Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
† Sunday 11th February 2001
Cycle of Prayer : Students and Teachers [ Education Day ]
World Day of Prayer for the Sick and those who care for them.

Theme: A blessing on the one who trusts God

The Prophet Jeremiah 17 : 5 - 8
The prophet contrasts the empty promises of men with the blessings that come with trust in the Lord God. “The man who puts his trust in man…the one whose heart turns from the Lord…,” is like the man who, “settles in the parched places of the wilderness, a salt land, uninhabited.” While in contrast the blessings that come upon a man who puts his trust in the Lord, the prophet likens to, “a tree by the waterside…its roots to the stream: when the heat comes it feels no alarm…no worries in the year of drought, it never ceases to bear fruit.” So the prophet urges us to place all our hope in the Lord God.

First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15 : 12, 16 - 20
Following the theme of previous passages from this letter used in recent weeks, the apostle Paul, again emphasises the importance of the fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Paul recognises the debate taking place in Corinth, “for if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised…and you are still in your sins… and we are the most unfortunate of people.” In previous readings, Paul having reminded his readers that Christ had risen and appeared to Cephas, the Twelve, and even to five hundred of the brothers at once, and then finally to Paul himself. The apostle now reminds the Christian community at Corinth of a fundamental fact underpinning their faith, Paul says, “But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep.”

The Gospel according to Luke 6 : 17, 20 - 26
Jesus speaking to the crowds who had come to hear him, makes a comparison like that of Jeremiah in the first reading. Addressing the poor people, the hungry, those in tears, the people being bullied or abused, and quite in contrast to what his hearers might have expected, Jesus says, “How happy are you who are poor: yours in the kingdom of God.” While in contrast, “Alas for you who are rich…for you who have your fill now… for you when the world speaks well of you.” For such folk will go hungry, they shall mourn and weep. Jesus invites his disciples to place their trust in God alone if they seek true happiness.