Intro: “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord” is a strong message for all of us in this Sunday liturgy. As we gather to worship, we pray that God’s Spirit will make us strong and committed to our faith so that we may have life through Him by believing.
Even though most parts of California are desert, almost like Arizona, we have a feel of streams and running waters because we live off the coastline. California’s beautiful beaches and plenty of vegetation along this coastline attract natives and tourists because they are attractive to see. This idea in today’s first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah (17:5-8) and the Psalmist (40:5a) reiterated its essence, harping on the fact that blessed are those who hope in the Lord. Like in our beautiful beaches and the vegetation around the river, those who trust in the Lord are planted beside the waters; they are new every morning and bloom like the lily. Their leaves stay green, and they bear fruit every season.
These proclamations are relevant in today’s gospel (and we heard them in Luke’s narration of the Sermon on the Mountain: 6:17; 20-26); if they are poor in spirit, theirs will be the kingdom of heaven. If they are hungry, they shall be satisfied. If people hate them because they profess God’s name, they shall be justified and vindicated because, even if they die (1 Corinthians 15:12; 16-20), their faith will not be in vain as God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise them too when the trumpet sounds. Therefore, brothers and sisters, today’s liturgy has one central message for all of us. It emphasizes that we must trust in God at all times and look up to God, who is almighty, for salvation, especially in times of trouble. If we hope in the Lord, then we shall be like trees planted beside running waters; we shall bear fruit in all seasons, and ultimately, God will be with us, bless us, and prosper the works of our hands.