4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Zeph 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Cor 1: 26-31; Mt 5: 1-12a
Deacon Larry Brockman
Well, have you considered your calling- your calling to live a Christian life and let your light shine on others? Because here you all are, faithfully giving praise to God, and recognizing Jesus as your savior, just as you all have now for over 70 years.
Now chances are that just like the people that Paul was addressing, those called to Christ here in this room, are not noble of birth, wise by human standards, or powerful in this world. We are, however, just like the people of Paul’s time who responded to the call. We are greatly blessed. We are blessed because we can boast in the Lord that we are following him in righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And so, all the well born, powerful, and well to do people of the world who are blindly preoccupied with the world, have been put to shame by us who responded to the call.
And just how did we respond to the call? Well, by our faith first and foremost; and then by the light that our lives shone in the darkness of society. For, given our limitations in the eyes of the world, we faithfully supported the Church in the course of our lives; and we raised families, labored tirelessly, and suffered through life’s challenges bravely. In other words, as true followers of Christ we have heard the Sermon on the Mount, humbly accepting life as God gave it to us. And so, to the greatest extent possible we have been poor in spirit- not puffed up and arrogant in our attitude; we have mourned graciously at appropriate times; and we have submitted meekly to our trials,lsicknesses, circumstances and limitations. We have consistently sought righteousness- harmony with God; and forgiven and shown mercy to those who wronged us. We have tried to stay clean of heart and abide by God’s commandments to avoid the sordid things of life. And we have held steadfast in our faith no matter how society has tried to undermine it. We have lived through many years of trials, and still radiate our faith for all to see. And we are still here- expressing our faith and joy in the Lord. We are still witnesses to Christ.
So take heart, all of you. Zephaniah describes our situation just as accurately as he described the Israeli’s plight in his time. We are the remnant that has been left, a people humble and lowly who take refuge in the name of the Lord. And we are confident in the salvation that awaits us; One in which we will live forever with God and each other, in peace and joy. Amen.
Tags: For Faithful Followers