Observation - February 8th, 2023, Wednesday

February 8^th, 2023, Wednesday

Observation

 

 Ambulance pulling up across the street

 Lights and sirens…beep…beep

 Window shades tinted with blue and red

 A gurney clatters for the dead

Observation - February 7th, 2023, Tuesday

 February 7^th, 2023, Tuesday

Observation

 

The sky is gray

 

It is pleasantly cold,

with a dampness to the air

 

The frost has left a shine on the cement

A Homily - The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily - The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

 First Reading – Isaiah 58:7-10 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 111(112):4-9 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ©

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:13 - 16 ©

 

(NJB)

Listen.

Meditate on the scriptures and consider the meaning they express when they refer to the light of God; in this moment we should reflect on the School od Isaiah, as Jesus often did, and be mindful of these precepts:

Our light shines we it shine with the justice of God, the creator of the universe, our light shines when we are merciful; we are light when we communicate love and compassion, acting as servants to those who are in need, we shine with light in our humility.

Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the poor and clothe the naked, these acts will heal you from your own sin and sickness, they will heal you as light cures the cancer, shrinks the tumor that divides our hearts and in our minds, the material-disease, hoarding wealth to feed our greed.

When we are giving we are good, and God’s light shines through us like an unhooded lantern or a beacon on a hill, it shines in all directions signaling to those who see it that we are unafraid for we have made a dwelling in our hearts for God.

Uncurl the clenched fist; let the light shine.

Release the captive; let the light shine.

Be kind to the oppressed, see them all around us…know that not-one-of-us is free until our light shines’ we are prisoners of the world. Let it shine in the darkness and our shadow departs, shinning brightly above us as if we it were the sun at noon.

Let it shine and be mindful!

This is what the scriptures are speaking to when they preach to us about God’s light.

Consider the words of the psalmist who speaks to us of a just God, the good of infinite compassion.

We are destined for the divine, to nurtured by the Word; coming to fruition when the seed that was planted in us, sprouts and blossoms into God’s own self…not the image of God, but God’s fullness.

Be mindful!

Righteousness and compassion are their own reward, nothing extra comes to you from God in exchange for the good things you do; the way is not a lane of commerce.

 What is good and true does not require a letter of introduction; understand that a person’s past deeds are not necessarily a prelude to their future actions, the good may do ill, and the wicked may do good….take each day as it comes, be mindful of the present moment.

 The way is guarded nor are those who follow it suspicious of each other’s motives.

 We are all on the way, the way which excludes no-one. We are moving inexorably toward the source of all creation, all of us together: the cooperative and the recalcitrant, moving in wisdom toward the divine.

 Consider the Gospel for today and know that this: There are no guarantees in life.

 Listen to Jesus’ teachin; he understood the natural failings of human beings; he knew that same person could be salient and good in one moment, bitter and coercive in the next.

 Even the disciples, as close as they were to Jesus, even they were free from these propensities. Why would it be any different for the Christian man or woman who follows them two thousand years later…?

 It is no different.

 If you set out to teach, to be a light in the world…do it; live intentionally. 

 Be mindful of what Jesus said:

 A lamp…once lit, should be put on the lamp-stand, but still provide it constant attention; the oil must be replenished, the wick must be trimmed and replaced, the soot must be cleared from the vessel.

 If you intend to live your life as an exemplar of the way, you must be diligent, watchful, mindful of yourself and humble.

  

First Reading – Isaiah 58:7-10 ©

Then will your light shine like the dawn

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 111(112):4-9 ©

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:

  he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,

  he conducts his affairs with honour.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

The just man will never waver:

  he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

  with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

open-handed, he gives to the poor;

  his justice stands firm for ever.

  His head will be raised in glory.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ©

The Only Knowledge I Claimed Was of the Crucified Christ

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew 5:13 - 16 ©

Your Light Must Shine in the Sight of Men

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

 

The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

A Homily – The presentation of the Lord (Year A)

A Homily – The Presentation of the Lord (Year A)

  

First Reading – Malachi 3:1-4 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23(24):7-10 ©

Second Reading – Hebrews 2:14-18 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Luke 2:32

The Gospel According to Luke - 2:22 – 40 ©

 

(NJB)

  

Listen!

 God, the creator of the universe, God is not a lord, God is not a king, God is not the head of an army; the temple of God is not a building, you will find it in the human heart.

 God does not speak to us through intermediaries and priests, God speaks from the seat of consciousness, there is no other place to listen to God, listen to the voice of your conscience, the conscience of another cannot replace your own.

 Have hope, both for yourself and all people, the divine spirit is present within each of us, it is the flame that purifies, it does not destroy…it refines, and no-one escapes it.

 Know this!

 All things and persons have their being in God, the divine will is the foundation of all that is. Without God there is nothing, and in nothing there is not even the possibility of something…remember this.

 If you wish to climb the mountain to find God that is fine; do it, God is there. God is in all places at all times, there is no place where God is not.

 You will find God on the mountain, or turn to your neighbor and see God reflected in their eyes. Look in the face of the stranger, see it, see them there and behold the face of God, bow to the divine spirit within them, in the presence of sacred give thanks. 

 Do not worry about your personal holiness, or the holiness of any other person, we all run hot and cold. Accept God’s love in the here and now, in the midst of all your faults, accept it as a token of what you will become as you pass from the world into the divine light, and know that this is true of everyone.

 Be mindful!

 God loved you before the first moment of creation, when there was only the possibility of you buzzing with latent potentiality, God loved you then before all that you are existed, in the same way that God loves all things and everyone; we are loved by God, in the expression of that love we are made holy.

 There is no vanity in emulating the love that God bears for all God’s children; rather we are commanded to do it, to approximate that love as best we can. It is never vain to follow God even in our faltering and fumbling ways.

 Look for God’s blessing in the service you provide to your neighbor, in your duty to your mother and father, to your sister and brother, find your justification in the quality and extent of the mercy you show those who have hurt you, in forgiveness, empathy and compassion.

 Listen!

 God is not confined to the pages of a book or by the ink on a scroll, neither is God bounded by the history and mythology of a people. Look to those things for glimpses of God, and remembrances of past encounters, but if you seek the living God, you will have to look into the heart of living beings.

 Shun false narratives and irrational arguments. Know that the spirit of God is the spirit of truth, and nothing false has a place in God’s house.

 Consider the reading from Paul’s letter for today; it is replete with error.

 This is not to say that Paul was dishonest, I do not believe that is the case, but you must understand that his view of the world and the nature of reality, was fundamentally wrong.

 Understand this: there is no devil!

 There is no power I the universe other than God’s. We are not at war with the forces of darkness, we are only at war with ourselves.

 Make peace.

 Paul tells the truth when he says that Jesus came to set us free from the fear of death, that is the good news in the resurrection narrative, but this was not accomplished by magic or alchemy, such as Paul describes here, the key to this miracle did not take place on the cross.

 Jesus was not a priest, and we are not saved by his blood, blood offerings have never accomplished anything for anyone. Jesus was not slaughtered like a sheep on the altar; he did not atone for our sins through his death, we are accountable for ourselves.

 The good news is this:

  God loves us, God has always loved us, whatever it is you think you need to be forgiven for, the forgiveness was yours before you ever sinned.

 God’s love and mercy cover everything and everyone from the beginning until the end of time, there is no exception.

 Jesus did not effectuate the atonement, either with his life or with his death, he came to proclaim the truth that had been hidden, that God has made us as one; we have been one with God since the beginning. The Christian mission is to follow Jesus in the way, to spread the word and instill that faith in everyone; we are one in the divine, and no power can tear us apart.

 Consider the Gospel for today, read the narrative carefully.

 It is mythology and propaganda, as such it is a deviation from the way, for the way is always found in the service of truth.

 The gospel writers gave us narratives concerning the early life of Jesus that are complete fiction, and while their intention was to spread the good news, and while they were not acting with malice, nevertheless, they subverted the real teaching of Jesus and left the burgeoning movement exposed to human corruption.

 The authors of Luke’s gospel ask us to believe this narrative concerning Jesus: that he obeyed the “law,” following the forms of ritual and blood sacrifice that were proscribed in the books of his ancestors, ostensibly lending credibility to claims of Jesus’ holiness.

 Jesus did not need this, he did not need these stories told about him to boost his image in the eyes of the people, these lies were a disservice to them and only helped to deliver the church into the hands of priests.

 Jesus rejected traditions that were not helpful to the people, to the poor, the marginalized and disenfranchised; he adhered to the prophetic tradition which insisted that God preferred acts of mercy over animal sacrifices.

 Jesus taught us that the way was to be found in service: in service o God, and more importantly through the service we provide to one another, not in the fulfillment of corrupt rituals, blood-magic and paying duties to the temple.

 Jesus was not a magician, Jesus was not a supernatural being; Jesus was an ordinary man who led an extraordinary life and was killed for ordinary reasons: greed, jealousy and fear.

 Jesus only merited the status of Christ (the anointed) insofar as he led a life of service, which he did; he served his people to the bitter end.

 We are all anointed, baptized or not, we are anointed  insofar as we follow the way, we are anointed through service, and by demonstrating mercy in the cause of justice.

 The mythologization of Jesus was a subversion of the way because it suggested that the ordinary service he called us to, the service he exemplified, came from a place of supernatural-power, it didn’t it came through the ordinary compassion of a human being.

 

First Reading – Malachi 3:1-4 ©

The Lord You Are Seeking Will Suddenly Enter His Temple

The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be welcomed by the Lord as in former days, as in the years of old.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23(24):7-10 ©

Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.

O gates, lift high your heads;

  grow higher, ancient doors.

  Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.

Who is the king of glory?

  The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,

  the Lord, the valiant in war.

Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.

O gates, lift high your heads;

  grow higher, ancient doors.

  Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.

Who is he, the king of glory?

  He, the Lord of armies,

  he is the king of glory.

Who is the king of glory? He, the Lord, he is the king of glory.

 

Second Reading – Hebrews 2:14-18 ©

He Took to Himself Descent from Abraham

Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Luke 2:32

Alleluia, alleluia!

The light to enlighten the Gentiles and give glory to Israel, your people.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Luke - 2:22 – 40 ©

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

 

The Presentation of the Lord

The Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 A Homily – The Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

 

First Reading – Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 145(146):6-10

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 11:25

Alternate Acclamation – Matthew 5:12

The Gospel of Matthew 5:1 – 12a ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

God, the creator of the universe, God is not a lord or a king, God is not the leader of a nation, not now and not ever. God has nothing to do with human government. God does not intervene in the affairs of human beings or their politics.

God does not punish the rebellious because God has no stake in the conflicts that occur amongst God’s children.

Remember.

God calls people from the place of God’s indwelling, God draws a person to the divine from the place where they are, meeting them there and never leaving their side. God speaks to us there…from here where we are, God speaks to us that we may understand, talks with us that we may find wisdom, but this is only possible if we stop to listen, if we learn to discern divine counsel apart from the voice of our ambitions.

Consider the psalmist:

It is right to praise God, the creator of the universe.

It is good to praise God, with words in song, for God is the author of our being and God’s grace is the vehicle of our salvation.

The life of a single human being, even the total expanse of time that humans will have walked the earth, the sum of it will be consumed in a brief burst of light, a flash in the night, when our world comes undone, consumed by our star.

It is wise to understand this and reflect on its meaning; we are born, we breathe for a while and then we are gone; the earth itself will not survive the dying of the sun.

This is not cause for sorrow, it is simply the way things are.

Therefore, happy are those whose help is God, happy are those who assist God in the divine work of mercy and justice:

 

Who lift the oppressed,

          wherever they are

Who feed the hungry

and the prisoner

Who teach the ignorant,

          Wherever they are,

 

Who advocate for those that need an advocate, care for those who cannot care for themselves. Find those who are lost in their wickedness, tell them that they are loved and bring them home.

Consider the teaching of the apostle, his approach and method, understanding that the responsibility of a Christian, the duty of the baptized, is to participate in a universal priesthood; we are all called to mission, to follow the way of Jesus, whom we call the Christ. Consider the teaching of the apostle on how to share the gospel, the good news…that the divine will moves within us.  

 Direct your ministry to the lowly, the outcast and the marginalized; speak to them of their greatness. Remind those who feel unloved that they are loved; the lonely they are desired.

Assure the sick that they will be well, tell the poor that wealth does not matter.

 Speak to what is lacking in the direct experience of your sisters and brothers; state your faith without equivocation that everything will be made whole.

 Reverse everything, this is the art of persuasion:

 Speak to strength as if it were weakness, convince the weak that they are strong.

 Give the people something outside of themselves to believe in; let that lead them. Give them something they cannot see, touch, or hear, it will be irrefutable, unassailable and captivating.

 Know this:

The person who cannot boast of what is good or beautiful in themselves, will boast of their participation in the good and beauty of another; when their participation in it becomes a part of their identity will defend it to the bitter end.

 These are the arts of persuasion, the apostle was a student of rhetoric and he understood the principles well...as should we all.

 The teachings of Jesus cannot be treated like a shell game, though they are, and have been since the beginning, as Matthew’s Gospel illustrates, therefore consider the reading for the day:

 The way of Jesus is not a long-con, it is not a bait and switch, it is a simple teaching that cannot be controlled or owned by any one group of people.

 Be mindful of the second paragraph in today’s reading there is truth here, but the first paragraph contains the lie…which necessitates this corrective.

 God has hidden nothing from us, God’s spirit is the spirit of truth, God’s is the spirit of wisdom, the creation of the universe was an act of reason, its truths are wide open, they are plain for anyone to see.

 The wise and the powerful, the learned and the clever, the weak and the meek, everyone…everyone has access to the same truth, we are all present to the mind of God, possessing equal access to the knowledge of justice, the nature of  hope, and meaning of love.

 Who are the wise and powerful? Who are the learned and the clever? Who are the faithful and or the fallen? In every generation, the new group labels the elder group as out of touch, blind, privileged, in the dark, corrupt.

 It is an endless cycle, and the way remains the same, unchanged since the dawn of time: love justice, be merciful, do good, serve God through the loving service you provide to one another, walk humbly all the days of your life.

 This is the way; share it with your family, your friend, your neighbor, the stranger. Even with your adversary, follow the way.

 Just because a person may be wise and powerful, learned and clever, or a child of the church, does not mean they will recognize the truth when they see it, or act upon it when they do. Membership in the club is not a guarantor of any specific behavior.

 It is not your station in society, it is not how other people regard you, it is not the titles you have earned, or the ways that you have been marginalized that give us the tell on how you will fulfill the call to follow the way; what matters is what is in your heart and your willingness to trust in the content of your hope.

 Much has been written about the sermon on the mount. It is hard for me to believe that I would have anything new to add to that discussion, but adding something new is not as important as sharing the story itself, the story of how it shapes my perspective on the Gospels themselves, to share that perspective and keep the conversation flowing.

 In this teaching Jesus articulates a way of seeing the world, of living in society, of understanding our relationship to the creator; that reverses the social expectations that prevailed in his time.

 He might have said: the providence of divine belongs to all people, regardless of who they are or where they came from, or how far they think they are from the love of the God, no matter what creed they profess, or what traditions bind them. Divine providence belongs to everyone in equal measure, no matter how mush or how little they may think about it.

 The gentle seek few possessions, having nothing to guard, they are themselves unguarded…and free; by freeing themselves from their desires they have gained everything.

 Have hope…all sadness and all mourning, all suffering comes to an end.

 Strive for what is right and just, for the good and truths that are universal in scope, for fairness in what touches all people, give up your concerns for yourself and your tribe, for that is the narrow path that leads to misery, it is the broad road that leads to joy.

 Mercy follows upon mercy, as the sun follows the rain.

 All people will come to the vision of God, just as certainly as they will come to know their true selves, for the vision of God and the fullness of the divine is at the center of all people, connecting us to one another, making us whole.

 Accept the parentage of the divine. Take up the task God has set before us. Love justice, be merciful, make peace.

 The divine providence belongs to all people, the use of it comes through sharing.

 If you are abused and persecuted for the sake of peace and mercy; have no fear, the powers of sin and evil,  and the pain they bring, the reality of sickness and death, these are temporary and will end.

  

First Reading – Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 ©

In Your Midst I Will Leave a Humble and Lowly People

 

Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands.

Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord.

In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.

They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths.

But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 145(146):6-10

The Blessedness of Those Who Hope in the Lord

I will praise my God all my days.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

  I will praise the Lord all my life,

 make music to my God as long as I exist.

Do not trust in princes to save you,

  they are only sons of men.

One day their breath will leave them, they will return to the ground;

  on that day perish all their plans.

Happy the one whose help is the God of Jacob,

 whose hope is in the Lord his God,

who made heaven and earth and all that is in them,

  who keeps faith for ever,

  who gives justice to the oppressed,

  who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord frees prisoners,

 he gives light to the blind,

  he raises the fallen.

The Lord loves the upright, cares for strangers,

  sustains orphans and widows;

  but the wicked he sends astray.

The Lord will reign for all ages,

  your God, O Zion, from generation to generation.

I will praise my God all my days.

 

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ©

God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, to shame the wise

Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

 

Alternate Acclamation – Matthew 5:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel of Matthew 5:1 – 12a ©

How Happy Are the Poor in Spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

 

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;   theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.

 

Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

The Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)