6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Friends,

Happy are those who trust in the Lord

We can summarize today’s readings in two words: Happiness and Trust.

Looking for happiness is at the core of people’s preoccupations. In the first reading, Jeremiah tells his audience that they need to make a clear choice: they trust only in people or God. Jeremiah contrasts dry, wild wastelands with a luxurious tree growing by the waterside with striking images from nature. Using similar imagery, the Psalm makes the same point: trusting in the Lord will bring happiness.

In Luke’s version, it starts with a ‘beatitude’ at the core of the Gospel this year. Luke’s Beatitudes are shorter than those in Matthew’s Gospel and include warnings for those who have made the wrong choices: ‘Alas for you ….’

For Paul in the second reading, Christ’s resurrection is the source of our hopes and happiness. If he had not risen, we would have remained the most unfortunate of all people.

So our prayer this week may well center around the choices we have made, do make, and will make, as we try to find happiness, not just for ourselves, but also for those around us or the world at large, we can perhaps also ask the Lord for greater trust in him.

Joy and peace.