6th of Ordinary Time - YearC
February 2010
Today's theme is the pursuit of happiness.
We are all made for happiness. We are all in pursuit of happiness.
The first reading tells us that the person who seeks happiness in the material things of this world is cursed because he will end up like the barren bush growing in the desert.
The person who trusts in the Lord and seeks happiness in the way of the Lord will be like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream.
In the second reading St. Paul tells us that the foundation of our pursuit of happiness must be the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the first fruits of Resurrection and we who follow the Risen Lord will also share in his Resurrection.
Today’s Gospel reading gives us the blueprint for happiness - the blueprint for Christian living.
The original teaching was probably directed at two different classes of people.
The first half of the reading (‘Blest are the poor in spirit’ etc.) seems to be addressed to ordinary people who’s lives were hard.
The second half of the reading (‘Woe to you rich’ etc.) seems to be addressed at the ruling classes who had little interest or concern for the struggling masses.
Two thousand years ago there was little if any middle class. You were in or you were out. Today with a large and well off middle class, as we have in Corsham, I would be well advised to take both parts of the reading as applying to me.
A short story might help me to prioritise.
Tell story of rich man and heaven.