When a Person Strives for Sainthood
A Reflection for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Brent Smith
Director of Adult Faith Formation & Evangelization
In the film Bella (2006), a man kneels on the ground with a limp child in his arms while the child’s mother wails and pounds her fists against him. After a brief introduction to a rising professional soccer player named Jose, movie viewers are faced with a tragic turn of events. Left with blood on his hands, Jose is convicted of accidental manslaughter. During and after his prison sentence, he grieves the harm he caused and leaves behind his former aspirations. He takes on a career that requires him to work with his hands, which provides nourishment for others. When a coworker named Nina is fired, Jose leaves his post at work to accompany her. Having found a true friend in Jose, Nina confides in him a secret, concerning the most vulnerable among us. Throughout the film, Jose embodies the spirit of the Beatitudes.
The readings for this Sunday present to us a vision of Christian sanctification, with the Beatitudes as a strong declaration. Beginning with the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah emphasizes piety (i.e., observe religious laws), justice (i.e., preserve social welfare), and humility (i.e., remember you exist thanks to our Triune God). In the second reading, St. Paul writes that “it is due to him [God the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Anyone who has felt inadequate (i.e., the foolish, weak, and lowly) according to the popular culture are called by the Holy Spirit to a life of rejoicing and gladness in the service of the Gospel.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Beatitudes express the assurances that come about when a person strives for sainthood. When you set your mind upon not only sanctification – the life-long response to the realization of being poor in spirit, “Lord God, conform my mind and heart to Jesus Christ” – but also righteousness and redemption, you prepare yourself to effectively avoid sin and face opposition with faithful confidence.
Please pray with me: Heavenly Father, during this month in honor of the Gospel of Life, stir within us the desire to defend our vulnerable neighbors. By the light of the Holy Spirit, help us realize that true blessedness is the result of radical trust in you. Amen.