February 3, 2002

Circular logic won't get you very far in the legal or philosophical world. In today's Gospel, however, the logic of blessing presented in the Beatitudes is, indeed, circular and it pivots on faith. How single-heartedly do we rely on God?

The Beatitudes can certainly seem illogical and absurd unless we consider the person who is speaking. It is Jesus, the one who became "lowly and despised" in order to become "our righteousness, our satisfaction, and our redemption". He personified the ANAWIM to become the true hope of all peoples. In the 1980 encyclical, DIVES IN MISERICORDIA, Pope John Paul II said: "Christ, in his Resurrection, experienced in a radical way, mercy showed to himself." But, in the Resurrection, Christ also reveals Himself as the exhaustible source of mercy. Jesus is the insulted and the persecuted one who relies on God alone. He is also the merciful peacemaker and source of all blessing.

To the poor, the mourning, and the persecuted Jesus says, "Everything that you are suffering, I have suffered. God did not abandon me and I will not abandon you." To the rich, the powerful, and the content Jesus says, "I shared every blessing I had with the lowly, even my life. Do the same and you, too, will know God's saving mercy." To both, Jesus says, "Trust in the Lord of infinite possibilities, who will bless you with courage and peace and true joy together."

The circle of blessing pivots on trust in God. As long as Christians are held together firmly by faith to God's saving mercy, the circular dance of blessing can continue. The Christian community that embraces lowliness will be a place of blessing both here and in eternity. All we really need to do is to follow our illogical leader, Jesus, the one whose trust in God brought blessing to the whole world.

SO THE QUESTION: CAN YOU FIND A WAY IN WHICH TO BE A BLESSING IN SOMEONE'S LIFE THIS WEEK?

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