It is interesting to observe people in a food store, or supermarket.
Many of them look closely at the product searching for… the ‘use by date’, or expiration date.
They are conscious that different items will be good only for a certain time, for a limited period.
They would rather choose an article that will last longer – it is better value for money!

Is it not strange that people do not do the same when looking… at life?
It is obvious that a human life has a limited number of years.
We may like to forget, but we know it all too well: our days are counted!
What gives value to our life?
What are the long-lasting things that make a human existence worthwhile?…

The readings of today’s celebration are shedding some light on this.
Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul tells them (1 Corinthians 1:26-31):

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

To boast is to be proud of something, to be happy about one’s success:
the realization of something worthwhile, the achievement of a valuable goal.
What are the things that can give us such feeling of having achieved something worthwhile?

We often look for experiences that will be satisfying.
We launch into adventures that we expect to be gratifying.
But the ‘use by date’ of these experiences and adventures often proves to be short-lived.
We end up being dissatisfied and disappointed…

The first words of the 1^st reading tell us (Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13):  
“Seek the Lord…”

The Lord, he is the one who gives meaning to what we are and live.
He gives a direction towards the long-lasting situations that we are longing for.

In today’s gospel text (Matthew 5:1-12), he mentions eight areas where we can find,
not only long-lasting, but e v e r l a s t i n g happiness.

Of course, the choice remains ours…
 
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/4e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

Source: Images: Free Images     Decatur Presbyterian Church