In today’s readings the central theme is ‘Blessing’. The readings draw parallels between the blessed and the cursed, and the stark contrast between the two types of people is made clear to us. What does it mean to be blessed? For me, blessing means the presence of God. When God is present in the situations of our lives, we consider ourselves blessed. For where God dwells, so does His favour, so does the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Where God is, there is peace, love, joy, providence. Alternatively, to be cursed is to lack these things. It is to not have God amid our situations and to deal with things without the help of the Lord. It is then that struggle, turmoil and strife become our reality.

The prophet Jeremiah speaks of blessings and curses. Those who trust in human beings, who seek worldly answers, who willingly turn away from the Lord to find their own solutions are considered cursed – not by the Lord but by their own actions. They themselves have closed the door to the hand of blessing on their lives. No one could provide the way that God can, no one can solve impossible problems the way that God can; and if we attempt to seek this kind of answer, our hearts and lives will not be open to the blessing that the Lord is waiting to offer us. However, if we trust in the Lord, if we hope during adversity, if we follow God’s laws, we are considered blessed. God’s watchful eyes will be upon us, and though we may stumble, He will not let us fall.

In today’s world, we seem to have more people who are trusting in people rather than God. This is because of the lack of faith that is among today’s generations. Young people are trained to believe that God does not exist, that it is old fashioned to be religious, that science is superior to religion, and opinions are formulated that go against the reality of God. In this context, when we read the Gospel and see the Lord Jesus’ teachings on the beatitudes, it seems no wonder that people find it difficult to believe in God.

Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the hated – how can such people be blessed? Our idea of blessing is materialistic, we think it is for the rich, the powerful, the affluent, but the Lord Jesus calls those who are marginalized and persecuted because of the Lord’s name as blessed. Why? Because they have the favour and the presence of God and are intimately connected to Him in a way that no material blessing could ever compensate for.

Prayer: Abba Father, let me see the blessings of the kingdom in my life rather than the blessings of this world. Amen.