Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Monday, 9 June 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Monday, 9 June 2014

Meditations: Matthew 5:1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.[a]
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they shall be comforted.[b]
5 Blessed are the gentle,
    for they shall inherit the earth.[c][d]
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
    for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:3 Isaiah 57:15; 66:2
b. Matthew 5:4 Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13
c. Matthew 5:5 or, land.

d. Matthew 5:5 Psalm 37:11
Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church
He began to teach them. (Matthew 5:2)
For years, scholars and theologians have debated the structure and meaning of the Sermon on the Mount. Did Jesus really give this “sermon” in one sitting as Matthew presents it here? Many experts are not sure. Some point to the similarities with—and differences from—Luke’s “sermon on the plain” (Luke 6:17-49) to show how flexible these sayings are.
Perhaps this sermon really is Matthew’s unique compilation of a number of teachings that Jesus gave over the course of his ministry. Weaving them together as one long sermon that Jesus gives on a hillside, Matthew reminds the readers of Moses, who also brought God’s law to the people on a mountainside. For Matthew, Jesus’ teaching is a new law, just as Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses, the original lawgiver.
Looking at these issues, as well as similar issues raised by other Gospel passages, several things become evident. For one, it seems that the four men who wrote the Gospels were out to do more than just record history. They were prophetic theologians, not newspaper reporters. They were commissioned by God to paint portraits of Jesus that would endure until the end of time. The Spirit worked through these four men, empowering them to give a legacy to the whole Church that a simple biography never could do.
In their own way, these Evangelists took the gospel message to the ends of the earth. They weren’t traveling preachers like Paul or Barnabas, but by putting down on paper all that the Spirit was showing them, they “brought” the story and the person of Jesus to millions upon millions of people. They made it possible for the Spirit to touch generation after generation with the truths of who Jesus is and what he has done for us.
Jesus wants to commission you as well. You may not become a world-traveling missionary, but you can take the gospel into your world and become an ambassador for Christ. Simply by letting the words of the Gospels sink into your heart, you are paving the way for the Spirit to touch everyone you encounter. After all, the more he lives in you, the more he can work through you!
“Jesus, I want to know you more and more. Open the eyes of my heart so that I can hear your voice and receive your wisdom.” Amen.
1 Kings 17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of  the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
2 Then Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, 3 “Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to Yahweh’s word; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
Psalms 121: A Song of Ascents.
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills.
    Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from Yahweh,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved.
    He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 Yahweh is your keeper.
    Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 Yahweh will keep you from all evil.
    He will keep your soul.
8 Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in,
    from this time forward, and forever more.
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