There are many times when we don’t feel like we are winning at life. We may have trouble making ends meet or not have progressed in life the way we hoped. We may be going through a serious health issue or have lost a loved one. Others may say things that make us feel unloved or unwanted. If we have gone through any of these things or are feeling depressed about life, just look to the inspirational speech Jesus gives in the Gospel for this weekend.
Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” There are two different kinds of poor – spiritual and physical. Those who are physically poor don’t normally have attachment to things, because they don’t have many things. They are also usually more humble because of their financial situation. The living conditions that they are subject to give them a good start in the right direction on their journey to Heaven. These people are most often the ones who understand that it’s their family, loved ones, and God who makes life great.
It’s also possible to have wealth, but be poor in spirit. When we are poor in spirit, we acknowledge that a lavish lifestyle is not the number one priority, but that following God is. These people may or may not have nice things, but they don’t spend most of their wealth and time pursuing selfish goals, but lifting up others. They work predominantly towards their most important goal, getting to Heaven.
Jesus also said, “Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied.” Those who are physically hungry long for food and they will go to great lengths to find food. Those who are spiritually hungry, long for knowledge of God. We should always hunger to learn more about God and grow closer to Him. We shouldn’t just accept our current relationship with God as how it should be forever.
Jesus continues by saying, “Blessed are you who are weeping, for you will laugh.” There are so many people out there who have gone through or are currently going through a loss of someone in their life. Many more people are very sick and suffering. The suffering we go through on Earth can help purify us to be able to more fully enter into Heaven. When we enter Heaven, God will take away all of our sadness by reuniting us with our loved ones and make us strong where we were once weak.
Finally, Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in Heaven.” It’s tough to be a Christian in certain parts of the world. Some Christians are killed for openly professing their faith. Even in the U.S., many Catholic and Christian tenants of faith are denounced by society. Speaking out for our beliefs may not get us killed, but it can get us fired or cancelled.
We all need hope in a world full of sadness and suffering. We hunger for something more in a spiritually empty society. God will give us eternal joy if we not only put our faith in Him, but listen to His Word – Jesus Christ.
