God or Man: 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Catholics have a choice in their spiritual journey that began when they were born. They can either follow and obey God’s will or be subjected to the world's demands.

For the sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are given an account of the Prophet Jeremiah, who shares what happens between the two choices we will make. For those not familiar with Jeremiah or in need of a refresher, Jeremiah has experienced much suffering since becoming the prophet of the Lord.

Jeremiah boldly proclaims, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord,” Jeremiah acknowledges those who trust and place their hope in God. It can be during the good and the bad.

Jesus shared eight beatitudes with us. Later, his apostles, disciples, and even many holy men and women who were called to holiness and perfected their way emulated these. He speaks of those who are “blessed” then offers “woes” to a second group.

In the eight beatitudes classified as blessed, Jesus laid out a guide for those who will obtain the glories of heaven when they minister to others. They do this by placing their trust in God. They seek him for help, strength, consolation, and courage.

The woes group will be punished for complacency. These people look at worldly pleasures and never at God. They lust for fortune, power, and even prestige to achieve their goals.

Every year, pro-lifers in my area would honor a beloved founder who was a big part of the pro-life movement on the local and state levels. One person shared how he maintained an infectious smile despite being berated and often physically assaulted. He knew that he had God and that’s all he had.

Jesus lived out every beatitude. He calls us to emulate him fulfilling each one to obtain our heavenly reward. The most important step in fulfilling these eight beatitudes is to be sure we keep the faith. It begins with keeping it during the ordinary things of life, which will help us overcome the extraordinary with trust, courage, and hope.