God calls us to authentic happiness
by Renae Bauer
The word “beatitude” means happiness or blessedness. Sunday’s readings guide us to authentic happiness, which is rooted in a relationship with God. The first reading from Zephaniah begins with the words, “Seek the Lord”. What moments in my day would be better spent praying, or reading or listening to spiritually enriching authors? What if I counted my blessings from God? What if I served someone who is mentioned in the Gospel’s Beatitudes (the meek, the mourning, the persecuted, the insulted). As is written in the second reading from Corinthians, “Consider this your calling.”
A Prayerful Exercise before attending Mass this weekend: PRAY Mary's MAGNIFICAT. "HEAR," "SEE" the similar expressions that JESUS teaches us in the Beatitudes.
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat Luke 1:46-56
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary's MAGNIFICAT, i.e., attitude / disposition toward "LIFE," had a VERY REAL and POWERFUL IMPACT on JESUS, and JESUS' "Life." We HEAR this through JESUS' PROCLAMATION (and LIVED REALITY) of THE BEATITUDES, which WE HEAR PROCLAIMED and PREACHED THIS WEEKEND!!
If your "preacher" this weekend does not bring this connection up in his 'preaching,' if he doesn't connect Mary's Blessed Attitudes toward Life with JESUS, mention it to him after Mass. Point it out to him. Help him "SEE" and "HEAR" and UNDERSTAND the deep, deep connection and relationship between Mary, "blessed are you among women," and JESUS, "blessed is the fruit of your womb," [Lk. 1: 41-46] which Elizabeth "SAW" and Understood and Proclaimed so beautifully.
Women have AMAZING Influence, when we "let the Holy Spirit live, love, and shine light from within us." :)