A simple homily on Luke 6:20-26, reflecting on the word “now” in the Beatitudes, showing how God’s blessing is not only for the future but begins today. (10-9-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
A boy was reading a story book and was admiring at the happiness of different characters. Closing the book he approached mother and asked , “When will we be happy?” The mother who was in the kitchen, thought for a while. The empty rice pot caught her attention. Opening the empty rice pot and showing it her son, she replied, “We can be happy now, my son, because God has not left us.”
In today’s Gospel Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Notice the word “is.” He does not say, “will be,” He says, “is.” The blessing is not only for tomorrow but it is already present now. That one small word “now” changes everything. This also invites us to the unconditional love of God. He does not keep any condition for blessing us. Different offers and discounts are provided at shops at different seasons. When these transactions look forward for profit and state *conditions apply, Jesus bless us now and then.
Often in life we wait for happiness. We say, “When I earn more money, then I will be happy. When I have a bigger house, then I will be at peace. When my children grow up, then I will rest. I will love God after knowing him completely. God is with us in our tears now, in our hunger now, even in our rejection now. He is same always and everywhere apart from the human differences. He is the God of all. Jesus teaches us that blessing is not delayed. The response from our part is to be altered. We have to invite Him to our joyful and sorrowful moments…We have to thank him in our fulness and emptiness…We have to trust him in success and failures…
The Old Testament reminds us of this truth. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God gave them manna each day. He did not give them food for a whole year. He gave them bread for the day. God was reminding them, “I am with you now.” We are not sure about our tomorrow’s. Jesus once commented to a rich man “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Lk.6:20). So we are called to live and utilize the resources that are assigned to us.
It also advices not to be idle over the spoiled past. As Pope Benedict XVI quoted “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift “. God is with us now and start now itself. The saints internalized this fact. Saint Therese of Lisieux lived this deeply. She once said, “Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, let us begin.” For her, holiness was not in great works but in living each present moment with love. She found God in the small things of daily life.
Think about our families. A father working hard in the field may not have wealth, but he is blessed now because his sacrifice feeds his children. A mother praying for her family may weep in secret, yet her tears are precious now before God. A young person who refuses wrong ways may feel lonely, but in heaven’s eyes he is blessed now. A consecrated may cry over the failures, but Jesus wants her present readiness.
Jesus also gives a warning. “Woe to you who are full now, woe to you who laugh now.” Here the word “now” reminds us that worldly joy without God is only temporary. Riches and laughter can vanish in a moment. But the joy of God is eternal and it begins today. If St. Carlo and St. Giorgio Frassati could have thought of striving to holiness at a later stage of life after enjoying the worldly pleasures, we could not have been blessed with these younger saints. So functional grace is hailed for now and today those who are ready to receive.. Opportunities once lost cannot be regained.
Saint Therese’s words echo this Gospel truth. We do not have to wait for a distant future to be happy in God. The kingdom of God is among us now. Blessing begins today, in this very moment. Open our closed hearts to invite Jesus in…Open the closed lids to collect the showered grace… Abandon the worldly things that pulls me away from God….So that we can live now more fruitfully
Lord, let me rejoice now. Amen.
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God Bless…
Now …. Wonderful 😘