuing to love us even when we have frequently disobeyed Him and rebelled against His will and His commandments.

Let us remember how blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, as those people seek what is right and just in life, and focus themselves on the right pursuits in life, not in succumbing to the temptations of the world, to their greed and ambition, but in putting the Lord and His Law and precepts always ever above everything else. Then, also for those who are merciful, because by showing mercy upon others, they learn empathy and have love, concern and attention on others, in loving each other as fellow brothers and sisters in the same Lord, and not instead being focused on achieving their own personal ambitions and desires, which often led to us to commit wicked acts and sin against one another and against God.

Those who are of pure heart as mentioned by the Lord, have a heart that despises sin and seeks to be righteous in God, and who finds pleasure and joy in serving the Lord and in doing His will, and then those who work for peace, are all those who again also know the value of each individual beings, as they are those who likely place importance in caring for one another and in maintaining human dignity, peace and harmony between people, who seek to overcome differences rather than to emphasise on those differences for discrimination and other negative things we often did. And lastly, those who have been persecuted for their faith and for believing in God, they have placed the Lord at the centre and as the focus of their lives and existence, and suffering for the Lord’s sake as they remained firm in their commitment to follow Him despite the opposition and challenges that they had to face in doing so.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore discern carefully our paths in life, and reflect upon the message of the Beatitudes that the Lord had placed into our hearts and minds. Let us all ask ourselves on whether we have lived our lives faithfully and dedicated ourselves well for the greater glory of God. Have we truly dedicated ourselves to the path that God has shown us, and have we done what we can so that our lives may truly be a reflection of who we are as God’s beloved ones, and therefore, show the light and truth of God’s love and grace? Let us inspire and help one another to persevere in our faith so that despite all the hardships and challenges that we may have to face along our way and journey, we will always be strong and be able to endure those trials for the coming promised salvation and eternal life, the true joy that will be ours in God.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour, continue to strengthen and guide us in our journey of faith and life, and may He empower all of us so that we may be great and most faithful beacons of His light and truth, at all times and at every opportunities, now and always, forevermore. Amen.