Beliefs Blessings and Woes

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to prepare for the “cognitive dissonance” between our beliefs of good life and the woes of the anawim.

Answers for the Anawim

In the Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul offers Advice to Virgins and Widows.

* [7:1–7] References to Paul’s own behavior (1 Cor 7:7–8) suggest that his celibate way of life and his preaching to the unmarried (cf. 1 Cor 7:25–35) have given some the impression that asceticism within marriage, i.e., suspension of normal sexual relations, would be a laudable ideal. Paul points to their experience of widespread immorality to caution them against overestimating their own strength (1 Cor 7:2); as individuals they may not have the particular gift that makes such asceticism feasible (1 Cor 7:7) and hence are to abide by the principle to be explained in 1 Cor 7:17–24.

* [7:17–24] On the ground that distinct human conditions are less significant than the whole new existence opened up by God’s call, Paul urges them to be less concerned with changing their states of life than with answering God’s call where it finds them. The principle applies both to the married state (1 Cor 7:1–16) and to the unmarried (1 Cor 7:25–38).

* [7:25–28] Paul is careful to explain that the principle of 1 Cor 7:17 does not bind under sin but that present earthly conditions make it advantageous for the unmarried to remain as they are (1 Cor 7:28). These remarks must be complemented by the statement about “particular gifts” from 1 Cor 7:7.

* [7:29–31] The world…is passing away: Paul advises Christians to go about the ordinary activities of life in a manner different from those who are totally immersed in them and unaware of their transitoriness. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 45 proclaims majestic beauty is a sign of the future prosperity of the royal house.

* [Psalm 45] A song for the Davidic king’s marriage to a foreign princess from Tyre in Phoenicia. The court poet sings (Ps 45:2, 18) of God’s choice of the king (Ps 45:3, 8), of his role in establishing divine rule (Ps 45:4–8), and of his splendor as he waits for his bride (Ps 45:9–10). The woman is to forget her own house when she becomes wife to the king (Ps 45:11–13). Her majestic beauty today is a sign of the future prosperity of the royal house (Ps 45:14–17). The Psalm was retained in the collection when there was no reigning king, and came to be applied to the king who was to come, the messiah. (Psalms, PSALM 45 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Sermon on the Plain.

* [6:20–26] The introductory portion of the sermon consists of blessings and woes that address the real economic and social conditions of humanity (the poor—the rich; the hungry—the satisfied; those grieving—those laughing; the outcast—the socially acceptable). By contrast, Matthew emphasizes the religious and spiritual values of disciples in the kingdom inaugurated by Jesus (“poor in spirit,” Mt 5:3; “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Mt 5:6). In the sermon, blessed extols the fortunate condition of persons who are favored with the blessings of God; the woes, addressed as they are to the disciples of Jesus, threaten God’s profound displeasure on those so blinded by their present fortunate situation that they do not recognize and appreciate the real values of God’s kingdom. In all the blessings and woes, the present condition of the persons addressed will be reversed in the future. (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford has read the Sermon on the Plain in several translations in the hope to gain a new, Spirit-led perspective. The Message translation opens with:

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s kingdom is there for the finding.

But it was the last part that really spoke to him:

But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you’ll ever get.

And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long.

And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games. There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.

There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

I am embarrassed to think how often I let anxieties take control of me, and in the process take my focus away from the One who faithfully provides all I need. I am embarrassed to think how many times I’ve viewed my successes as the result of my own creativity, intelligence, or effort, and then fail to be appropriately grateful. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Loving God, you love me and provide all I need. Forgive me the many times that I forget to thank you, that I fail to trust in you. I surrender my anxieties and fears to you. Let me find your joy as I serve you by serving others, as I love you by loving others. Thank you for everything. Amen. (Crawford, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus, though rich, became poor for us,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"'Blessed,' it says, 'are the poor.' Not all the poor are blessed, for poverty is neutral. The poor can be either good or evil, unless, perhaps, the blessed pauper is to be understood as he whom the prophet described, saying, 'A righteous poor man is better than a rich liar' (Proverbs 19:22). Blessed is the poor man who cried and whom the Lord heard (Psalm 34:6). Blessed is the man poor in offense. Blessed is the man poor in vices. Blessed is the poor man in whom the prince of this world (John 14:30) finds nothing. Blessed is the poor man who is like that poor Man who, although he was rich, became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). Matthew fully revealed this when he said, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). One poor in spirit is not puffed up, is not exalted in the mind of his own flesh. This beatitude is first, when I have laid aside every sin, and I have taken off all malice, and I am content with simplicity, destitute of evils. All that remains is that I regulate my conduct. For what good does it do me to lack worldly goods, unless I am meek and gentle?" (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.53-54) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. In Paul’s time the world was believed to end marked by resurrection of the dead.  There may be little time before Jesus returns and people should remain in the state you are in. There is not time to change status. Then time went by and Jesus would return like a thief in the night so always be ready. The Beatitudes in Luke are set on the plain. In Matthew, they are part of the Sermon on the Mount. The format in Luke of four blessings and four curses is the more traditional pattern of most formulas in the bible. Matthew offers very spiritual blessings and Luke presents the poor in reality. In Luke, Jesus reaches out to the “anawim”, the financially and spiritually poor who have no security of their own. They were ready to embrace Jesus but the rich, already fully content, rejected Him. Friar Jude urges us to recognize our brokenness and to hold on to God for dear life.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 6:20-26 comments that Jesus wants all his children to be filled with his blessings. He wants the hungry to be filled, both spiritually and materially. And he wants the well-fed to continue to prosper but also to have his heart of compassion and provide for those who are poor.

As we make Jesus our primary focus, as we seek to be filled with his love above all else, we’ll find our priorities changing. We’ll no longer be content only with meeting our own needs. Our eyes will be more opened to those living in want, and we’ll want to help them. We’ll see how empty a life centered only on ourselves truly is. We’ll see how it is a life of “woe” even here and now.

So fill yourself with Jesus. And let him help you fill the needs of those around you.

“Lord, teach me to be generous to others as you have been generous to me!” (Meditation on Luke 6:20-26, n.d.)

Brian McLaren normalizes painful experiences of doubt. For many of us, faith is our map of reality, our map of the universe. It tells us where we are, where we’ve been, where we’re going, where to turn. But as soon as our trusted map stops matching reality, we feel disoriented. We have no idea where to turn, what to do, how to survive.

This terror is especially real for people … who were taught that God is an almighty supreme being who demands absolute perfection and submission, a strict and demanding father, and a tough and exacting judge. Yes, we were also taught God is loving, gracious, and forgiving, but the one requirement God demands above all others is precisely the thing that doubters struggle with most: God demands firm, unwavering faith, which we understood to mean correct beliefs. To question those beliefs throws open the terrifying possibility that God might at any moment turn against us, punish us, reject us, maybe even send us to hell if we don’t get our beliefs straight and hold them tight, without doubt…. 

Doubt can breach the psychological fortress in which we’ve felt safe, tear up the internal map by which we’ve navigated the world, and threaten to separate us from God’s favor and love. (McLaren, n.d.)

We are grateful to the Spirit for awakening our understanding of the real economic and social conditions of humanity and guiding our response as people anointed in Baptism as priest, prophet, and leader in our environment. 

References

Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton On Line Ministries. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-9-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?20 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). The Cost of Doubt. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-cost-of-doubt/ 

Meditation on Luke 6:20-26. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/09/1665864/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/7?25 

Psalms, PSALM 45 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/45?11 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Blessed Are You Poor - Yours Is the Kingdom of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Our Heritage of Love

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, set the stage with the Genealogy of Jesus leading to “the virgin shall be with child and bear a son.”

Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica

The Letter of Paul to the Romans proclaims God’s Indomitable Love in Christ.

* [8:28–30] These verses outline the Christian vocation as it was designed by God: to be conformed to the image of his Son, who is to be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom 8:29). God’s redemptive action on behalf of the believers has been in process before the beginning of the world. Those whom God chooses are those he foreknew (Rom 8:29) or elected. Those who are called (Rom 8:30) are predestined or predetermined. These expressions do not mean that God is arbitrary. Rather, Paul uses them to emphasize the thought and care that God has taken for the Christian’s salvation.

* [8:28] We know that all things work for good for those who love God: a few ancient authorities have God as the subject of the verb, and some translators render: “We know that God makes everything work for good for those who love God….”

* [8:29] Image: while man and woman were originally created in God’s image (Gn 1:26–27), it is through baptism into Christ, the image of God (2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15), that we are renewed according to the image of the Creator (Col 3:10). (Romans, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Prophet Micah proclaims God will deliver Israel through a king in the line of David.

* [5:1–6] Salvation will come through a “messiah,” an anointed ruler. The Book of Micah shares with Isaiah the expectation that God will deliver Israel through a king in the line of David. Bethlehem-Ephrathah is the home of the Davidic line.

* [5:2] These words are sometimes understood as a reference to Isaiah’s Emmanuel oracle, given some thirty years earlier (Is 7:14). The Gospel of Matthew reports that the chief priests and scribes cite this passage as the ancient promise of a messiah in the line of David to be born in Bethlehem (Mt 2:5–6).

* [5:4] Peace: he will not only symbolize but also bring about harmony and wholeness.

* [5:5] Nimrod: the legendary ancestor of the Mesopotamians; cf. Gn 10:10–12. (Micah, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 13 presents a statement of trust (Ps 13:6a), intended to reinforce the prayer, and a vow to thank God when deliverance has come (Ps 13:6b).

* [Psalm 13] A typical lament, in which the psalmist feels forgotten by God (Ps 13:2–3)—note the force of the repetition of “How long.” The references to enemies may suggest some have wished evil on the psalmist. The heartfelt prayer (Ps 13:4–5) passes on a statement of trust (Ps 13:6a), intended to reinforce the prayer, and a vow to thank God when deliverance has come (Ps 13:6b). (Psalms, PSALM 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents The Genealogy of Jesus leading to the virgin shall be with child and bear a son.

* [1:17] Matthew is concerned with fourteen generations, probably because fourteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew letters forming the name of David. In the second section of the genealogy (Mt 1:6b–11), three kings of Judah, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, have been omitted (see 1 Chr 3:11–12), so that there are fourteen generations in that section. Yet the third (Mt 1:12–16) apparently has only thirteen. Since Matthew here emphasizes that each section has fourteen, it is unlikely that the thirteen of the last was due to his oversight. Some scholars suggest that Jesus who is called the Messiah (Mt 1:16b) doubles the final member of the chain: Jesus, born within the family of David, opens up the new age as Messiah, so that in fact there are fourteen generations in the third section. This is perhaps too subtle, and the hypothesis of a slip not on the part of Matthew but of a later scribe seems likely. On Messiah, see note on Lk 2:11.

* [1:18–25] This first story of the infancy narrative spells out what is summarily indicated in Mt 1:16. The virginal conception of Jesus is the work of the Spirit of God. Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary is overcome by the heavenly command that he take her into his home and accept the child as his own. The natural genealogical line is broken but the promises to David are fulfilled; through Joseph’s adoption the child belongs to the family of David. Matthew sees the virginal conception as the fulfillment of Is 7:14. (Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Amy Turbes comments that a coworker gave a reflection at a division meeting a few years ago that has stayed with her. He shared Dr. Ali Binazir’s message of how each one of us is a miracle.

The odds of your parents even meeting: 1 in 20 thousand.

That they were together enough to successfully create you: 1 in 400 quadrillion (10 with 17 zeroes)

The existence of You, your parents, grandparents, etc. predisposes that there is an unbroken line of ancestors. 1 in 10 to the 45,000th power.

 All told, the odds of you existing are 1 in 10 to the 2 million, 685 thousandth power. 1 with 2,685,000 zeroes behind it.

Whether your life was prophesized or a complete surprise, you are a miracle. Please say a prayer of gratitude for the miracle of your life with all its joys and sadness, laughter and tears, boredom and excitement.

Today you will be amongst other miracles. Some of them you may love, recognizing the miracle of their presence. Others may annoy you, acknowledging them as miracles might be very difficult. You might watch the news and see individuals or groups of people and question the miracle of their lives. But they are miracles, too. As children of God, the miracle of our life is the greatest gift. God is asking us to accept it with love and to share the love in return. (Turbes, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus' humanity revealed in the genealogy,” by Severus of Antioch (488-538 AD).

"One must bear in mind therefore that the Evangelists, or rather the Spirit speaking through them, took pains to ensure that their readers believed that Christ was truly God and truly human. Because of what they wrote, no one could possibly doubt that he is God by nature, beyond all variation, mutation or illusion, and that according to the ordered plan of God he was truly human. This is why John could say, on the one hand, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' John immediately adds, 'The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us' (John 1:1-2,14). Hence Matthew wrote appropriately, 'The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.' On the one hand he is not able to be counted simply from natural generation among families, since it is written, 'Who shall declare his generation'? (Isaiah 53:8)

"He is before the centuries and of one substance with the Father himself, from the standpoint of eternity. But by this genealogy he is also numbered among the families of humanity according to the flesh. For in truth, while remaining God, Christ became man without ceasing to be God, unaltered till the end of time. This is why there is also mention of the ancient patriarchs in the lineage, the narrative and observation of the times and vicissitudes that are indeed proper to human history. Through all this Matthew made it clear that Christ participates in our human generation and in our nature. Otherwise some might claim that he appeared in illusion and in imagination only, rather than by becoming genuinely human. Think of what might have been said if none of this had been written?" (excerpt from CATHEDRAL SERMONS, HOMILY 94) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. Micah shares Bethlehem as the source of a ruler for Israel. In his own day, he was a small town prophet who prophesied a king like David coming from Bethlehem. One of the verses to which the Holy Spirit has given secondary meaning. Prophecies are used by the Spirit in profound ways. The passage in Roman’s 8 presents the idea that Mary was chosen before all time to be the Mother of God. Matthew presents the genealogy of Jesus in a very Jewish Gospel. The new beginning of the Revelation to Israel of son of David and the fourteen number where the letters add to the symbolic value of DVD is referring David. If you like David, you are going to love the superlative David. Women mentioned in the Gospel are unusual. Through passage the special women in the past and now through a virgin in Bethlehem are proclaimed.  Joseph, a compassionate man, would only divorce Mary, even when the legal penalty was more severe. He is named after Joseph in the Hebrew Testament. Joseph redefined “Righteousness” as being compassion rather than following the Law to the letter. Friar Jude comments that the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah and the symbolic name of Isaiah’s son "Emmanuel” are meant for a king who does not want to hear “God is with us”. In the Greek translation of Matthew “pathenos” only meant virgin and Friar Jude cites this example in Matthew to say God can use mistakes to achieve a greater purpose.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 comments as we celebrate Mary’s birth today, we also celebrate her son, Jesus, as “Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). And we celebrate that he will be with us in every stage of our earthly journey, just as he was with Mary and her whole family.

In prayer today, give thanks to Mary for being such a good and holy mother to Jesus. And thank her for living out so faithfully her dual callings to raise the Son of God and to become the mother of all his adopted brothers and sisters!

“Holy Mary, thank you for welcoming Jesus—and us—into your family!” (Meditation on Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr introduces Barbara Brown Taylor who had to deepen her trust in God, as she stepped away from pastoring in an Episcopal church.

As it turned out, the edge of the map was not all that far from the center…. All we had to do was step outside the Church and walk to where the lights from the sanctuary did not pierce the darkness anymore…. There were no slate roofs or signs to the restroom out there, no printed programs or friendly ushers. There was just the unscripted encounter with the undomesticated God whose name was unpronounceable…. These people at the edge kept the map from becoming redundant. 

According to the Bible, both the center and the edge are essential to the spiritual landscape, although they are as different from one another as they can be…. There is life in both places …, but they are so different from one another that it is often difficult for people … to agree that both places really belong on the same map. Much that is certain at the center is up for grabs in the wilderness. [1]  

My vocation was to love God and my neighbor, and that was something I could do anywhere, with anyone, with or without a collar. My priesthood was not what I did but who I was. In this new light, nothing was wasted. All that had gone before was blessing, and all yet to come was more. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit as we contemplate our heritage as family and followers of Christ and the unique place we have to witness Providence and our call to mission.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1? 

Meditation on Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/08/1665013/ 

Micah, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/5?1 

Psalms, PSALM 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/13?6 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Center and the Edge. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-center-and-the-edge/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8? 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Mary's Call to Be the Mother of Jesus the Savior. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Turbes, A. (2026, September 8). Daily Reflection September 8, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-8-2026