Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Look what the wind blew in
Jesus saw the crowds and went up the mountain. After he had sat down, he began to teach them.
After a few days of cold snowy and then freezing rainy weather in Urbana, I drove back to Austin and it looks like I’m bringing the cold weather with me (although it is weather in the 40’s, not the 20’s). But while I’ve been gone Austin has been 20 plus degrees warmer than it will be tomorrow.
Before I left I finished a fabulous plate of walleye on Friday night at Bunny’s served by my son and friend, Marc. Cole slaw, french fries, malt vinegar and tartar sauce made in house, not too sweet, plus what my Wisconsin buddy called tanq and tonic in a beautiful glass. The bar was full, so I sat at a table and read my book. Another older guy sat at the table in front of me reading his magazine.
Six counseling appointments on Friday rounded out my week, which was often and on very busy, then not busy at all. My bronchitis pills seem to be working, slowly. And even if part of the process is placebo-y, I know I’m getting better. Going back into cedar fever country? Who told you to do that? Well, I’m going anyway, and my eyes may go crazy again.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Reading Matthew 5 and Jesus’ beatitudes immediately reminds me of Robert Barron’s series on Catholicism that Don first shared with me, and which I shared with Margaret, and then we shared with many others. What a wonderful set of videos, filmed all over the world. Fr. Barron read the beatitudes as “happy’s:” Happy are the meek, happy are the poor …
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
There are many parts of the trip from Austin to Urbana where the countryside looks poor, and I believe many of the people are too. As everywhere, the cities are divided between fancy glass towers and scrappy old houses. Dirt in cities abounds. Small towns offer no opportunities, but cities offer false hopes, so often. And then when the winds blow, dirt gets in the cracks and crevices. City dirt seems dirtier than country dirt. I guess I’m a country mouse from way back, and living in Chicago and New York and San Francisco and London and Austin over the years hasn’t changed me much, not the deep inside parts of me.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
But that’s OK. At least there is water in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. For now anyway. The Colorado River is drying up, and the dirt is blowing into the houses out there too. I am glad to remember Jesus’ silver linings, and rest in his promises, sleeping to the sound of the wind, peaceful in the place where I am right now.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for great will be your reward in heaven.
 (Zephaniah 2-3, Psalm 146, 1 Corinthians 1, Matthew 5)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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