Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the fourth Sunday in ordinary time, February 1st, 2026

Delivered by Maria Delie, Clairine, Bryan Darwie and Jesi Patricia from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Zephaniah 2: 3; 3: 12-13; Rs psalm 146: 1.7.8-9a.9b-10; 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31; Matthew 5: 1-12a.HAPPY ARE THE WEAK The title for our meditation on this 4thSunday in Ordinary Time is: Happy Are the Weak. In this world dominated bymarkets, position, money and influence, a human being, whether a man or awoman, is physically weak or spiritually weak is prevented from being happy.Living in this world requires enough intelligence, strength, power, hard workand money to create a happy life. People who don't have these qualities willdefinitely have an unhappy life. In general, our minds, hearts and will are shaped bythe standards of this world. People in this world aspire to become materiallywealthy, have adequate knowledge and technology, control or dominate others,and become winners in various competitions. Hardly anyone wants to be the weak,the sick, the forgotten, the unjustly treated, and the victim of humiliation orviolence. If, for example, there was ever an orientation of lifethat led the people of this world to choose and embrace all the weak orhelpless states, it is only found in the believers. In particular, theChristian faith that is rooted in Jesus Christ really contradicts with thestandards or measures used by the world. This faith enlightens and strengthensthe believers so that they do not avoid weakness, sickness, suffering,persecution and death. In this way, they truly follow the Lord Jesus Christ whohad experienced humiliation, suffering, suffering, and death himself. This faith further encourages believers to endure thisweak and suffering condition. They are convinced that this weakness andsuffering have their time and place in the world. While a human person is inthe world, he or she cannot escape weakness, sickness and suffering. Only afterleaving this world through one’s own death, a believer will begin a new journeyto finally reach the unity with the Holy Triune God. All the readings of this Sunday intend to strengthenour faith as believers on how we should persevere and continue to accept andembrace our weak, sick and suffering circumstances or experiences. We should behappy when we experience all pain and deprivation in this world. Our ability toaccept all those situations in calmness, peacefulness, and joyfulness is actuallya sign of Christian happiness. Departing from this ability, we do believe that ourhope for perfect happiness is something real and undeniable. The Lord JesusHimself and saints in heaven will welcome all of us there. Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Almighty God,bless us that we may always be strong in faith and hope, even though we arealso experiencing various kinds of suffering. Our Father who art in heaven...In the name of the Father ...