Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A

Zep 2:3; 3:12-13
1 Cor 1:26-31
Mt 5:1-12a

It would be hard to find a set of readings more appropriate for comment on pro-life themes than those of this weekend. The Beatitudes (Gospel) are all about turning upside-down the way the world evaluates who is important and worthy of attention. The Lord and the Church point us to “those who count for nothing” (Second Reading) in the eyes of the world as those specially favored by God. When the Beatitudes speak of the “poor,” they do not only mean those who are materially deprived. Scripture refers to the “poor” as those who are completely dependent upon God, those who have no worldly help, those who have been marginalized.

The unborn are the poorest of the poor. In the eyes of so many in the world, and in the eyes of the law, they “count for nothing”. They have little or no defense. They are the ones, above all, to whom the words of today’s responsorial psalm can be applied: “The Lord…secures justice for the oppressed; the Lord sets captives free…and raises up those that were bowed down.”

The Lord does this, of course, through his people, who, as the Beatitudes say, “are sorrowing” (because they weep over the injustices of the world, like abortion); “hunger and thirst for justice” (to see the rights of all respected); “show mercy” (particularly to those in danger of death); are “peacemakers” (for, as Mother Teresa said, the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion); and “are insulted and persecuted for my sake” (as many pro-life activists are).

The Lord secures justice, as the psalm says. Therefore, Zephaniah urges the Lord’s people, “seek justice,” and the Beatitudes declare that those who do so are blessed. To be like God we must do the works of God. Today let us call God’s people to active involvement in the pro-life cause.