6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 6:17. 20-26) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” (Lk 6:20)

FIRST READING - Jeremiah 17:5-8

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

Thus says the LORD:

Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings,

who seeks his strength in flesh,

whose heart turns away from the LORD.

He is like a barren bush in the desert

that enjoys no change of season,

but stands in a lava waste,

a salt and empty earth.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,

whose hope is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted beside the waters

that stretches out its roots to the stream:

it fears not the heat when it comes;

its leaves stay green;

in the year of drought it shows no distress,

but still bears fruit.

SECOND READING from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians - 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

Brothers and sisters:

If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,

how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;

you are still in your sins.

Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,

we are the most pitiable people of all.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead,

the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Luke 6:17, 20-26

From the Gospel according to Luke

Jesus came down with the Twelve

and stood on a stretch of level ground

with a great crowd of his disciples

and a large number of the people

from all Judea and Jerusalem

and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are now hungry,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping,

for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,

and when they exclude and insult you,

and denounce your name as evil

on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!

Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your consolation.

Woe to you who are filled now,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,

for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 6:17. 20-26)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God: God the Father wants to tell all of humanity, His children, one thing: between humans and God the Father, whom should we choose?

God lovingly and kindly teaches His children how to wisely choose His will above all things. This means obeying all His commandments from the beginning of creation until now. God the Father does not limit His love for humanity; His love is infinite, boundless, and everlasting, extended to all humans and all creatures He has created.

Therefore, whoever obeys the will of God the Father at all times and in all places, submitting to Him as their Father and believing that He is the One who will save their bodies and souls on the last day, is considered a wise person. On the contrary, whoever listens to the world, ignores the Word of God the Father, does not fear Him, and becomes a slave to Satan is a fool. God gives them freedom, but they will be controlled by Satan, led astray, and will engage in everything that belongs to the world of darkness: lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness, greed, and more. Satan will lure people into worldly passions with fleeting glory and honor, driving them to pursue wealth and riches that belong to this world, without concern for becoming rich before God the Father, without practicing charity, love, or fostering a humble, poor soul. They will lack the longing to live a holy life or to become a saint.

All the children of God the Father who are still alive in this world, listen to God the Father's teachings and do not disobey His will any longer! Do not be stubborn! Do not follow the instigation of Satan, the world, or the flesh in going against the will of God the Father.

As the Word of God in the book of the prophet Jeremiah foretold today, wise people always know how to fear God; they always know how to submit to His holy will and glorify the holy name of God the Father above all things. But foolish people follow the world and glorify the material interests of this world above God the Father. They become disrespectful to Him, turning their backs on Him to worship Satan. God always reminds these people of one truth: only God the Father is the One who brings eternal life to humanity. The proof is that, when the time comes, God the Father sends His Son into the world to sacrifice, die, and rise again to redeem humanity. This is what must be believed. Only God the Father has boundless love; besides Him, there is no other god who loves people as He does.

Thus, the Word of God today teaches people to fear God, to submit to Him at all times and in all places, to rely on His love, and He will give them strength. But if anyone relies on the world or on human strength, they cannot overcome the three enemies! God the Father specifically teaches people the wise way to choose according to the true Beatitudes:

-Blessed are those who live a life of poverty and know how to rely on the power, love, and mercy of God the Father.

-Blessed are those who run to God the Father to be strengthened, comforted, taught and loved by Him.

-Blessed are those who dare to proclaim the love of God the Father in the midst of a wicked and depraved generation.

-Blessed are those who courageously proclaim that there is only one God the Father. Especially in the third project of God the Father: blessed are those who dare to proclaim the love and mercy of God the Father, placed in His work of the new age.

-Blessed are those who dare to courageously proclaim and bear witness to God the Father to the point of sacrificing themselves, sacrificing their ego, serving in the plan of God the Father and glorifying God the Father, seeking the salvation of souls.

-Blessed are those who know how to thirst, know how to desire to enter the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven and desire the grace of fearing God the Father and trying to be faithful and obedient to His will at all times and in all places.

In addition to the Beatitudes, God the Father also warns those who disobey His will that they will suffer extremely painful consequences, which include falling into eternal hellfire with Satan.

God the Father is merciful; He always loves and teaches people in a meticulous and detailed way. He does not abandon any soul without teaching them. Hence, all the children of God the Father living in the new era—the era of the Holy Spirit's activity—should listen and run to the mercy of God the Father. In this new era, people are truly blessed because the Realistic Word of God teaches and instructs directly, specifically, clearly, and in detail. We are called to sacrifice, fast, and pray; live simply; be poor in spirit; trust, rely on, and completely surrender to God the Father. Then He will protect, preserve, and shelter us in His loving arms. People are called to simply do this—without questioning or doubting. If anyone is stubborn, refuses to accept, or deliberately goes against what God the Father has taught from the past until now, they become disrespectful to God the Father, disobeying His will, and failing to worship Him as the only One. So, do they truly know how to love their brothers and sisters? Do they desire to be righteous and holy? Do they long for the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Those people should beware! For God warns: Woe to those who disobey the will of God the Father. They are passionate about worldly wealth, satisfied with enjoyment and pleasures, and content with the fleeting joys of the world. They seek praise from others... And once again, God blesses those who thirst for righteousness, who desire to live a holy life, and who long to enjoy the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven. Their reward is great in Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 February 16th, 2025 Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven