First Reading (Jeremiah 17,5-8).
Reading of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.
This says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes his strength consist in human flesh, while his heart turns away from the Lord; like thistles in the desert, he does not see the flowering coming, he prefers to vegetate in the dryness of the desert , in a brackish and uninhabited region. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord; foliage remains green, does not suffer from decline in times of drought and never stops bearing fruit”.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (1Cor 15,12.16-20).
Reading of the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brethren: If it is preached that Christ rose from the dead, how can any among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not risen either. And if Christ has not risen, your faith has no value and you are still in your sins. Then also those who died in Christ perished. If it is for this life that we have placed our hope in Christ, we are – of all men – the most worthy of compassion. But in reality, Christ rose from the dead as the firstfruits of those who died.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Luke 6,17.20-26).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus came down from the mountain with his disciples and stopped at a level place. There were many of his disciples and a large crowd of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem, from the coast of Tire and Sidon. And lifting up his eyes to his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God! Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled! Blessed are you who are now you cry, because you will laugh! Blessed will you be, when men hate you, cast you out, insult you and curse yours. name, because of the Son of Man! Rejoice, on that day, and exult, for your reward will be great in heaven; for this is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you, rich people, because you already have yours. consolation! Woe to you who now have plenty, because you will go hungry! Woe to you who laugh now, because you will have mourning and tears! praise! That’s how their ancestors treated false prophets.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, as we meditate on the readings that the Church proposes to us, we are invited to reflect on what sustains us on our journeys, the promises of God and the paradoxes that He presents to us. Today’s Word of God challenges us to look at what truly brings happiness and well-being, and gives us clear vision about where we should place our trust and hope.
Let’s start with the powerful image we find in the First Reading, in the book of Jeremiah. The prophet tells us of two contrasting situations, of two types of trees, two types of life. He tells us: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, who makes flesh his arm and turns his heart away from the Lord. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and makes the Lord his hope.”
Here, Jeremiah presents us with two options. The first is to trust in yourself or human strengths, and the second is to trust in the Lord. The first option is compared to a tree planted in a desert, with no roots, no source of water, and therefore no fruit. It is exposed to heat and drought, and no matter how hard it tries to grow, its existence is arid. The second, on the other hand, is compared to a tree planted by a river, whose roots extend into the water, constantly receiving the nutrition it needs to grow strong and bear fruit, even when difficulties arise. It is not disturbed, even in the year of drought, because its source is in something deeper and more constant – the water of the river, which, for us, represents the grace of God.
Here’s the first lesson: where are we planted? Where is our trust? If we place our trust in riches, our strengths or human promises, we will eventually dry up. But if we trust in the Lord, our life becomes full of fruit, even in difficulties. God is our constant source of strength and hope.
Next, we go to the Second Reading, from Saint Paul, which reminds us of the resurrection. Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, addresses the great hope we have as Christians: the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection. He tells us: “If Christ has not been resurrected, our faith is vain.” This challenges us to reflect on the foundation of our faith. Why are we here today? What moves us? It is the promise of eternal life, which is only possible because Christ overcame death. Without the resurrection, everything we do and believe would be useless, but the resurrection of Christ gives us the certainty that death does not have the final word.
St. Paul reminds us that, as Christians, our faith is not about a simply moral life or a set of rules to follow. It is about a living relationship with Christ, who died and rose again for us, and who guarantees us the promise of eternal life. The resurrection is the center of our hope, the key that opens the way to true life.
Now, let’s go to the Gospel, where we find the beatitudes of Jesus. They are, without a doubt, one of the most profound and revolutionary teachings of Christ. Jesus presents us with a view of the world that is completely opposite to the view we have in our society. He says: “Blessed are the poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are those who are hungry now, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, for they will laugh.” And in contrast, He says: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will weep and lament.”
These words of Jesus are a radical invitation to a new way of seeing life and suffering. He tells us that what appears to be a curse in this world – poverty, hunger, tears – is actually a blessing in God’s eyes, because it brings us closer to His mercy and prepares us for the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, the rich and satisfied, those who become blinded by riches and pleasure, run the risk of losing true happiness, which is not based on material things, but on the love and grace of God.
To illustrate this teaching, we can think of a river that is going to be dammed. If the river is dammed by a large dam, the water becomes stagnant and dirty. But if the river flows freely, the waters are clean and alive. Jesus teaches us that the riches and things of the world, when we seek our happiness and satisfaction in them, make us stagnant. Instead, if we are willing to “lose” these things – our thirst for power, our material possessions – then we will be filled with God’s grace, like a freely flowing river.
My brothers and sisters, these readings invite us to reflect on where we are planted and what we are really looking for in life. Are we seeking happiness in the fleeting things of the world? Or are we seeking the eternal source, which is God? Christ calls us to a life of total trust in Him, to a life where our priorities are focused on the values of the Kingdom of God – justice, mercy, humility and love for others.
True happiness and peace are not found in what we have, but in who we are in Christ. It is therefore necessary to let Him transform our way of seeing life and death, wealth and poverty, pleasure and suffering. He calls us to renounce what is superficial and temporary, to embrace what is eternal.
Finally, the resurrection of Christ gives us hope that even when we face difficulties, when suffering seems unbearable, there is a greater promise: the promise that we will be restored and brought to full life in Christ. Death does not have the final say. Christ conquered death and, with Him, we will also overcome.
My dear brothers and sisters, may we allow ourselves to be guided by God’s grace in all circumstances of life. May, like trees planted by the river, we bear fruit of kindness, faith and hope, and may our lives be a testimony to the resurrection and immeasurable love of Christ. May He give us strength to live the beatitudes in our daily lives and fill us with hope, wisdom and compassion. Amen.
