2026-02-01 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2026-02-01 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Welcome
We will be discussing the readings for fouth Sunday in ordinary time on pages 40 and 41
Opening Prayer in the Spirit of the Beatitudes
Leader: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Lord, we ask you to take of our time, treasure and talent to serve the poor and suffering.
All: Empty us of selfishness and pride and fill us with Your grace to reach out to those on the edges of society
Leader: Blessed are those who mourn. We bring before You our sins that causes sorrows and the suffering in the world.
All: Comfort us in our grief, O God, and make us instruments of Your consolation.
Leader: Blessed are the meek. Teach us to forgo our ego and find strength in gentleness and courage in humility.
All: Empty our hearts and reshape it to trust in Your ways, not our rely on our own wisdom and power.
Leader: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Awaken in us a deep desire for justice and truth that brings us closer to you.
All: Give us the grace to seek you in all our endeavors
Leader: Blessed are the merciful. Give us the ability to forgive others just as you have forgiven us, O Lord.
All: Grant us the grace to be forgiving, compassionate, and slow to condemn others.
Leader: Blessed are the pure in heart. Cleanse what keeps us separated from you, O Lord.
All: Help us to love, praise and honor God in all things I do.
Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers. In a world of division, You call us to reconciliation.
All: Make us builders of bridges and makers of Your peace.
Leader: Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. When faithfulness is costly, strengthen us.
All: Grant us the grace to speak up for your truth especially when it is awkward or inconvenient since it risks ridicule and persecution.
Leader: Jesus Christ, You are the Beatitudes lived and spoken.
All: Teach us to walk Your way, now and always. Amen.
Last week's Practice of Faith
- Call or visit someone who is lonely or sick
- Practice attentive driving
- Food bank
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Of the Twelve minor prophets, Zephaniah (whose name means “Yahweh has hidden”) grew up during the dark days of King Manasseh and prophesied during the reign of Judean King Josiah,most likely around 621 BC. With royal roots as a “son of Cushi”, he had ties to Cush (modern day Sudan) and was very likely both bi-racial and part of the royal family.
Zephaniah highlights God’s wrath against sinners but also holds out the possibility of deliverance for those who remain faithful to the Covenant.
Only those seeking and waiting for the Lord may enjoy this divine protection and provision. The Savior will only satisfy in his presence those who flee idolatry and look to the Lord in prayer and devotion, who seek righteousness and humility, who embrace his instruction and respond dependently , and who fear him. God will gather to himself a multi-ethnic remnant who calls on the Lord, and they will find refuge and delight in his presence at his holy mountain
Zephaniah wants his listeners in Judah and beyond to seek the Lord in all things and to wait for the Lord in order to avoid punishment and to enjoy satisfying salvation.
New Testament authors understood God to fulfill Zephaniah’s vision of wrath and renewal through Christ
Psalm 15
The message of Psalm 15, of Zephaniah and Matthew 5, seems to be to be that God is not so much interested in whether we get the ritual right— the invocation, the litany, the music or the sermon, rather God is interested in whether our attitude and actions are right as we enter into the sanctuary.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Paul’s first proof that God has turned things upside down is the choice of the Corinthians themselves. By human standards, most Corinthian believers were not wise or powerful or of noble birth. God, chooses the weak, the lowly, and the despised in the world’s eyes, to accomplish his goals has selected them.
Paul’s message to the Corinthians rings true even today. The allure of elite education, expensive homes, social prestige and connections persists to his day and age. Those who possess those credentials can be tempted to become arrogant and proud. Those who do not may still feel worthless - but the lasting value remains in keeping God’s wisdom and doing his work here on Earth.
Matthew 5:1-12a
Galilee was outside the mainstream of Israelite life. It was neither a religious nor an intellectual center, with no real political power. Galilee was, however, in contact with world trade and culture and because of that it became a very cosmopolitan region. Peoples from different ethnic backgrounds inhabited the area, making it very diverse in terms of culture and religion. For that very reason Galileans were suspected of not being Jewish enough. Their mixed blood made them unclean and so they were rejected by Pharisees and the Jerusalem priests.
Zephaniah highlights God’s wrath against sinners but also holds out the possibility of deliverance for those who remain faithful to the Covenant.
Only those seeking and waiting for the Lord may enjoy this divine protection and provision. The Savior will only satisfy in his presence those who flee idolatry and look to the Lord in prayer and devotion, who seek righteousness and humility, who embrace his instruction and respond dependently , and who fear him. God will gather to himself a multi-ethnic remnant who calls on the Lord, and they will find refuge and delight in his presence at his holy mountain
Zephaniah wants his listeners in Judah and beyond to seek the Lord in all things and to wait for the Lord in order to avoid punishment and to enjoy satisfying salvation.
New Testament authors understood God to fulfill Zephaniah’s vision of wrath and renewal through Christ
Psalm 15
The message of Psalm 15, of Zephaniah and Matthew 5, seems to be to be that God is not so much interested in whether we get the ritual right— the invocation, the litany, the music or the sermon, rather God is interested in whether our attitude and actions are right as we enter into the sanctuary.“O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” (15:1). The “sacred tent” refers to God’s dwelling place—originally the Tabernacle carried by the jews during their Exodus, later the Holy of Holies of the Temple, and today a symbol of God's presence.
Psalm 15 offers answers to the question: “How ought we to behave?”
Instead of focusing on external religious rituals and sacrifices, the psalm emphasises personal integrity, our daily decisions in how we treat others, including lending money without charging usury or interest.
“To walk ‘blamelessly’ living a life that is whole and completely consistent with Yahweh's way.
Those who dwell with God are people of integrity. Their heart, speech, and deeds are obviously aligned with God’s purpose. Those who dwell with God “speak the truth from their heart” (15:2).
In summary, those who dwell with God abandon trusting their ability to shape and control their lives and the world and instead put their trust in God.
Psalm 15 offers answers to the question: “How ought we to behave?”
Instead of focusing on external religious rituals and sacrifices, the psalm emphasises personal integrity, our daily decisions in how we treat others, including lending money without charging usury or interest.
“To walk ‘blamelessly’ living a life that is whole and completely consistent with Yahweh's way.
Those who dwell with God are people of integrity. Their heart, speech, and deeds are obviously aligned with God’s purpose. Those who dwell with God “speak the truth from their heart” (15:2).
In summary, those who dwell with God abandon trusting their ability to shape and control their lives and the world and instead put their trust in God.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Paul’s first proof that God has turned things upside down is the choice of the Corinthians themselves. By human standards, most Corinthian believers were not wise or powerful or of noble birth. God, chooses the weak, the lowly, and the despised in the world’s eyes, to accomplish his goals has selected them.
Paul’s message to the Corinthians rings true even today. The allure of elite education, expensive homes, social prestige and connections persists to his day and age. Those who possess those credentials can be tempted to become arrogant and proud. Those who do not may still feel worthless - but the lasting value remains in keeping God’s wisdom and doing his work here on Earth.
Matthew 5:1-12a
Galilee was outside the mainstream of Israelite life. It was neither a religious nor an intellectual center, with no real political power. Galilee was, however, in contact with world trade and culture and because of that it became a very cosmopolitan region. Peoples from different ethnic backgrounds inhabited the area, making it very diverse in terms of culture and religion. For that very reason Galileans were suspected of not being Jewish enough. Their mixed blood made them unclean and so they were rejected by Pharisees and the Jerusalem priests. “Blessed” is honorific language. It can be translated as “How honorable,” ascribed to those unable to defend their positions or those who refuse trespass on the position of another. Obviously then the honor granted comes from God, not from the usual social sources.”
These first four beatitudes declare divine favor for victims of injustice and exploitation
The next four beatitudes (Matthew 5:7–12) name human actions that express God’s transforming and challenging work for a just world. They identify distinctive practices—doing mercy, being pure in heart, making peace, being persecuted and reviled—that further God’s justice.
Righteousness in the Hebrew Bible (for example, Isaiah 51) refers to a total societal restructuring that includes the equitable distribution of resources.
These first four beatitudes declare divine favor for victims of injustice and exploitation
The next four beatitudes (Matthew 5:7–12) name human actions that express God’s transforming and challenging work for a just world. They identify distinctive practices—doing mercy, being pure in heart, making peace, being persecuted and reviled—that further God’s justice.
Righteousness in the Hebrew Bible (for example, Isaiah 51) refers to a total societal restructuring that includes the equitable distribution of resources.
This week's Practice of Faith
- In your self-examine see which of the beatitudes you fulfilled.
- Forgive someone who you hold a grudge against - ask for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, pray to that person's guardian angel and start by wishing that person well and praying for his/her happiness and success.
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