Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Cor 7:25-31; Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17; Lk 6:20-26
Raising Eyes
Changing perspective is often difficult. We have our opinions and biases and they, to a large extent, guide our decision making. Those who profess critical-thinking are neither thinking critically nor contemplating critical things to think about. Saint Paul asks us to think critically.
Saint Paul, in the first reading, asks us to reconsider the relative importance of natural good (highest among them marriage) and the divine good of transcendence. He frames his comment thus: I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. So this is what I think best because of the present distress. For the world in its present form is passing away.
He’s right and he’s wrong. Wrong at least in the way he did not describe the deeper meanings. In the past few days we have raising your eye to heaven (from Sunday’s gospel) and, today, Jesus raises his eye to his disciples.
Summary
To raise one’s eyes is to see things differently. In the case of Jesus to express things differently and with purpose. The world is full of natural blessings and all of the them good. But there are higher goods and a pathway to them. Psalms 121 says it beautifully.
I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From whence shall come my help? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth (PS 121:1-2).
But it goes further. The Sermon on the Mount compares the natural goods and the blessed life.
Reflection
- Blessed are you who are poor.
- Blessed are you who are now hungry.
- Blessed are you who are now weeping.
- Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
It is not accounting deprivation as a blessing of itself but rather a willingness to forgo natural blessing for the benefit of Others.
Personal Reflection
It moves me dearly to take into my heart, Jesus looking up at his disciples. His humility! His willingness to be an example of the very blessedness he is now announcing on the Plain. Let us look up to others! Let us look up to heaven! Let us be blessed!
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091124.cfm
First Reading
For the world in its present form is passing away.
Responsorial
Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
Gospel Acclamation
Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.
Gospel
Sermon on the Plain.
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: Blessed are!
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry