SCRIPTURE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
                           6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 17:5-8
     Today's First Reading gives one the sense that those who are faithful to God are blessed or rewarded in this life.  Those who ignore God or turn away from him can expect punishment or misfortune.  The people living during the time of Jeremiah had turned away from God.  The prophet foretold of a time that was coming soon when they would suffer because of their sinful ways.  He warned them that they would lose their land and would be taken captive into a pagan land.  They would no longer have their kingdom.  Because they chose to abandon God, they would now suffer the consequences.
     The people in the time of Jeremiah (628 B.C.) believed that God controlled human and natural forces.  Therefore, if a drought affected the land, or if an invading army enslaved the people, they believed it was a sign of punishment for the people's sins.  However, if the harvest was plentiful, or if a battle was won it was taken as a sign of God's blessing.  In order to prosper, the people and the nation needed to live in right relationship with Yahweh.
     Today's readings illustrate strong contrasts.  The one who turns away from God or the person who puts his trust in other humans- not in God- is like a barren bush in the hot, dry desert.  It is far away from nourshiment; it will never bear fruit or flower.  One who puts his trust in God, however, is blessed.   He is close to the source of life.  "It fears not the heat when it comes...in the year of drought, it shows no distress, but still bears fruit (V.8)."  Jeremiah teaches us that if we depend on human effort alone, we will be lost.  But if we place our trust in God through all the turmoil and stress of life, we will survive, and peace will reign in our hearts.  Let us pray to God that he will lead us safely through the trials of life, that we may receive the peace of mind and heart that will lift our burdens and bring us healing.

SECOND READING: I CORINTHIANS 15:12,16-20
     In the year 51 A.D., Paul brought the message of Jesus Christ to Corinth.  Corinth was a seaport town in Greece.  While Corinth was materially prosperous, it was morally corrupt and a melting pot of various pagan cults.  Paul's missionary efforts among the Jews was a moderate success.  More fruitful, however, were his efforts among the Gentiles and the city's poor and underprivileged.  Paul founded a community and looked after it for two years.  He then left for Ephesus and left an Alexandrian-Jewish Christian, Apollos, to render service to the Corinthian community in his absence.
     While in Ephesus in the year 56 A.D., Paul received news of opposing factions and problems in Corinth.  One of the matters called to Paul's attention was that-despite their belief in the resurrection of Christ- some members of the community were denying the possibility of the bodily resurrection of Christ.  In order to deal with this question, Paul wrote a letter from Ephesus.
     Paul points out that if there was no bodily resurrection, then our faith crumbles.  The basis of our faith is in Jesus' bodily resurrection, Paul continues, not in his miracles or his teaching a new way of life.  If, as the detractors state, that Christ did not rise from the dead, then he has not conquered sin and death.  If he has not conquered sin, then we are still in our sins.  And those who have died have truly perished.  "For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain; you are still in your sins (v.16)."
     Our faith and hope in Christ is not merely for this life, but also for a future life.  It is in that future life that we will be able to enjoy the fullness of the resurrection.  If this is not so, Paul says, then he has been wasting his time preaching about Christ.  Christ's resurrection is a guarantee that all who have died and all who will die in the future will be raised up just as Jesus was raised.  He was the firstfruits and we are the harvest.  "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (v.20)."  May we remain focused on the resurrected life that awaits us as we continue our journey in faith here on earth.

GOSPEL: LUKE 6:17, 20-26
     In today's Gospel reading we are given Luke's version of the Beatitudes.  The word 'Beatitude' comes from the Latin "beatus," meaning "happy," "blest," or "fortunate."  In the Gospel of Matthew, we are given eight Beatitudes; Luke gives us four, but he also includes four 'woes.'  The opposite of blest is to be 'woeful.'  Note that Jesus is teaching his disciples, and the crowd gathers to listen.  Jesus calls 'blessed' those who are poor, hungry, weeping and rejected.  On the other hand, those who do not share their wealth or their food, as well as those who seek self-glory, power and prestige will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  They have found their consolation on earth.
     As Christians and believers in the message of Christ, our mission is to live our lives for others.  We cannot remain self-absorbed, to the neglect of those who are in need.  In the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, there was a tremendous response to the request for financial aid for the victims of that tragedy.  And that response is very commendable.  But what about those in need who are closer to home, such as the homeless, the maltreated immigrant, the lonely in the convalescent homes, the grieving.  No one is broadcasting their plight.  That's why Christ needs you.  One need not look very far to find someone in need.  Please Lord, that we may be alert and responsive to the needy beside us. Amen. 

-Sunday, February 14, 2010