Our Venerable Father Anthony of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev (1073); Forty-Five Martyrs of Nicopolis in Armenia (321-3); Holy Brothers Francis, Mutius and Raphael and Those with Them, Martyred in Damascus (1860).
Polyeleos Feast.
Galatians 5:22-6:2; Luke 6:17-23.
Read Luke 6:17-23
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
I know that we have heard the Beatitudes many times, even sung them countless times at the Divine Liturgy. There is a tendency to not pay much attention to that with which we are familiar. This goes as well with the Beatitudes as well. Let’s take time to (re)consider all these Beatitudes. For our reflection today, we will look at the first one.
Blessed are the poor – the poor are not blessed just because they are poor. Rather, it is because they have realized that their ultimate dependence is upon the Lord and His Kingdom – for everything. This is the poverty to which each of us is called. Even the rich can experience this poverty. It is being poor that we discover the Kingdom of God and allow it to be manifest and revealed. The blessed and happiness of the Kingdom of God we can begin to experience even now if we embrace poverty.