God is Enough

The readings of this Sunday focus on the help of God for the weak. The Prophet Zephaniah, in the first reading, carried out his prophetic mission during the interegnum between the reign of Manasseh and the reforms of King Josiah. At that time the land was polluted with foreign gods, the trading wealthy class was unjust, the prophets were faithless and the priests profaned what was sacred. The prophet foresaw a time when God will draw the weak and the poor to himself and make them to inherit the land while the powerful will be punished and rejected. The weak will find their joy and strength in the Lord and will respect his laws.
     The gospel comes as the fulfillment of the prophecy. In the beatitudes Jesus declared blessed those whom the society considers as weak: the poor, those who mourn, the gentle, those who hunger for justice, the merciful, the chaste, the peace makers and the persecuted. These are not considered powerful in the society, but Jesus says that they are blessed, they should be happy. Why? 
     The answer is in the personality of Jesus who embodies all the attitudes of the beatitude. Jesus was poor, meek, peaceful, worked for justice, was persecuted but he is blessed because God was always with him. By showing God's preference for the weak over the powerful and declaring the former happy Jesus sends a clear message to his followers; namely, that he who is with God must be happy because God is sufficient in every situation. He invites his followers to practice the beatitudes. 
     Each of the beatitudes is attached to a blessing. They become the principles of happiness. Practicing them may present one as a weakling but in them God is found. Practicing the beatitudes is still the easiest way to keep God's friendship. Having God as friend is being truly blessed. He who seeks God should seek him in the beatitudes and God alone is enough for those who trust in him.