Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a
Beatitudes Building the Kingdom of God on Earth
In an age of democracy, three elements are indispensable for the building of the human polity: 1) party-politics, 2) manifestos, and 3) capitalism. Individuals join different political parties on the basis of their philosophies and conviction; worse case scenario, politicians join the winning party or the political party that guarantees thievery as part of its unwritten laws. From these political parties emerge beautiful and hopeful manifestos, even though delivering on those manifestos is a different question. Finally, the deification of money or capital is key to democracy. Beautiful slogans, like those bandit around in the last USA election, make democracy tantalizing. If democracy builds the earthly city, according to political theories, God has a different way of building his kingdom on earth. For God, the Beatitudes build the Kingdom of God on earth.
Perhaps we can merge Hillary Clinton’s slogan, “stronger together,” with that of Donald Trump, “Making America great again,” to read “together to make Christianity great again.” It suffices to look at the nations built on Christian foundation, especially the continents of Europe and the Americas. Few years ago, Church attendance was impressive, religious affiliation and practices were ostentatious, Christian principles got built into the constitutions of those nations; in fact, the idea that God exists was taken for granted; but not anymore. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, moral relativism and religious disenchantment is now ubiquitous in North Atlantic countries. Contemporary Western culture is ready to sing the dirge of Christianity!
Today, our readings call us to a new beginning and a revival of Christianity. Today, for those who think that the Christian age is overtaken, that modernity has no need of God, the good news is that Christianity is rising again from the ashes of atheism; the breath of God is fanning and blowing Christianity to glow again. The prophet Zephaniah makes it clear that God will have his Day again; sin is only an opportunity for righteousness to manifest itself, for the “remnants” of God’s children to rise and shine brightly!
When Manasseh was importing all the idols of the nation’s into Israel and raising the altars of foreign gods, and demolishing the places for the worship of Yahweh, little did he know that he was preparing his own doom, and not the end of the living God – Yahweh! Josiah, the reformer King, rose and undid what Manasseh put in place and restored the worship of Yahweh. Today, right now, another revival is underway thanks to your faith and my faith. At this moment, we, the remnant of God’s children, are called to a new revival in order to restore Christianity to its original glory; to extinguish the darkness of sin, and enthrone the light of faith.
The prophetic imperative, “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3), argues that the restoration of religiousity begins with the acquisition and practice of virtue. Today, Zephaniah invites us to practice “Justice” and “humility. Of course, the Prophet ties these virtues to the practice of the Law of God. In other words, the lawlessness of Manasseh dragged Israel into sin. But why justice? Simply because the Law of God is the measurement of what is right and just. Why humility? Simply because arrogance makes one refuse to obey the Law of God. The humble trusts and obeys God, the proud disobeys and he is lawless; he considers himself more intelligent than God, so he disobeys God’s Law.
Let is not appear as if the first reading is about king Manasseh and what happened to ancient Israel. Today, you and I are the Josiah and Manasseh in question. The idols you and I have created and continue to worship on the altar of our hearts and in our relationships with other people, these are the places in need of restoration and renewal. My worship of thievery, fornication/adultery, lies telling, jealousy, abortion, bribery and corruption, nepotism, etc. Behold the sins that need demolition and substitution with the Law of God and humility. When we rededicate the altar of our heart and the temple of our body to God, and allow virtues not vices to reign in our lives, then we are on the path to restoration.
Today’s gospel provides us with ample road maps to guide us to this renewal – Beatitudes. The beatitudes provide us with building stones/blocks for the manifestation and arrival of the kingdom of God upon earth. The link between the Beatitudes and the Justice and Humility announced by Zephaniah points to the fact that Justice is a more encompassing virtue than humility, which is one of the Beatitudes. Justice is the summary of the Beatitudes. This is the case because Justice includes every beatitude: the Justice of God satisfies the poor in spirit and comforts mourners; the Justice recommends meekness of life and purity of heart; it strengthens the persecuted, encourages acts of compassion, and grants peace a chance to reign. Justice covers all these Beatitudes because Justice flows from the Law of God which defines every action of a Christian.
Now, the challenge for us is to identify one or more of these Beatitudes and begin to practice them, for the restoration of Justice in our world, as our contribution toward the building of the kingdom of God on earth. However, first things first: we need to empty ourselves of our idols. We need to become “foolish” according to worldly standards before we can become wise by God’s estimation. This fundamental change and predisposition for living a virtuous life, a life of the Beatitudes, is what Paul speaks about in the second reading – “you are in Christ Jesus.” Being “in Christ” means a transvaluation of human yardstick for measuring a Christian life; Christ brings about a new way of living
Christianity has got its rules and principles. Without disengaging from worldly science and knowledge, the Holy Spirit of God is hindered from controlling our wills and directing our actions. When Paul says, in the second reading, that “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31), he makes God the point of reference for human action. Also, Paul’s assertion corroborates that of the prophet Zephaniah “But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel” (Zephaniah 3:12). One of the differentiating factors between a Christian and non Christian is the invocation of the name of God, no wonder you and I,are called Christians, other christs because we should live like Christ.
Assignment of the Week:
Choose one beatitude and practice it all week long.
An Exegetical Homily on the Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12a) for Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2017
Today’s gospel does not give us themes, the meaning of which we need to decipher. Consequently, our exegetical method, this week, will be literary exegesis.
Step I:
What does the Text Say (Matthew 5:1-12a)?
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Step II:
The Meaning of the Text – Hope of Heaven for those who Practice the Beatitudes
In other to prove our chosen topic for reflection, we need to look closely at the text presented for our meditation this Sunday.
A Literary Analysis/Exegesis: Verbal Usages
We have, in the beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12a), some verbs indicating future time (tense) and others present time (just the verbs expressing the rewards attached to each beatitude). To make our analyses simple, I have emboldened the essential verbs that portray the relationships between each beatitude and its reward. The variation in the time/tense of the verbs contains the meaning of the gospel text.
The implication of using different tense/time frame for the verbs is to indicate that there are rewards attached to my life and your life now, on the basis of practicing the beatitudes, and other rewards for later/future life. Here are the verbs, their time/tense and their rewards: 1) the poor in Spirit, have the kingdom of God right now [IS], 2) mourners will be consoled in the future [WILL], 3) the meek will inherit the earth in the future [WILL], 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied in the future [WILL], 5) the merciful will receive mercy in the future [WILL], 6) the pure of heart will see God in the future [WILL], 7) peacemakers will be called sons of God [WILL], 8) those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, possess the kingdom of God here and now [IS], and 9) all those persecuted rejoice here and now for their reward in heaven is here and now [IS].
The example of the persecution of past prophets (Matthew 5:12) gives a human touch to the meaning of “persecution” – to be killed for the faith. Consequently, the verbs in the present (IS) refer to those who are already dead, like the prophets and saints, who presently enjoy God’s bliss in heaven. The other verbs (WILL), in future time/tense, indicate what awaits those who will practice the beatitudes up until death – their reward is in the future, since they are still alive. But how are we to understand the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3) who are promised the kingdom of heaven here and now? Since the poor, the persecuted and the prophets are three instances of those whose rewards are heaven and not on earth [note that their verbs are in the present time/tense – is], the “poor” of the beatitudes are the persecuted – those who died for the kingdom and now live with God in heaven. In other words, some are enjoying their reward in heaven at the present moment because they died practicing the beatitudes. As for those alive now and practicing the beatitudes, their reward is yet to come. Therefore, the Beatitudes are road maps for accessing Heaven.
Step III:
Points for Homily on “Living on Earth as Preparation for Heaven”
1) There are many themes in today’s gospel, but central to them all is “blessing” or “blessedness.” Our first blessing, for those of us alive today and living the life of the beatitudes, is the hope of the kingdom of God as our reward, just as the first, eighth and ninth beatitudes show. The emphasis here is that those who practice the Beatitudes are those who hope to go to Heaven someday.
2) Our second blessing comes from the fact that here and now we are related to God, so we are called his children because we do his will: “blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called children of God.” Here is an example of the saying, “by their fruit, you shall know them.”
3) Our third blessing is that we know or we are taught the logic of living on the earth: “blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.” Creating peace on earth is a human responsibility: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”!
4) The theological virtue of “Hope” links together these three earlier points with subsequent beatitudes – the hope of seeing and living with God forever: the promise offered to the pure of heart, for they will see God! We are not in heaven yet, but we entertain the hope of being there someday. In order to receive the rewards of the beatitudes, we need to go about practicing them here and now.
5) The example of the prophets reminds us of the sacrifices Christianity involves. Also, the persecution of prophets tells us that we may end up like themselves, if we persevere on the path of the beatitudes. Our attitude, in hope, should be that of joy and happiness, because if the prophets made it to heaven, so can we, by the grace of God!