Today’s readings remind me of how important and how inspirational our day to day living in community with others can be.   The First Reading is pretty darn clear in telling us, that if we desire to live a Christian life and follow God’s words we need to not enter into: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, anger, fury, malice, slander, obscene language…  And it is in our day to day living with others that we need to share and to model the messages of God with those around us.

The Beatitudes, as shared by Luke, in today’s Gospel can bring us to a state of bliss, if we not only believe the message but also live the message. In the October 2003 edition of Spirituality and Health , there is an article titled,  “ The Nightmare and Promises,” by Thomas Moore (interesting name!) in which he reflects on living the Gospel and shares the following:  “I’m encouraged by men and women who are using their money or talent to solve problems in distance places, such as an old buddy who collects discarded athletic shoes from fitness centers, washes them himself, and sends them to children around the world.  I look into his caring eyes and see no defensiveness, no fanaticism, no imperialism- just the Gospel.  He never talks about his belief; he simply lives it.”

“If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.”  We are challenged in today’s readings to remember the promise of eternal life and not to get so caught up with earthly possessions and power.  “Blessed are you who are hungry” a hunger in wanting to discover God’s plan for us and in “Finding God in all things.”   “Blessed are you when people hate you,” accepting and loving the critical and the cynical, who may speak out of fear.  Many of us have been blessed to have heard the messages of God, now our challenge is to truly live what we have come to believe.