Sunday Reflections - FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A

 LIGHT FOR THE LIVING

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A

(Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; Matthew 5:1–12a)

My beloved in Christ,

In a rural community in Abia State, there lived a man popularly known as Pa Maduabuchi. Pa Maduabuchi was not the richest man in the village, but he behaved as if the village existed because of him. Anytime he donated even one bucket of garri, he would cough three times and announce loudly,

“Let it be recorded that I have helped!”

One day, the village well collapsed, and everyone contributed according to ability. Pa Maduabuchi brought the smallest amount but insisted his name should be written first on the list. When the village children laughed, the eldest man replied calmly,

“My son, water does not ask who dug the well before it quenches thirst.”

Everyone laughed—including Pa Maduabuchi, though he did not fully understand the lesson.

God’s Choice of the Lowly

That village proverb speaks directly to today’s First Reading. The prophet Zephaniah says:

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land… seek humility.”

(Zephaniah 2:3)

God declares clearly:

“I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly.”

(Zephaniah 3:12)

God does not build His kingdom on noise, pride, or self-advertisement. He builds it on humility, trust, and dependence on Him.

Not Many Were Wise or Strong

Saint Paul reinforces this truth in the Second Reading:

“Not many of you were wise by human standards… not many were powerful.”

(1 Corinthians 1:26)

And he concludes firmly:

“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

(1 Corinthians 1:31)

Christian poverty is not misery. It is the recognition that all we have and all we are come from God. The poor in spirit do not deny effort; they deny self-glorification.

The Beatitudes: God’s Upside-Down Kingdom

In the Gospel, Jesus climbs the mountain and teaches:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matthew 5:3)

This teaching shocked His listeners. In human thinking, the blessed are the rich, the powerful, and the celebrated. But in God’s kingdom, blessing flows to:

the humble

the meek

the merciful

those who hunger for righteousness

These are people who use what they have for others, especially the marginalised and downtrodden.

Service That Qualifies Us

Back in Pa Maduabuchi’s village, it was not his name on the list that repaired the well—it was everyone’s contribution. In the same way, the Kingdom of God advances not through loud claims, but through quiet service.

True poverty of spirit is seen when:

we serve without applause

we give without announcing

we help without expecting praise

Light for the Living Today

The Beatitudes are not poetry for admiration; they are a way of life. To be poor in spirit is to know that without God we can do nothing, and with God we must do something for others.

Sunday Reflection

My beloved,

We are called to a life of poverty where we claim no credit of our own strength or might and use the resources given to us for the good of the marginalised and downtrodden.

How often do you devote yourself to the service of the other? It is this action that can qualify you to be the “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

May God bless you.

Happy Sunday and Happy New Month.

Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ibearugbulem, C.S.Sp