Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The Ethical And Spiritual Program Of Jesus

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Today, we hear one of the most beautiful and important passages in the Gospel of Matthew, the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Beatitudes. In this segment of Matthew, the Lord lays out his ethical and spiritual program. In the past, I said jovially that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preaches like a Baptist preacher, for it is a long sermon. It’s composed of three chapters: 5, 6, and 7. Some scholars say these three chapters probably summarize what Jesus said, preached, and taught as he traveled through various towns and villages. How does it begin? Matthew says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain…” Jesus going up the mountain indicates he is the New Moses. Moses went up a mountain to receive the Law; Jesus, as the New Moses, has gone up a mountain to give a new Law. Furthermore, Matthew says, “After he sat down, his disciples came to him.” In the ancient world, that was the posture of authority and of a teacher. When a teacher takes his seat, his disciples sit at his feet. Jesus, the very incarnation of Yahweh, is now teaching us his vision and rule of life, and we should listen very carefully to what he is about to say. Lastly, Matthew says, “He began to teach them.”

What’s the first teaching? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Greek word for “blessed” is “markarios,” meaning “lucky,” “fortunate,” or “happy.” So it means, “You are lucky, fortunate, and happy if you are poor in spirit.” Why is that the first beatitude? Because pride is the first capital sin. Pride is the greatest sin. Pride makes me the center of my life; my life is all about me; I set the tone; I set the project. How many times in our culture do we hear expressions like, “I am a self-fulfilling person?” If you don’t know, it is the voice of sin. But who is poor in spirit? It is someone who is not proud, who empties himself, and concentrates on God. It is someone who says, “It’s all about you, Jesus.” To be poor in spirit is to let Jesus reign in your life. It means, “All I want is what God wants for me.” That’s being poor in spirit. Do you want to be happy? Allow Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Submit and surrender to his will and purposes. Forget about your desires and focus on what God wants for you. 

The second beatitude is, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” On the surface, it seems strange, puzzling, unnerving, and counterintuitive. Most people believe the good life is a happy life. We want to feel good, right? But sometimes doing the right thing, the best thing, and what God wants means we have everything but good feelings. Look at all the saints. I don’t know any saint whose life is devoid of suffering. And by the way, this is not some form of masochistic idea. When you walk the way of love, it’s going to cost you something. But you are lucky and fortunate if you are not addicted to good feelings. 

In the third beatitude, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” Again, this is completely counterintuitive. On the surface, it seems absurd. How can the meek and lowly inherit the earth? One lesson from history is that it is the powerful, the ruthless, the bold, etc., who inherit the earth. From the Roman emperors to the present day, it is the ruthless who inherit the earth. Do we have meek politicians? Maybe we do, but they are not in abundance. People who inherit the earth are generally very bold, gutsy, and ruthless. Yet Jesus says you are lucky and fortunate if you are meek and lowly, for you will inherit the earth. How do we read this? There is a counterargument to make. Outwardly, it appears the ruthless are the ones inheriting the earth, but throughout the ages, the poets, novelists, and historians from Shakespeare to Bob Woodward teach us that these powerful people suffer enormous psychological and spiritual debility. This teaches us that when we are hooked on the goods and values of this world and become ruthless in their pursuit, we become internally miserable. In the third beatitude, the greatest Teacher of all time says, “You are lucky, fortunate, and happy if you are detached from earthly power, earthly glory, earthly honor, for you will inherit the land.” That detachment truly frees you to enjoy the land and its goods. 

The fourth beatitude is, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” In the third beatitude, you might get the impression that all you need is to be passive, mild, without great ambition, and not a worldly person. Jesus urges us to eschew worldly values in order to desire righteousness. Every physical, psychological, and spiritual energy in us should be focused on God’s righteousness, holiness, and justice. These are the things we should hunger for, and then we will be full of beatitude. There is no great saint who was passive. Every one of them hungered and thirsted for righteousness. They knew where to spend their energies, and so should we. 

Further, in the fifth beatitude, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” God is mercy. The late Pope Francis said the name of God is mercy, “hesed” in Hebrew. That God is merciful is evident throughout the Bible, which shows God’s compassion. The word “compassion” in Latin is “Cumpati,” meaning “to suffer with.” You are full of compassion if you enter into another’s suffering. It means feeling someone else’s joys, anguish, and pain. That’s the meaning of compassion, and that is what God is. By nature, God is compassion and love. In this beatitude, our Lord and Savior says, “You are blessed and happy if you live like God as a person of mercy.” Take this to the bank: if you are unhappy, sad, or worried and anxious, engage in a simple act of love. No matter where you are or what stage of life you are in, if you are unhappy, practice acts of compassionate love. I assure you, it will lift your spirit. 

In the sixth beatitude, our Lord says, “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” When you are single-hearted and your life is about one thing, Jesus Christ, everything else you do will fall into harmony around it. But when there is division within you, like the Capernaum demoniac who asked Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” you will lose your anchor and center, and your life will be a mess. But you are happy and lucky if your life is about one thing, the Redeemer of the human race, Jesus Christ. This is what singleheartedness is about. 

In the seventh beatitude, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” The first word the Lord speaks to his disciples in his post-resurrection appearance is “shalom,” meaning peace. What does it mean? It signifies friendship with God and full flourishing. Our God is a God of peace. Creation is a non-violent act. God brought the world into being through his generous act of love. Redemption, too, is a non-violent act. After the terrible violence of the cross, Jesus returns with the word “shalom” on his lips. In this beatitude, the Prince of Peace says, “We are happy and blessed when we become peacemakers, not just peace lovers.” Don’t just wait for peace to break out. We must be peacemakers. Peace doesn’t happen by chance. In the 1972 World Day of Peace, St. Pope Paul VI redefined peace not merely as the absence of war but as the fruit of justice. He aptly declared, “If you want peace, work for justice.” Be a Catholic Christian who, in all your gestures, words, and actions, creates the conditions for peace. This is the Christian life, everybody. If you know how to live it in deed, the Lord says you are blessed. 

Last one, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Will you be opposed if you walk the way of Christ? Yes indeed! The world that opposes the ways of God will rise up to oppose you. The more you walk the path of Jesus, the more you will be opposed. If you want to measure how you are doing in your spiritual life, one of the tools is the level of opposition you face. If you are going through life without anyone opposing you, you are not walking the path of Jesus. Look at the saints! Every one of them was persecuted. If you are opposed in any way, don’t be discouraged. Think about the prize. It is the greatest treasure to be worn—the kingdom of heaven. 

Sisters and brothers, all the beatitudes describe Jesus and Jesus crucified: poor in spirit, think of Jesus on the cross. Mourning, think of Jesus crucified. Lowly, think of Jesus on the cross. Thirsty for righteousness, think of Christ on the cross. Merciful, single-hearted, peacemaker, persecuted for the sake of righteousness, think of Jesus on the cross. Be like Jesus, and you will be happy when you do.

God bless you!