Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

         Every Sunday, we are invited to this holy celebration to observe the Lord’s Day and bring to Him our needs. And He knows we do not come empty-handed. When we walk through the doors, we carry with us all the emotions we face in our lives. We come with our fears, anxieties, joys, and thanksgivings, and God welcomes us.

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Entrance Antiphon: Ps 31(30):3-4 —“Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For You are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of Your name.”

First Reading: Jer 17:5-8 — “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings; blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-2, 2, 4 and 6 — “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 — “If Christ has not been raised, you faith is in vain.”

Alleluia: Lk 6:23ab — “Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven.”

Gospel: Lk 6:17, 20-26 —“Blessed are the poor. Woe to you who are rich.”

Communion Antiphon: Ps 78(77):29-30 — “They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.”

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         Every week, we hear the Scriptures. Some are very familiar … maybe some not as familiar as others. But each time we are invited to open our ears and our hearts to consider what the passage is saying to us right now. For example, today we heard Saint Luke’s passage of the Sermon on the Plain. We heard that Jesus was preaching to a crowd that had gathered around Him. Today, in this place, we are that crowd. We are gathered around to listen to His Word. And Jesus is speaking directly to us. We are the poor, the hungry, the grieving, and the hated. We are yearning for something more. Jesus knows this. He is here with us. And He is telling us we will be lifted up and will overcome our challenges.

         Jesus knows the justice we seek. He knows we will be satisfied, joyful, and filled. He knows this because He knows how much God loves us. It echoes the true wisdom that the Lord shares in Jeremiah: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord; whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream.” Our faith will sustain us no matter what circumstance we may encounter.

         Trust can be extremely difficult to sustain, and our hardships are not to be taken lightly. But God is asking us to believe in His goodness and in His promises. He knows what we are yearning for, and that we will find fullness in Him.

         Soon, we will celebrate the Eucharist. This holy sacrifice offers us tremendous grace. It is a grace that invites us to feast in its fullness and strengthen our ability to trust in the Lord. Whatever cares we brought in with us, we should leave with the knowledge that we are not alone. Our yearning for more is not the final word, but we must maintain our confidence in the Lord. May we be open to trust, and to grow in our understanding of God’s tremendous love for each and every one of us.