Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 16th February 2025
All politicians have their own catchphrases, slogans and manifestos. These tell us who they and what they stand for. Perhaps, just perhaps, Jesus is somewhat similar. When he stood up in the synagogue, he proclaimed for all to hear, “I have come to bring the Good News to the Poor”. Jesus could not be any more direct or clearer. This is why he came.
Jesus teases this out a little more in today’s gospel as He announces and proclaims The Beatitudes. At the time of Jesus it was the wealthy, the powerful and the religious leaders, the Scribes and the Pharisees who saw themselves as being blessed by God. They thought of themselves as being better and holier than everyone else. They looked down on those who were poor, sick, widowed or orphaned. In the eyes of the rich and powerful, how could God love them or be interested in them. How could they be blessed or happy in anyway?
But as always, Jesus turns everything on its head, both for those in the gospel and for us today. The values of Jesus and God’s Kingdom are not the values of the world or our modern society. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us of this and challenges us when God says; ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your way – it is the Lord who speaks.’