Homily: June 12, 2023, Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (Jesus' attitude)

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 "After he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them…”

You must have heard this Gospel passage proclaimed many times over the years. Can you identify with any of the situations Jesus highlighted in this list of beatitudes?

Do you feel encouraged by the fact that your ‘poor or persecuted’ situation is actually a heavenly blessing?

How many of you have watched the TV series ‘The Chosen’?

In Season 3, Episode 1, it shows Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount. I have known this biblical event very well yet when I watched how it could have happened as shown on the series, I understood it so much more. I must applaud the directors for presenting the event in a very moving and intensely personal way.

In the show, as Jesus was teaching about each of the beatitudes, he would look at his apostles one at a time with an affectionate connection, letting His words penetrate deep into their consciousness and they in turn seemed to come to a powerful realization of their weaknesses, their dark pasts, their need for an attitude conversion.

Jesus knew the strengths and weaknesses of His disciples so well. The sermon was not just for the crowd, it was meant for His closest followers, His chosen ones.

Jesus knows our strengths and weaknesses very well too.

If He were to deliver this sermon again, for each of us here, which beatitude would resonate with you most deeply?

Which situation describes your current state of being most closely?

Are you poor in spirit and hope to grow in faith, are you mourning right now, do you feel you are meek and sidelined, do you see injustice and are thirsting for righteousness, have you been hurt but wish to be merciful, have you sinned and wish for a clean heart, do you live among fights and yearn for peace, are you persecuted emotionally and spiritually because of your faith?

Jesus is encouraging you, inspiring you and empowering you to take courage, bear with the pain, grit through the storm with the right attitude, to give thanks because you will be blessed through all these.

The blessings that come from carrying your crosses with these holy attitudes will be heavenly and well-worth it.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Amen.


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