Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:1-12a

 

So you want to build a house.  Step one: clear the land.  Get rid of the rocks, the stones, the bushes, the trees.  Even out the uneven spots and dig a little to prepare for the foundation.  Step two:  Pour the foundation. The thing which will anchor the structure and give it strength and endurance.  Step three:  build the house according to the blueprint.  The blueprint which lays out the dimensions, the designs, the rooms, the windows, the doors, the electrical wiring, the pipes, etc.  If you start building without a well thought out blueprint your house will look like some lopsided structure out of a Dr. Seuss book.  And it won’t last long, most likely, because it won’t be structurally sound.

 

And so it is when we build a life of faith; when we build a relationship with our God.  First, as we saw during Advent, we need to clear the land of anything that will stand in the way of our relationship with Our Lord.  Only by ridding ourselves of these obstacles will we be able to receive and embrace God’s love for us.  Knowing we are loved by God is certainly “step one” in our faith.  Then, lay the foundation.  The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our faith. Certainly knowing what not to do in faith is important (thou shalt not lie, steal, kill, covet) but knowing what’s most important – I am the Lord thy God, thou shall have no other gods before me – is key.  The all knowing, all powerful and all loving God is first and foremost.  A foundation.  Then, the blueprint: the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes Jesus presents to us everything that is needed to build a life of faith, and to make sure it is structurally sound. 

 

It is important to note that each of the eight blessings have something in common.  They each require that we surrender ourselves to God and turn away from what human nature and society tell us. Human nature and society tell us to take charge.  Be the master of your fate, the captain of your destiny.  Take care of number one.  Self-reliance; self-determination. But the beatitudes are a blueprint written with the ink of humility. Put God, and those created in God’s image first.  Only then will our house of faith be structurally sound.

 

One final thought:  What kind of house of faith do I want to build?  One where I can easily lock all the doors and windows to keep others out?  Or one where all are welcome.  A house where hatred, selfishness and discord are discussed and practiced?  Or one where all can find a safe haven with love, mercy, peace, hope and comfort?

 

We have the blueprint.  Let’s go to work.

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

Turn towards Me.

 In today’s Gospel, Matthew 4:12–23, Jesus officially begins His ministry. John the Baptist has just been arrested, so Jesus leaves and goes to Galilee. This is where He fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah—a place where those in darkness would see a great light. He was going to help the blind see. His message was simple and direct: “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.”

While walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus encounters Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. They become His first disciples. He says to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people.” With that call, the ministry begins. Jesus goes on to meet several other disciples, and together they travel throughout Galilee, preaching the Word.

When John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee—not to hide, but to move away from attention. He wanted to be among the “regular” people. It is among ordinary people that He chose to grow His ministry. Jesus makes it clear that power and worldly possessions have no place in what He is doing. He works best with the broken, the misguided, and the often misunderstood. His message of repentance speaks perfectly to those who have been living out of step with His teachings.

The call to repentance is a call to change. Often, when we hear the word repent, we think we are being chastised or judged. The truth is that Jesus calls us to repent out of love. He wants us to redirect our lives. He wants us to turn away from the world and look toward the Lord. “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.” A simple yet powerful request.

How many times has Jesus asked you to look away from the world and turn toward Him? How many times have you found yourself in darkness, waiting for the light of Christ to enter your heart? So many of us struggle in life, and I believe the solution is as simple as the message in today’s Gospel: repent. Change your ways and draw closer to the Lord. Let go of the past and start fresh. Begin living a life as a follower of Christ, just as the disciples did when they simply followed Him. We are called to do the same.

The disciples are the perfect examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Each one of them was broken in his own way. They were not the “perfect candidates” to start a ministry—yet Jesus chose them, just as He chooses you and me. They were not powerful in a worldly sense. Their power came from something else. The power of a disciple rests in faith in Christ. That is real power. That is the light and freedom the prophet Isaiah spoke of. Today, we are reminded to turn away from the world, look toward the Lord, and know that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.