Jesus’ Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke are very similar to his Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew. The difference is the number of beatitudes, and that St. Luke also records Jesus’ exhortations, when he says, “Woe to those” who are now rich, who are now full, who laugh.
Jesus’ preaching catches some people off guard be-cause we want wealth, food security and comfort. Yet, Jesus reminds us that we should seek the Kingdom of God first and foremost and so be detached from the world that is passing away so that it does not hinder our mission.
When Jesus preached “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours,” what does this mean? People who are poor want to work and thank God for their work, and they want to work for God. They are spending time with Jesus because they are not busy becoming wealthy in the eyes of the world.
Is it wrong to be wealthy? No, as long as a person follows God’s Holy Commandments and follows after Jesus Christ, and thus invest’s their time, talent and treasure in building up the Kingdom of God first and foremost. They are poor because they give themselves and their gifts away for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Some of the greatest Saints, like St. Francis of Assisi, gave up a large inheritance to live a life as a beggar for the poor. St. Francis embraced poverty, and also obedience and chastity, the three evangelical counsels that religious brothers, sisters and religious order priests living in community are called to do so that they might devote them-selves entirely to God’s direct work of evangelization. But what about married couples? How can they live the beatitude “Blessed are the poor”? It is true that the role of a Catholic Christian couples is to have children and pro-vide for their education, especially in way that Christ and his Church mark out for them.
One of the happiest people to do this is Mary Ann Kuharski who is married and has thirteen children, 6 of whom are adopted, and some have special needs. Mary Ann is also the founding member and the President of PROLIFE Across America, known as the “The Billboard People”.
Her primary vocation is as wife and mother, but her avocation is to help pregnant mothers and fathers in difficult situations to choose life, and to know that God loves them and will care and provide for them.
Most Catholics are called to marriage, but it should be a sacramental marriage that reflects Jesus’ love for his bride, the Church, and so is based on mutual love, sacrificial giving and support. In this manner the man and woman in the Sacrament of Marriage make their way to heaven by giving of themselves to God’s plan, raising children and caring for the mission of the Church.
Mary Ann knows that the culture in many ways has turned against God and our Catholic Christian values. But she is willing to stand up and say lovingly that marriage is between one man and one woman. That the couple should not pretend to be married when they are not married. That couples should not live together before marriage, unless there is a rare situation such as when the woman is caring for her boyfriend who is dying and are living as brother and sister.
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns us that others will persecute us for upholding God’s Holy Commandments, “Thou shall not commit adultery”, “Thou shall not kill” innocent human babies, but blessed are those who follow the natural law of God and want babies to have life and have a Mom and a Dad, for that is the natural law right of the baby. Sadly, many in our society do not want babies; or want babies only when they are perfect or convenient. Fortunately, many Christians see marriage in Christ and every child (no matter how they are conceived or their disability) as sacred gifts from God.
Some people are upset at Christ and his Catholic Church and they may vilify us, but Jesus encourages us in today’s Gospel: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of” Jesus. “Rejoice and leap for joy… your reward will be great in heaven.”Cf. Lk 6:20-26.
Mary Ann Kuharski totally trusts in God’s revelation that Jesus Christ is the divine head of the Catholic Church. She knows that to be poor means that you invest in giving yourself and your gifts to the saving love and truth of Jesus Christ. Even though she has 13 children, she generously gives to the Church her time, talent and treasure. She knows that God cannot be outdone in generosity.
We should strive to tithe, which is a Biblical word that means we trust in God and so we give at least 10% of our income back to God; 5% to the parish, and split the other 5% between the Archdiocese and any other religious community or organization like PROLIFE Across America that build up the Kingdom of God.
That might sound like a lot, but actually we should also be detached from the other 90% since all our gifts ultimately come from God. If we are not giving glory to God and trying to help souls get to heaven by following Jesus Christ in his Catholic Church, then there will be great difficulty in getting into heaven for all of us.
Jesus says in today’s Gospel reading: “Woe to you who are rich”, to those who have more than enough food and do not share with the poor; “woe to those who laugh now” and are highly regarded, but do not spread the Kingdom of God because of pushback. Jesus is coming again for us! Hopefully we are faithful enough to stand up for every human life, true marriage, and the message that Jesus Christ comes to save us through his Church and her Seven Sacred Sacraments that God wants all to receive appropriately with holy and humble hearts, especially as we celebrate Holy Mass.
Peace in Christ through Jesus and Mary, Fr. Thomas McCabe
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