This is also the first day since February 25th this year that I am wearing liturgical green for Mass. Green, the liturgical color for the season of ordinary time, symbolizes growth, spiritual growth, growth in the virtue, growth in charity, growth in utilizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that is to occur throughout the ordinary seasons of our life. The ordinary day-to-day life of the Christian is meant to bring about growth in us.
And there is no better place to beginning to talk about spiritual growth than with the beatitudes. The beatitudes are read at baptisms, weddings, funerals, and throughout the Church year because they are the attitudes and dispositions we are meant to cultivate throughout all of life whether we are mourning or rejoicing. By practicing the beatitudes the Christian orients himself to eternity by putting on the mind and heart of Christ. We are to be meek, as he was meek; we are to be pure, as he was pure; we are to be devoted to doing the will of God as he was devoted.
The very first beatitude is the key to all the rest and therefore the key to any real spiritual growth we hope to obtain. Blessed are the poor in spirit. First and foremost, we must practice poverty of spirit in everything we do, in every conversation we have, in every attempt to serve the physically, we must take upon ourselves the fundamental attitude of Christ—poverty of spirit.Poverty of spirit means that we recognize our absolute need for God, that without God we our absolutely impoverished. Without God we have nothing, and without God we cannot hope to become the people we are meant to be. Without God, the builder builds his house in vain. Apart from me, Jesus says, “you can do nothing” at least nothing worth doing.
The sin of Adam and eve, and every sin, is essentially a failure to practice this very first beaitutide. Without it, we begin to believe and live as if we do not need God, we do not need to trust God or obey his commandments. It is the belief that we can grasp and obtain happiness and life without God. Without the first beatitude we begin to swell with a sinful pride that leads to perdition.
Rather, the Christian is to cultivate the soil of their hearts, minds, and souls with and by humility, and by doing so, we become heirs of the kingdom of heaven, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - - -
That the preaching and teaching and charitable works of the Church will inspire all people to seek to practice the beatitudes of Christ.
That those in public office may govern with wisdom, put an end to all political corruption, and work for a society of authentic justice and peace with special care for the most vulnerable.
For an end to oppression, racism, hatred, addiction and injustice. For the healing of all the sick.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of marriages, for all single people who strive to follow Christ, and for the grace to utilize our spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for all the poor souls in purgatory for Bishop George Murry, bishop of Youngstown and for Paul Becker, for whom this Mass is offered.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment