4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 This Sunday’s gospel begins with Jesus’ celebrated words, “How happy are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This was the first of the so-called beatitudes, the values and virtues by which Jesus intended that his disciples should live. They would live by virtues and values of the kingdom of heaven, rather than the values which come from any other person, nation, philosophy or ambition.

 And the kingdom of heaven can be interpreted as a way of speaking about God’s presence, God’s life and gifts, and God’s dwelling place. The kingdom of heaven may even be God himself. So those who are poor in spirit can hope to possess God’s life within them; those who are merciful can hope for God’s mercy; those who are pure in heart can hope to see God; and those who are persecuted on account of Jesus can hope to receive their reward in the kingdom of heaven itself.

It is probably futile to try to speculate about what each beatitude-value means separately and in detail. How poor must we be to be poor in spirit? At what point does this poverty in spirit conflict with a good salary, a nice home and a comfortable lifestyle? How gentle must we be? At what point does this gentleness conflict with being resolute and strong? How much of a peacemaker must we be? At what point does this peacemaking conflict with legitimate self-defence? The answer to these questions is not always clear in theory and in the abstract, and people of faith have always struggled with these questions as they strive to follow the Lord on the path of holiness in the choices and decisions of their lives.

 Thankfully these virtues and values are not meant to exist in the abstract or to remain theory. They exist above all in Jesus. Look at him and we will understand what poverty in spirit is. Look at Jesus and we will know how to be gentle and merciful without giving in to evil and malice. Look and Jesus and see how someone hungers and thirsts for what is right, yet is compassionate to everyone, and especially to the repentant sinner. Look at Jesus and his cross and see how someone is abused and persecuted, yet still does not condemn or hate his persecutors. Look at Jesus. Learn from him. Follow him. That is the meaning of discipleship.

 And is it possible for us to live these kingdom-virtues and values of which Jesus is the true model? Well yes, look at the example of the martyrs and the saints and see how they lived and died. Look at good Christian people and see how they live. Listen to the wisdom of the Church and we will discover what these values and virtues mean and how these values are lived in the concrete circumstances of Christian life. We will learn detachment from the things of this world, so that we can have a treasure that will never perish. We will learn to be gentle and resolute. We will learn to be merciful and just. We will learn to make peace and remain secure.

 In the beatitudes, Jesus has given us a manifesto of sheer goodness. It has been said that this programme of holiness turns all worldly and self-centred values on their head, directing us unfailingly towards God and our neighbour. Jesus invites us to live by the kingdom of God and to share in the goodness of God himself, the kingdom of heaven. This is surely the pearl of great price which is the inheritance of those who are poor in spirit.

 St. Mirin’s Cathedral

3^rd February 2008