Beatitudes

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Beatitudes

Humble     Lowly

Chosen     Sanctified     Redeemed

Consider Your Own Calling

Seek

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Second Corinthians 1: 26 and 27

Consider your own calling, sisters and brothers.

You were not wise by human judgments, not many of your held positions of power, not many of you came from the nobility.

Rather God calls the foolish of the world to confound the wise.

Matthew 5: 1 to 3

Jesus saw that there was a large crowd gathering, so He decided to go up the mountain.

He sat down and His disciples gathered around Him.

He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, God's kingdom is theirs."

Reflection

How does God call us?

Many of us might respond to this question by saying that God does not really call me. We could reply that we really do not have as much talent, skill, charisma, or ability as so many other people we know. God might be calling them but not me!

St. Paul shatters that thought quickly as he writes to the Corinthians. God calls us not because of any special gift or gifts we might possess but simply because God calls us.

What does God calls us to do?

Jesus gives us the answer in the Beatitudes. God wants us to be poor in spirit. God desires us to be empty of any selfishness we might pursue, so that God can fill us with the Love and Grace God desires for us.

I had a recent experience of this which Kathy captured in her photo above. I had the BLESSING of being able to work with a wonderful man who wanted to be initiated into the Catholic Church. 

He felt God was calling him in this way. After a conversation with him and his supportive and prayerful wife, I had no doubt that God was calling him to embrace the Church.

He was truly poor in spirit and he realized that God was going to fill his soul with the wealth that only God can provide.

I was moved to tears as he professed his belief in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.

He had fully responded to God's call.

He sought.

He found.

Through his faith and his response we were all inspired to once again accept our calling from God.

1. How has God been calling you in your life?

2. What has God been calling you to do?

3. What does it mean for you personally to be poor in spirit?

4. What do you feel as you reflect on Kathy's photo?