Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026

 

No, this is not a picture of Lake Champlain with the Green Mountains of Vermont in the background!  This is the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave the Beatitudes during His Sermon on the Mount!

There once was once a man who was offered three blessings. An angel appeared to him and said, “I will grant you whichever of these three blessings you choose: wisdom, beauty, or ten million dollars.”

Without hesitation, the man said, “I choose wisdom.”

There was a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and when it was over, the man looked completely changed. But then he just sat there, staring down at the table in front of him.

One of his friends leaned over and whispered, “You have great wisdom now. Say something.”

And the man said, “I should have taken the money.”

It’s funny because let’s be honest: A lot of people measure “blessing” by what makes life easier, safer, richer, or more comfortable. When things go well, it’s easy to say, “I’m so blessed.” When life is hard, it’s tempting to wonder where the blessing went.

But then Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel, and He uses the word “blessed” in a way that doesn’t match those instincts at all.

He doesn’t say:
Blessed are the successful.
Blessed are the admired.
Blessed are the comfortable.

He says:
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are those who mourn.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the clean of heart.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what is right.

So what does Jesus mean when He calls someone “blessed”?

A simple and faithful way to understand it is this:
To be blessed is to hold a special place in the heart of Jesus and in His Kingdom.

Not because life is easy.
Not because everything goes well.
But because that person belongs to God, is seen by God, and is promised a future with God.

That idea runs through all the readings today.

The first reading from Zephaniah speaks about a “remnant” — a small group of people who are humble, lowly, honest, and faithful. They are not powerful or impressive. But God says they will be protected, cared for, and kept close.

The psalm keeps repeating that the Lord lifts up the lowly, feeds the hungry, frees captives, gives sight to the blind, and protects the stranger, the widow, and the orphan. God’s heart is always drawn toward those who are struggling and those who depend on Him.

Saint Paul tells the Corinthians something similar. He reminds them that God did not choose them because they were impressive by human standards. Not many were wise, powerful, or noble. God chose the weak, the lowly, and the overlooked so that no one could boast — only God could be praised.

And then Jesus stands on the mountain and names the same people as “blessed.”

Not blessed because suffering is good.
Not blessed because pain is pleasant.
But blessed because God is especially near to them.

The Beatitudes are not a list of rewards for bad situations. They are a promise of God’s closeness.

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He is saying that those who know their need for God are close to His heart.

When He says, “Blessed are those who mourn,” He is saying that grief does not push people away from God — it draws God closer.

When He says, “Blessed are the meek,” He is blessing those who choose gentleness over power.

When He says, “Blessed are the merciful,” He is naming people who look like God, because God is merciful.

When He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” He is calling them children of God, because they act like their Father.

And when He says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what is right,” He is promising that even rejection and suffering cannot separate someone from God’s love or God’s future.

So “blessed” does not mean lucky.

It does not mean comfortable.
It does not mean problem-free.

It means known by God.
Held by God.
Loved by God.
And promised a place in His Kingdom.

That changes how blessing is seen.

It means that a person can be struggling and still be blessed.
A person can be grieving and still be blessed.
A person can be misunderstood and still be blessed.
A person can be poor in the world’s eyes and rich in God’s.

The Beatitudes are not just about the future. They are about how God sees people right now.

God sees the ones who are tired.
God sees the ones who are hurting.
God sees the ones who are trying to do what is right.
God sees the ones who are gentle in a harsh world.
God sees the ones who show mercy when it would be easier not to.

And Jesus looks at them and says: Blessed.

Not because life is perfect.
But because God is close.