BEATITUDES: Blessings for our Time

BEATITUDES: Blessings for our Time

The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (January 30) build appropriately on the themes of FAN's "Creativity for Creation". In living from life to gospel the gospel shows us successful results- blessings.

We are invited also to participate in a webcast on January 26. On January 25, we celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul, who invites us along with the Corinthians to "[c]onsider your own calling, brothers and sisters" (1 Cor 1:26). The webcast provides this opportunity.

Zephaniah admonishes us to "seek justice, seek humility" (Zep 2:3). The Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel (5:1-12) expand on this oracle's path to favor with God and offer a fitting meditation in preparation for and reflection on the webcast.

FAN is a movement which lends itself to the Franciscan Mission- The Christian Mission - to Love one another as first, Christ Loves us.

We are blessed to be poor in spirit, when we embrace the richness of Franciscan poverty and simplicity;

We are blessed to mourn, for the damage caused by our choices as we turn to Franciscan penance and return to Christ;

We are blessed to be meek, that we might be fitting heirs of the land and the kingdom;

We are blessed to hunger and thirst for righteousness, in our pursuit of right relationship and open dialog leading to mutual respect and love;

We blessed to be merciful, when we encounter each other and all creatures;

We are blessed to be clean of heart, with pure intentions towards all of Sister Earth's goods;

We are blessed to be peacemakers, who heal the restlessness that drives greed and excess;

We are blessed to be and do all these things in the face of rejection and opposition, that the kingdom of heaven might be our reward.