4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
Jesus began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1-12.
The parish priest ask the people in his homily, “Who among you wants to go to heaven?” Everyone raised his hand. Then he asked, “Who among you wants to go now?” No one raised his hand.
All of us want to go to heaven. But not every one of us is eager to leave earth right away because of our attachments. We cannot just now leave our friends, our jobs and including our accumulated wealth.
We ask many questions like, can we not enjoy earth a little longer? Can we only be happy in heaven?
Apparently from all of today’s readings we hear that only in heaven will we receive our rewards. Matthew in the Jesus’ Beatitudes writes: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” On the other hand Zephaniah says that while we are here on earth we have to be humbled Zep 2:3; 3:12-13. Furthermore Paul tells the Corinthians that here on earth we are foolish, weak, lowly, despised and count for nothing 1 Cor 1:26-31.
However, it is still wrong to say that we could only be happy in heaven. God from the very beginning had told Adam and Eve to till the earth and make it productive. Jesus had said while He was still with us on earth that the Kingdom of God was already in our midst. As grace builds on nature it is safe to say that building the Kingdom of God starts here and now.
Our real dwelling is heaven. Only there will we finally feel at home. On earth we are aliens and strangers. But it is not only in heaven that God blesses us. God makes us also happy while we are on earth.
Disclaimer: This section of the website is a personal creative writing of the author and does not necessarily reflect the official views, opinion, or policies of the Salesians of Don Bosco – Philippines South Province. For concerns on the content, style, and grammar of this piece, please contact us.