St. Ignatius Martyr Parish

In three days Lent begins, a season of spiritual renewal and conversion. How appropriate, then, that today's readings begin to prepare us for this season of change and return to God. The first reading calls us to seek the Lord as well as justice and humility. The second reading reminds us of the basis of that humility by insisting that of ourselves we are nothing; only in Christ can we boast. In the Gospel Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount by giving us the Beatitudes, a guide for those who live Gospel values.

Many consider the Beatitudes to be the blueprint for how we are to live our baptism and how we are to determine what changes we need to make. The Beatitudes turn our value system upside down, forcing us to confront whether we are guided by the Gospel or by the pattern of society. Their message contradicts our common sense approach to life and the values of our culture as they lay out the guidelines of how Christ wants us to live. Jesus called blessed the burdens of poverty, hunger, thirst, sorrow and persecution.

We say "In God We Trust" and that our values are in line with God's. However, in reality, our cherished values of wealth, power, prestige, individualism and independence go against God's values. The Beatitudes call for dependence on God over dependence on self and things, for meekness over pride, for mercy over revenge, for peace over war.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us a formula for what constitutes true, lasting happiness. But he does not use the word happiness, rather he uses the word "blessed" because a blessing says Patricia Sánchez, "is something that comes from God. To be blessed means to seek the reward that only God can provide over the world's ‘blessings', which are transitory and mere shadows of God's blessings" (Celebration, February 2008).

To be blessed, such as blessed are the poor in spirit or blessed are the sorrowful, is to know that God will provide and that God is our consolation. "It is to know", says Sánchez "that God is enough...and to discover the wealth in being needy and the generosity required to receive" (Ibid). Even though earthly happiness is fleeting we can never be separated from the blessings that God gives us. It does not matter how many challenges and difficulties we encounter in life, those are no longer obstacles to the happiness we receive from God's blessing, but rather opportunities to know and trust God on a deeper level. For in the end, the joy we ultimately seek is "that which comes from having as our only joy the love and the life of God within us" (Ibid).

As we prepare for Lent, we might want to consider spending time looking at where our values and attitudes conflict with those of the Beatitudes. What changes are we being called to make? What pleasures or conveniences that we often mistake for happiness do we need to weed out? What is really important to us? Along with reflecting on our lives as Christians in light of the Beatitudes, attending the Parish Mission will provide a way for us to renew ourselves individually and as a parish and to look for ways to build up our faith community, the Body of Christ. For those who live the Beatitudes, despite persecution and criticism, Jesus promises a joy that nothing in life or death can take away. Our reward, he says, will be great in heaven.

OTHER ITEMS: 1) Last Friday, January 25th, I completed my 6th year as pastor. I appreciate your love, support and friendship and look forward to serving more years with you. The next day, January 26th, I celebrated my 39th year in vows. I ask for your continued prayers. 2) I hope to see you all at the Parish Mission. You can either attend in the morning or the evening. 3) We have had two meetings so far to prepare for our Fall Festival. They have been exciting meetings. I invite you to join us as we re-create this festival into a bigger and better parish event. Stay tuned for news of our next meeting.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Joe