10 June 2024 – Monday of Week 10

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10 June 2024 – Monday of Week 10

Optional Memorials: St Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the church; St Columba (Colum Cille), born in Gartan, Co Donegal in 521 of royal lineage. Founded monasteries in Derry, Durrow, Iona and (possibly) Kells. Iona was teh principal foundation. Columba died on 9 June 597.

1st Reading: 1 Kings 17:1-6

In the dry Wadi Cherith, Elijah is fed by divine providence

Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.

Responsorial: Psalm 120:1-8

R./: Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth

I lift up my eyes to the mountains:
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. (R./)

May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,
Israel’s guard. (R./)

The Lord is your guard and your shade;
at your right side he stands.
by day the sun shall not smite you
nor the moon in the night. (R./)

The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming
both now and for ever. (R./)

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes, our basic principles for living

When he saw the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain; and after he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

BIBLE

Principles for living

Poor people are not necessarily holier or more spiritual. Want and poverty are not in themselves virtuous, but they sometimes brings out virtue in a person. Notably, the first beatitude is spoken to the “poor in spirit” which is a radical dependence on God rather than on property or status. It is often linked to the kind of patience which marks true disciples of Jesus. Mildness of spirit can help us grown in compassion and purity of heart. People are more attracted to the faith by compassion than by any other virtue; more are turned away from religion by arrogance and dominance than by all other faults.

Today’s texts are a call to merciful spirit of servant-leadership and point to the good results to be achieved. Such leadership from our bishops and priests fosters a strong, caring Catholic community, a persevering community and foreshadows the kingdom of God. In such a community, those who have shared the suffering of Christ will richly share in his consolation. When we are poor in spirit, we let God accomplish the beatitudes in us, and then through us for others.

We might describe the beatitudes as a blended character-portrait. When Jesus spoke those beatitudes he was painting a portrait of himself, and of what he hopes from his disciples. He is poor in spirit and depends on the Father for everything; he is gentle and compassionate; he mourns when God’s will is not being done on earth as in heaven; he hungers and thirst for justice, for what God wants, and suffers to bring that about; he is merciful to the sinner; he has a purity of heart, wanting what God wants; he works to bring peace between God and humanity and among human beings.

In painting this word-portrait of himself, Jesus was also showing what his followers should aim to be. It is our portrait, and we are called to try and fit that portrait. We cannot become the person of the beatitudes on our own; we need the help of the Holy Spirit who works within us to mould us into the image and likeness of Christ.

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