Gospel – Matthew 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.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
1716 The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven:
1717 The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ’s disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.
1723 The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement—however beneficial it may be—such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love:
From “The Ark of the New Covenant” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (ARK-53:1)
1) I am with you in presence and in essence. A Christ who humbly bends to tell you that the world has the right to the peace that I brought you with My birth. God infuses you with His own spirit and He cannot be deceived. Live the Sermon on the Mount; we are living the resurrection of the dead… I come to resurrect you, to save the flesh from eternal death, to raise it up new, pure, beautiful; as My Father created it.
From “From Sinai to Calvary” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (Part 1:16, Part 4:18)
Part 1:16) The Words that one-day were heard from His lips on the Mount of the Beatitudes, He was now converting them into action on the mountain called “Golgotha” or “of the Skull”…
Part 4: 18) He was thirsty to see all of those of us who proclaim Christ as Savior, united by love and not separated by petty, egotistical and materialistic interests. He wanted the Beatitudes, which He one day proclaimed with all the strength and sweetness of His Heart as the only path to salvation for all mankind, would become part of the flesh of our hearts. In short, He was thirsty to see us help each other: man to man, community to community, parish to parish, apostolate to apostolate, not competing nor destroying each other as if we were political enemies who go in search of spoils.
Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. This Sunday it is asked, What kind of soil will you be for the word of God? We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.
Tim Francis prepared this educational program to help you increase your faith and love for the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother. His website is http://YouShallBelieve.com
I have known Tim for many years and recommend his work highly. He is a strong advocate for the “The Real Body and Blood Of Jesus” and the numerous miracles that occur on a daily basis. Both of us are greatly inspired by the amazing writings of Catalina Rivas. Catalina is one of the few individuals in history who personally experienced the “Stigmata Of Jesus Christ.”