Reflection for Sunday – February 16, 2025

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSMSunday Readings Homilies

Readings Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26 
Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore

We folks living in upstate New York see beauty in our trees even on the coldest of days.  They are covered in a white snow dress and seem to resist the bitter cold.  But no matter the season, the Scriptures make use of their beauty to teach us all lessons.  Our brothers and sisters in California mourn the loss of their beauty as they experienced bitter fires. And our trees suffer from extremes in our weather such as storms and hurricanes.

The Prophet Jeremiah uses the tree to portray both faithful and unfaithful men and women.  He speaks of unfaithful souls as “barren and dying in lava waste.”  But the faithful person is seen as green lush growth “planted beside the waters.”  But when we are honest with ourselves, we must admit we often fall into both categories.

The Scriptures and Jesus Christ make use of nature to convey truths.  I have a clear view of many trees from my home and no matter the season, I understand why they are a subject for spiritual writers.  Elizabeth Johnson in a recent book about our environment shares this reality. She writes, that God, the source of all life “remains faithful beyond all human possibilities, comforting the people, comforting the land.”

Johnson’s words—“comforting the people” and “comforting the land”—lead me to our Gospel.  The Beatitudes historically, are seen as a call to assist our brothers and sisters.  Both Matthew and Luke share a version of Jesus’ teaching.  But Johnson’s words lead me to ask, “Are they also not a form of comfort to and for our brothers and sisters.  Yes, meeting needs, but also offering care and understanding to the suffering, neglected, and troubled men and women here and now.

So many in our world and nation are called “Blessed’ by Jesus. They have pain; they have needs; they suffer. But they also need comforting.

“Blessed are the poor for the kingdom of God is yours.”  This is a wonderful promise but if we go deeper, our poor brothers and sisters also need understanding and comfort in the present moment.  The history that brought them to this place of poverty, the understanding and abuse many often have suffered helps in their healing.  Knowing this and acting upon it is important.  It is a form of comfort.

“Blessed are you who are hungry for you will be satisfied.”  But the need is deeper than a meal or groceries.  We can offer added comfort when we understand why they face what they do and the economic struggles they endure.  “Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.”  Those who mourn desire our presence to be sure, but they also need comfort in their loss, and an understanding of the fears and future they face, often alone.

The Beatitudes are a powerful call for all of us and they may be asking us to also go a deeper place; a place in which the suffering ones feel not only help with their present experience, but also the comfort and understanding of their brothers and sisters as they move forward in life. 

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSM
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