Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land.
Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.
Fortunate are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God.
Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God.
Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you
because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God.
For that is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

LECTIO DIVINA:

Read: To be blessed is to be like the Lamb of God.
The key word for this Sunday is “Blessedness!” Who are the “Blessed Ones?”
They are the ones who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, those who have remained faithful under trial,
those who mirrored the face of the One true Blessed, Jesus Christ. The Palm branch is a great symbol of martyrs
– witnesses – who, like Christ, have offered their lives for truth, justice, charity, and peace.

Reflect: The Catholic Church celebrates a great Solemnity on this day as she recognizes the “144,000”
- the symbolic number (12 x 12 x 1000 or simply “a great multitude) of the saved from all nations and
from all generations. Among these multitude of Saints are not only the “ca­nonized” but also the many
more anonymous or unknowns saints, even from our own families! All who strive to live the Beatitudes
set by Christ in the Gospel are on the way to becoming “Blessed!”

Pray: Each of us is called to be counted among the “Blessed.” St. Therese of Lisieux, our modern day Saint,
challenges us to desire to become Saints, for only by being Saints can we be counted amongst the Saved!

Act: Today is a good day to light a candle and pray, not only for the eternal rest of our dearly departed,
but also to pray to them to intercede for us should they already be amongst the many Saints in heaven.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020