Share in the Encouragement

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us,
so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
If we are afflicted,
it is for your encouragement and salvation;
if we are encouraged,
it is for your encouragement,
which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
Our hope for you is firm,
for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
you also share in the encouragement. 1 COR 1:5-7

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:6-9

Piety

Father, help us to recognize that our help is not in our own hands but in another’s – Yours.  Let us look where that help will come and accept it when it is offered as we pray the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.  Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Study

How many people listening to Jesus heard their own life reflected in the Beatitudes?  How many people saw the lives of those around them reflected in the Sermon that hot day?  Did they see the Romans as blessed?  Did they hear the scribes and Pharisees among the blessed?

What about today?  Do red states and blue states see each other reflected inclusively in being blessed?  Do traditional Catholics and progressive Catholics see a place for everyone to be among the Blessed?  Men and women?  Ordained and lay?  Baptized and non-baptized?

For as Christ’s suffering overflows to us, so, too, does his mercy and encouragement.  For as Christ’s suffering, mercy and encouragement overflow to us, so too, does it flow to all the Children of God in the Kingdom.  All the meek.  All the merciful.  All the peacemakers. All the clean of heart.

Action

To where do you look for satisfaction?  Chances are good it will not come from Ford or Chevy; Safeway or Giant; the Nationals or the Capitals; eBay or Amazon.com.  We can get stuff from them but not stuff that will make us eternally happy.