He Opened His Mouth And Taught

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 10th Week of Ordinary Time, Year 1, June 7th, 2021
Texts: 2 Cor. 1:1-7; Ps. 34:2-9; Mtt. :1-12
Today's gospel reading tells us that Jesus opened his mouth and taught them. The description that He opened His mouth and taught is used to show Jesus Christ as a man of authority. Such description shows Him as a man of authority filled with wisdom and knowledge; it makes Him the teacher of truth. The understanding of the description gives meaning to what follows. It means that what follows is nothing but the truth; it is a body of instructions or rules of life.
Jesus, in the gospel reading, says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Those who are poor in spirit are those whose souls are not set on the things of this world but on things of the spirit; they are in the World but not possesssed by the world; they can let go material things for salvation of souls. They are poor in material things but rich in things of the spirit. It is by this kind of life that we win heaven for ourselves. Do you desire heaven? Then, be poor in the spirit: cling not to material things but hold on to the things of heaven.
Jesus also says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” These are the people who are troubled but full of hope in God. This brings to mind the words of the psalm: "With death in my bones, my enemies taunt me, all day long they ask me, 'Where is your God?' Why so downcast, why all these sighs? Hope in God I will praise him still, my Saviour, my God" (42:10-11). The righteous suffer that they may know the comfort of Christ and knowing the comfort of Christ they may learn to comfort others. In today's first reading, St. Paul puts it thus: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." St. Paul adds, "If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort".
While by being poor in the spirit we gain heaven, by meekness we inherit the earth. Truly, to have peace on earth, we need to be gentle, patient and tolerant. We need to be gentle in dealing with others, patient to wait for the right time and tolerant to accommodate others' flaws. Jesus goes further to tell us that it is by ardent desire for righteousness that we become righteous. He puts it thus: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” It is wholesome to desire righteousness. When we desire righteousness, we desire good thing. God fulfills the desire for righteousness.
Another rule of life is mercy. Jesus tells us to show mercy that we may receive mercy. We receive mercy by showing mercy. He also tells us that we will see God if we are pure in heart. We are to make purity of heart our rule of life. Peace is another rule of life that Jesus proposed for living. We  are to seek and work for peace wherever we find ourselves. Working for peace makes us godly and sons of God; Jesus Christ, the Son of God, brings peace between God and man, and also among men. He goes on to assure us that the persecution for the sake of righteousness and His sake will be greatly rewarded.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for revealing to us the wisdom of life; grant that we may live by the wisdom. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke