HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

Feb 1, 2026

294

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah (2:3; 3:12-13)

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord; the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (24:7, 8, 9, 10)

(R) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

The Lord keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. (R)

The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers. (R)

The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1:26-31)

Consider your town calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord." - The word of the Lord.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Last week we learned from the gospel of Matthew (4:12-23) that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah by beginning His ministry in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali which had been in deep emotional, moral and spiritual darkness for centuries and by declaring Himself as the "great light" that would dispel the darkness, Isaiah (9:1-7). However, Jesus emphasized repentance as the essential requirement for entering the kingdom of heaven and accessing the divine light. He said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".

The kingdom of heaven, also called "the kingdom of God," refers not to a physical literal place but rather a spiritual reality or spiritual realm that has existed from the beginning and is accessible to those who truly believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In today's gospel, Jesus elaborates further to whom God's kingdom and His blessings belong, Matthew (5:1-12a):

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Poor in spirit" refers to recognizing one's own spiritual poverty and utter dependence on God, rather than lacking material wealth. Instead of relying on their own merits, strength, or possessions, those who are poor in spirit rely entirely on God's grace, mercy, and power. Being poor in spirit steers them to detach from worldly goods, greed, and pride, enabling them to share their earthly possessions with others freely and generously. Hence, Jesus says that the poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven as a gift of grace.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Those who mourn" refers primarily to believers who feel deep sorrow for their own sins, the sins of others, and the spiritual brokenness of the world, rather than just grief over death. Because sin is the ultimate cause of all the grief we feel in death and of all the heartbreak of being separated from those we love. So, Jesus says that those who mourn over their sins and repent will be comforted when the burden of sin is lifted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. "The meek" refers to believers who exhibit gentleness, humility, patience, and self-control even when facing aggression or provocation, and submit themselves to God's will. They think of themselves and of their needs less and put the needs and desires of others before their own, thereby becoming thankful, happy, content, and peaceful in life. Therefore, Jesus says that the meek will ultimately inherit the earth and spiritual blessings.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. "Hunger and thirst for righteousness" denotes a deep and intense desire for the things of God, such as God's holiness, His will, His character, His holiness and His justice, to be fulfilled in one's life and the world. It is a profound spiritual longing to be right with God, to align one's life, heart, and actions with God's standards. This intentional, active pursuit of righteousness will transform the individuals to become more like God, leading to spiritual maturity, inner peace, and a deeper, intimate relationship with God and others. Hence, Jesus says that those who pursue righteousness will experience complete fulfilment, contentment, and the gratification of their deepest needs or desires.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. "The merciful" refers to believers who show active compassion, forgiveness, and kindness toward those who commit offenses or faults, particularly when one has the power to punish them or harm them. It involves withholding deserved punishment and offering grace instead. The main reason for showing mercy is that God has shown, and continues to show, mercy to us, setting an example and a mandate for us to extend the same kind of mercy with the same type of attitude. Hence, Jesus says that those who extend mercy to others will receive mercy from God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Pure in heart" refers to possessing sincere devotion to God and a heart untainted by selfish motives, hypocrisy, deceit, malice, or corrupt desires. Purity in heart empowers believers to live and work with integrity, genuine love and dedication for God's glory rather than human approval and worldly recognition. But due to our inherited sinful nature from Adam, "we are all infected and impure with sin", Isaiah (64:6). However, if we confess our sins, God faithfully forgives and removes the "stain of sin" to restore purity, enabling us to experience God's presence, know Him intimately, and behold Him in glory, 1 John (1:9). Therefore, Jesus says that the pure in heart will see God, recognize God's hand in small moments, answered prayers, and even during difficult challenges.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Peacemakers" refers to believers who actively work to bring reconciliation, harmony, and unity in situations of conflict and, while doing so, sincerely demonstrate divine compassion, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, and love, reflecting God's character rather than simply avoiding conflict. Because God is a God of peace, those who strive to preserve and promote peace and unity are acting in a way that reveals their spiritual identity as His children. Therefore, Jesus says that the peacemakers are recognized children of God.
Blessed are those 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 persecuted" and "The insulted" refer not to those who suffer punishment for their crimes, but to those who endure harassment, insults, discrimination, trials, suffering, or violence specifically for following Jesus Christ or living righteously or for refusing to compromise their faith. So, Jesus says that those who experience hardship on earth for the sake of the faith may remain joyful and faithful, viewing present difficulties as temporary, purposeful, and insignificant compared to the immense spiritual rewards in the afterlife.

However, in order to experience any of the blessings that Jesus promises - such as belonging to God's kingdom, receiving comfort, inheriting the earth, obtaining mercy, seeing God, becoming God's children, and experiencing eternal rewards - a personal connection with Jesus Himself is essential. These blessings are not merely human achievements, but spiritual realities attained by truly believing in our Lord Jesus Christ and following His example. That's why, Jesus Himself says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me", John (14:6), asserting Himself as the exclusive, living and sole mediator and path to God the Father and heaven.

Therefore, we should hold firm to our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We should follow Him as the Way - trusting in Him as the only mediator to God the Father and way to Heaven; embrace Him as the Truth - living by His words and example, rejecting lies and falsehoods in a challenging world; and live in Him as the Life - experiencing through Him, spiritual life here and now and eternal life after death in God's kingdom.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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