The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (Latin for, “A Few Words)
The anointing with oil from the wonder-working icon of Saint Anna (the mother of Mary) has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 17 at 6:15 PM at the Family Foundation School. The chapel doors are open and everyone is most welcome.
Lent is a time to “turn up the flame.” On Wednesday past, as our foreheads were marked with the sign of repentance, “Leave the past in ashes.” I’m to find a way to live the Christian life more effectively, more truly. Perhaps a look again at the “Blessings” or “Beatitudes” of the Lord Jesus we heard last Sunday. We might consider these as points of meditation as we set out on the Forty Days.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. These are the people who know how much they need God. They live without arrogance and with a keenly felt sense of their need before God. The poor in spirit are those who know that they do not control their own lives but live in utter dependence upon God. They do not find their identity or sense of security in what they own, or what they know or who they know, but in God alone. Jesus says they will be vindicated.
Blessed are those who mourn: Trouble is not the final word for this world. I weep and I mourn because God’s Kingdom is not here yet – God’s will is not done. I see it all around and I mourn for God’s loss. In the end, God will satisfy the longings of these hearts.
Blessed are the meek: Christ’s kingdom is not this-worldly. Jesus says it himself as he stands before Pilate – “My kingdom is not of this world.” Meekness does not work in the kingdoms of this world. To be meek in this world is to be ignored. Rather, the meek are those souls who reject the violent methodology of those who hold power in this world. Jesus promises that these meek souls will participate in God’s renewed creation.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: Biblical righteousness is justice. To be righteous means to actively set out in doing God’s will – sharing God’s agenda – making God’s purposes my own. Righteousness is not about being a doer of good deeds or a well-wisher – but those who long for God’s Kingdom and for the world to embrace what God says is right and good. With this as a life-foundation, they set out to do what God wants. Jesus promises that these will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful: This is not to have an attitude of mercy or a desire for mercy – but it is to do the things of mercy. Recently in the Sunday lessons we listened to God speak to us through the mouth of the Prophet Hosea, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” The people who do merciful things will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart: This is not about sexual things – the absence of sexual fantasy or dirty thoughts. In this world we are invited to worship many things: secularity, leisure, opinions, entertainments, personalities, political parties, militarism, power, materialism, the worship of the perfect body, the worship of perfect health, the worship of my own individual truth – which is called relativism. The pure of heart are those who stand before God with undivided loyalties. Jesus said to Martha, “One thing is needful.” It is like the gospel fellow who sells everything to obtain the one great pearl. The opposite of the pure heart is a divided heart. Lots of people try to serve many masters.
Blessed are the peacemakers: The early Christians continued the anti-militaristic teaching of the Lord Jesus. The Jewish Christians of Palestine refused to fight in the war against Rome in the years 66-70 A.D. Eschatological fulfillment isn’t concerned with what others will say of the peacemakers and reconcilers now. It isn’t about getting a new identification or acknowledgement in this life (“I’m in the peace movement.”) Rather, in the future the peacemaker will belong to God’s new people and will share in the inheritance God holds for them – welcoming them as the daughters and sons of God.
Blessed are those unjustly persecuted: This sentence is not addressed to everyone who is persecuted but only to those who are persecuted because they do the things that are required of those who live in God’s Kingdom. “I do what I do for God’s sake – for the sake of Christ.” Some people have a martyr complex – “Oh everyone is against me,” “Oh, I have the worst luck ever,” “Oh, I have to work so hard…” This isn’t it at all. Rather, the Christian celebrates being out-of-step with the value system and method of this age. Not unlike the ancient prophets who were written off – bumped off – because they brought the new message of God’s kingdom into this world.
Living this way is the difference between religiosity and religion!
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The Lenten icon of the Mother of God near the pulpit is very tender; it is worthy of our prayerful consideration and reverence. She is filled with anguish – sharing so deeply the human condition. Gazing upon her as she contemplates and shares her son’s sorrow, we might consider the millions of anguished mothers around the world today: those who sorrow over the deaths of their children, the mothers who sorrow because they can’t pay the bills, those who lament not being able to feed their children, those who see the future withering.
You are sorrowful and tearful, O Virgin Mary, standing by the Cross of the Lord Jesus, your Son and our Redeemer. Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world does not contain, bears this punishment of the Cross, He the Author of Life made man. (Gradual prayer of the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.)
