Today's readings focus on Jesus' message: that we need to love and care for one another. In the Gospel, Jesus is followed up a mountain by a throng of people looking for any easy answer for their problems, and he gives them one: the Beatitudes. In short, He tells us that we are blessed no matter what problems surround us, but that we should also notice the blessedness in those who are so often considered cursed.
As was stated in today's homily, many people buy into the "prosperity gospel" even today. They believe that God clearly loves those who are successful more than those who are less fortunate. However, Jesus clearly states the opposite. Paul drives the point further by saying that the test is whether the powerful use their strength to help the weak or whether the wise help the foolish.
Some have used the Beatitudes as way to tell people that they should be happy with their lots in life because they will be rewarded in heaven. They forget that Jesus said that His kingdom was established "now and forever"--not in some distant future. He was telling us about the importance of treating one another better, even saying that in helping those less fortunate that we are helping Him directly.
As was stated in today's homily, many people buy into the "prosperity gospel" even today. They believe that God clearly loves those who are successful more than those who are less fortunate. However, Jesus clearly states the opposite. Paul drives the point further by saying that the test is whether the powerful use their strength to help the weak or whether the wise help the foolish.
Some have used the Beatitudes as way to tell people that they should be happy with their lots in life because they will be rewarded in heaven. They forget that Jesus said that His kingdom was established "now and forever"--not in some distant future. He was telling us about the importance of treating one another better, even saying that in helping those less fortunate that we are helping Him directly.
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