Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 70
29 JAN 2023 A.D.


Reading 1
Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law;
seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD's anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
they shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!


Reading 2
1 Cor 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
"Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."


Alleluia
Mt 5:12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Mt 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."


Overview of the Gospel:

• This week’s Gospel reading looks to the beginning of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount at
a series of sayings known as “the Beatitudes.” As we learned a few weeks ago, Matthew’s
gospel brings out many of the parallels between the life of Moses and that of Jesus. Here we
see that, just as Moses ascended Mt Sinai to deliver the Jewish Law to Israel (Exodus 19),
Jesus delivers the laws of his Kingdom from the Mount of the Beatitudes.

• Although the word “blessed” is sometimes translated as “happy,” here it actually denotes
righteousness before God: forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-2), faith (Psalm 2:12; John 20:29), and
obedience to God (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Psalm 1:1; 119:1).

• The Beatitudes describe the model of love for the Kingdom of God; a kingdom that is already
in our midst (Luke 11:20), but not yet completed (Luke 11:2). This model is completely
contrary to the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:17-31).

• If we read the Beatitudes carefully, we see that each one builds upon the other with the first
(“Blessed are the poor in spirit”) being the foundation of all.
[Special thanks to Vince Contreras: "Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics."]


"Holiness is not a matter of any one particular method of spirituality. It is a disposition of the heart that
makes us small and humble within the arms of God, aware of our weakness, but almost rashly
confident in his Fatherly goodness." ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Thanks!

You're very much WELCOME, Brother, tortilla-flats!