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Vocation Meditation -
January 30, 2011
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
In the Gospel today Jesus sits down with His disciples before a large crowd of people who have been following Him. Many have been healed by Him, and He teaches them how they are to connect with the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes He taught them were an invitation to live as He lived. Today we too are called by his Beatitudes to put on the mind and heart of Christ in our daily lives. They are guides along the pathway to be totally Christian.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus shows us His own mission and identity, 'He became poor that we might become rich'. He was merciful, letting Himself be touched by people's needs, always compassionate with the crowds, whom He often saw as 'sheep without a shepherd'. It was Jesus the righteous one, who was persecuted, while bearing witness to the God of love, the God of truth.
The Beatitudes show us how to be, to live our call as disciples of Jesus, as truly sons and daughters of God.
For My Reflection
At this time in my life, am striving to live in the spirit of the beatitudes of Christ, however imperfectly?
Prayer
Jesus, you taught your disciples to live their lives reflecting the beatitudes as You did so totally. Teach me too that I may also walk and live in Your ways, with Your attitudes to guide me. Amen.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.