February 14, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.--Psalm 40:5

Mass readings: Jeremiah 17:5-8 / 1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20 /Luke 6:17,20-26

Paradoxical Promises

Today's Gospel offers a most difficult topic for me: the Beatitudes. Not knowing where to begin, I opened my not-used-enough Catechism of the Catholic Church. I consider myself a good Catholic but there is so much to know, even with the help of my pastor, my spiritual director, EWTN, and so on. This is a life-long learning process and possibly an after-life one as well.

The Beatitudes paradoxically show that earthly wealth is not true wealth and true happiness can never be obtained here. True fulfillment is not here but with God where our soul desires to be. The paths we're to follow don't have the goal of being on a Fortune 500 list. I need to remember that and seek Our Lord's guidance constantly.

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe the promises the Beatitudes offer and to choose the paths that lead to You.