4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

(Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Ps 146(145); 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a)

Theme: Leaving the Cold for the Lord’s Warmth

Last week, we arranged a skip with Skip It for our parking project. On Thursday, I waited outside in the cold for the delivery. When the driver arrived, he parked, got out, and we greeted each other. Noticing I was in the chilly weather, he kindly said, “Please go back into the warmth of the church; I will unload without any issue.” I then went inside to pray and reflect and was inspired to write today's homily based on his words.

In his reflections on the Song of Songs, St. Bernard asserts, “The Lord’s mercy is my merit; we are never bereft of merit as long as the Lord is not bereft of mercy. For if the mercies of the Lord are many, then many are my merits.” Amen.

He adds: “The man who said, ‘My sin is too great to be forgiven,’ was in error.” Why? St Paul states in the second reading that God chose the foolish and lowly in the world to shame the strong and bring to nothing things that are, so no one might boast in God’s presence.

Therefore, do not listen to those who take pleasure in blackmailing us, for the Lord has not condemned us. Instead, follow the truck driver’s advice and leave behind that cold place built by those who insulted us, impoverished their people, turned our children into kidnappers, urged us to abandon God's house, and caused us to hate our families and friends.

Now is the time, as Prophet Zephaniah states in the first reading, to “seek the Lord all you humble of the land; seek righteousness; seek humility and be protected on the Lord’s Day of anger.”

We should not fear leaving behind that cold place of regret nor mourn the years lost to anger and unforgiveness. Those who return to the Lord are assured of His blessing. Let us humble ourselves through prayer, crave the Lord’s compassion, and worship Him while waiting for His mercy, which purifies our hearts, strengthens us to face life's challenges, and protects us from revenge against those who kept us in the cold, lied about us, betrayed us, or humiliated us – trapping us in self-pity, self-hate, and self-destruction.

We must let go, because the Lord’s compassion offers us heaven, comfort, success, satisfaction, wisdom, a heavenly inheritance, and a place in heaven. Yes, brothers and sisters, let us leave the cold and enter the warm sheepfold of the Lord, where He will inscribe in our hearts: Makarios.