ORDINARY TIME WEEK IV [YEAR “A”] SUNDAY (Feb 1, 2026): Zep 2:3, 3:12-13; I Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12. BY: REV. FR. CLIFFORD ATTA ANIM.

The Beatitudes, Our Roadmap to True Happiness

Today’s readings set before us the Christian vision of happiness, not the temporary happiness promised by the world, but the eternal happiness God desires for His children. They outline what Christ-like living looks like and describe the inner attitudes and outward actions expected of anyone who chooses to follow Jesus. In simple terms, today’s Word tells us what truly matters to Christ.

The Beatitudes stand in continuity with the Ten Commandments. While the Commandments are often framed as prohibitions, what we must not do, Jesus presents the Beatitudes positively, as virtues to be embraced. They describe the kind of people who are truly blessed and the kind of life that leads, not necessarily to success here and now, but to salvation in the life to come.

Scripture

In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah speaks to what we might call a moral minority in Israel. He calls blessed those who seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness. These people are not powerful or influential by worldly standards, but they live with a deep dependence on God. Their blessing comes from trusting God rather than relying on wealth, status, or force.

In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds the Corinthians that everything they have is pure gift. Their life in Christ is not their own achievement. God has chosen them, justified them, sanctified them, and redeemed them through Jesus Christ. For this reason, Paul urges them to use their gifts not for pride or division, but for the good of the community.

In the Gospel, Jesus proclaims a message that is both challenging and surprising. He calls blessed the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted. Poverty teaches reliance on God. Hunger opens the heart to divine providence. Sorrow prepares the soul for true joy. Persecution becomes a sign of faithfulness. In short, Jesus calls blessed those who are poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers, and courageous in faith, even when that faith brings suffering.

Together, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew invite each of us to make a personal Declaration of Dependence on God and to cooperate with His grace in the pursuit of holiness and lasting happiness.

Life Messages

1) Living the Beatitudes daily

The Beatitudes are not poetic ideals meant to be admired from a distance. They are a concrete way of life. They call us to stand with the poor, to show compassion to those who suffer, to seek justice, to act with mercy, and to work for peace in our families, workplaces, and society. Each time we reach out to the sick, the needy, and the oppressed, we allow them to experience, even now, a foretaste of God’s Kingdom.

2) Choosing the Way of Life

An early Christian teaching reminds us that there are two paths, the Way of Life and the Way of Death, and that the difference between them is profound. The Way of Life is not simply a moral system or a set of rules. It is a Person. Jesus Himself is the Way that leads to eternal life. The Beatitudes confront us with a decisive question: do we seek happiness according to the world’s standards, or according to Christ’s vision?

God calls us to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one another selflessly as brothers and sisters in Christ. This path may be demanding, but it is the only path that leads to true and lasting life. God bless you.