FIRST READING
Elijah stands before the Lord God of Israel
A reading from the First Book of Kings (1 Kings17:1-6)
In those days: 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.” And the word of the Lord came to him. “Depart from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, 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 dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 121:1-2.3-4,5-6,7-8(R. 2)
R/. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help?
My help shall come from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. R.
He will keep your foot from stumbling.
Your guard will never slumber.
No, he sleeps not nor slumber,
Israel’s guard. R/.
R/. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord your guard, the Lord your shade
At your right hand.
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.
ALLELUIA Matthew 5: 12a
Alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:1-12)
At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are you when men 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 so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The beatitudes give every follower of Jesus a sure way to attain happiness. As Mahatma Gandhi once observed, until one comes to live the beatitudes, one has not begun to live Christianity! The beatitudes come straight from the heart of Jesus as they as they teach us of the great benefits of loving God and neighbour. Today people want to live a Christianity minus the beatitudes. Pope St John Paul II, during a sermon, warned young people of the need to understand why the message of the beatitudes is very important, saying, “You are aware of another voice within you and all around you, a contradictory voice. It is a voice which says, “Blessed are the proud and violent, those who prosper at any cost, who are unscrupulous, pitiless, devious, who make war not peace, and persecute those who stand in their way”.