Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Did you spend your week in grace?
We pray that God will mature our faith and bless us.
Human being have many needs. Abraham Maslow, an American Psychologist, describes the needs in various levels. One can evaluate what level he or she is at.
Physiological needs: for food and rest
Safety needs: to protect oneself
Belonging and love needs: to develop relationships with family and friends
Esteem needs: to respect oneself and receive respect from others
Self-actualization: to develop oneself
Transcendence: to help others and the world.
Religion pursues higher needs. Where do we go after death? It is beyond the world we live in. How do we transform the society based on the gospels while we live? It is beyond who we are.
We listened to a story of afterlife in the second reading: “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” (1 Corinthian 19) We would be pitiable if we only focus on our world since God’s kingdom will be complete in the future and we believe in the Jesus who has resurrected from the dead.
In today’s gospel, Jesus said “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” (Luke 6:20) Those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and hated are blessed for they will be rewarded in the kingdom of God.
We also find a story of afterlife in the parable of a rich man and Lazarus. The rich man who had enjoyed a lavish life style was sent to hell after he died and suffered. Lazarus who fed himself with scraps from the rich man’s table died and is with Abraham.
As the rich man pleads from the pain and suffering, Abraham says: “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.” (Luke 16:25) Hence, the faithful believes in the afterlife and pursues needs that are beyond this world.
Believers also seek needs that transcends oneself. We desire happiness for others especially those who are in need. We inquire into, pray, and help those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and hated.
In the first reading, Jeremiah describes the blessed person who trusts in the Lord this way “He is like a tree planted beside the water that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8)
This is a mature believer who trust in God. Those who seek higher needs have their hopes in the kingdom of God, thus they do not fear or worry when the heat or difficulties in life confronts them.
I hope you will spend the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time with joy and confidence.
Let us meditate for a moment.
