Homily, February 1, 2026

February 01, 2026

254

From The Pastor

The Beatitudes in today’s gospel are often referred to as the Ten Commandments of the New Testament. This is not exactly the case. Centuries before the time of Jesus, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to initiate Israel in a covenant of personal commitment. God was beginning to form a people as his own, revealing the Divine wisdom to a desperate and wandering people whom he rescued from the oppression of slavery.

The Ten Commandments express an essential yet basic structure of what it means to know, believe, and seek to follow in the Divine way. The first three commandments refer directly to God. First, God is One, God is the Lord beside whom you shall have no other gods. Secondly, God is to be honored. You shall not misuse or take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Thirdly, God is to be worshiped and reverenced. You shall keep holy the Sabbath. The last seven commandments are directives for the stability and right order of society; basic directives that establish righteous living consistent with the dignity of God’s nature and will. The commandments are an essential, and undeniable formation that leads to the wisdom of a deeper relationship with God. The Ten Commandments are timeless. They will never go out of style because they hold the basic truth for those who seek the Divine way.

The Beatitudes go beyond the basics of obeying laws in fear of punishment or the loss of heaven. The Beatitudes reflect the heart of God. The life of Jesus embodies the fulfillment of what the Beatitudes express. Jesus commends these gospel attitudes to the disciples and all who seek to follow in his name. More than a religion of law keeping, Jesus initiates the Kingdom of God that invites all believers to know and live in the heart of the Master for the sake of transforming the world.

The words of the Prophet Zephaniah in the first reading set the stage. ‘Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility.’ Late in the Old Testament period, Zephaniah reflects the tone of the Beatitudes of Jesus. Those who seek God will find God. Those satisfied with following rules and being on the right side of wrong will not realize all God is offering us. The Beatitudes draw us more deeply into the mind and the heart of God’s humility and justice. They not only invite us but intentionally call us to share the life of God through the heart and example of Jesus. Notice the personal nature of the Beatitudes are well beyond the directives of the Ten Commandments.

The first Beatitude sets the tone as the foundation of the others. To be poor in spirit reveals the heart of God and what it means to mature in the Divine way. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? In the frame of the world this is not going to be popular or inviting. To be poor in spirit is to recognize and accept that I am dependent on God. If I hope to follow the way of God, it will not be my own doing. To learn and live the Beatitudes is to embrace a spirit of surrender. It invites us to humbly realize that the work of God will only be accomplished by the grace of God. As human beings on our own, we are dependent on God’s grace to serve his purpose. Jesus is the image and reality of humble obedience who willingly surrenders his freedom and independence to fulfill the will of the Father.

Challenging as it may seem, those who love God and desire to serve God will surrender to the invitation. No longer a rule-based directive of law, the Beatitudes engage a heart of love that seeks the justice and mercy of God. Accepting our humble dependence on God, the Beatitudes mirror the work and the life of Jesus. Mourning is not only the sadness of death and loss, but also the grief of sin and disorder in the world. Meek is not weak. Meek is a stance of nonviolence that seeks unity and peace. Hunger for righteousness is living in right relationship with God and others.

Mercy is the charity of divine justice. The clean of heart are single-hearted in their desire to be agents of the gospel. Peacemakers know the peace of God and engage others with the same. The persecuted are those strong in the truth accepting the risk of rejection or harm. Those insulted or persecuted bearing the rejection of the world will know the joy of standing with God against the lies of the world. Heaven, oneness with God is the reward.

If you desire to seek the way of God, God is already seeking you. It is a beautiful thing. Relax. Accept. It means God’s love is coming to you and through you into the world. Who does not want to do that? I do want too.

Father John Esper

Homily