Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings

A common theme among today’s readings and psalms reminded me of Episode 1, “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit” from Fr. Satish’s recent YouTube series “A Disciple’s Pilgrimage: The Sermon on the Mount.” Maybe because I’ve never really understood the Beatitude “blessed are the poor in spirit,” I was struck by the way Fr. Satish explained that one who is poor is “one who has no other help but God alone.” Today’s readings are beautiful and genuine expressions of this desperation and need for God alone. 

In the first reading, the Lord says to Israel, “you have collapsed through your guilt… return to the Lord.” The Lord is willing to “love them freely” with this recognition that nothing and no one else can save them. Hosea goes on to describe beautiful analogies from nature about what a relationship with God could be like… if Israel could stop turning to idols and return to the Lord. 

In the Psalm, we sing, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” This praise does not come of our own accord. Rather, the psalmist is asking for the Lord’s help to open our lips and to provide a clean heart, a steadfast spirit, and joy… all things that I have found difficult to sustain on my own during the recent months of pandemic and social upheaval. It helps, though, to recognize and admit that it is simply not possible for us to find and sustain these virtues on our own… that we need God. 

Finally, the Gospel sounds rather dark and scary…”I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves… beware of men…” But there is hope in Jesus’ assurance that we should not worry about how we are to speak. We are called to be witnesses and, if we are willing, our Father will speak for us. If we can empty ourselves, turn to the Lord, and open our hearts and mouths, the Lord will do the rest. 

As Fr. Satish reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount series, becoming poor in spirit is a journey and we should “pray to the Spirit of God who gives us the right attitude to stand in God’s presence.” May the Holy Spirit lead us to become poor in spirit and to completely and unconditionally depend on God alone. 

Abundant Blessings,

LeeAnn Meyer