HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
Homily for Wednesday of the Twenty-Third (23rd) Week in the Ordinary Time, year II. 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26. In today's liturgy of the word, Luke presents to us the beatitudes, a version different from that of St. Matthew's. At a time when persecution of the early Christian communities were at its peak and many felt discouraged and hopeless. St. Luke reassures the people of God of the blessedness of God upon their lives, following the teachings of Jesus on the beatitudes. The word beatitudes literally means happinness or blessedness. The teachings on the beatitudes reawakened them to the truth that true happiness can only be found in God; that God had not abandoned them; for they would surely be blessed and rewarded for their courage and perseverance in faith at moments of distress, suffering, poverty, hunger, sorrow etc. Hence, contrary to the prospects and teachings of the world and its philosophy, that wealth, positions, prestige, honour etc are what det...