Gulf Pine Catholic • January 30, 2026 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com Opening Remarks: When I think of spiritual poverty, what comes to mind are the ‘Nones.’ “Nones” is a term derived from surveys taken on religious affiliation, where “None” (none of the above) is typically the box a nonreligious person would check. Overview of the Readings: Zephaniah warned the Israelites to repent, renounce pride and idolatry, and turn to God, but they rejected his message. Their spiritual bankruptcy led them to lose friendship with God. Today’s Psalm response relates to our Gospel. St. Paul teaches that human wisdom is radically inferior to God’s wisdom. On today’s gospel, Saint Ambrose wrote, “The Beatitudes are meant to be directed inward toward our internal poverty and the attainment of spiritual peace as preparation for the spiritual combat necessary to save our souls.” Remnant: Following prophetic warnings to those who failed to return to God, Zephaniah interjects a note of hope. Happiness will come to those willing to seek the Lord with a humble heart and to observe God’s law through just actions and a humble spirit. Even if most people do not respond favorably to God’s initiatives, Zephaniah promises that a humble remnant, hungry for truth, will embrace the Lord, trusting that their witness will turn others from pride and rebellion to rely on the God who saves. Poverty of spirit opens our hearts to God, allowing God to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. Trust in God: Psalm 146 is a hymn of one who has learned that our greatest source of strength is our merciful and loving God, who desires everyone to be with Him in heaven for eternity. God stirs the hearts and minds of believers to present the Gospel message by demonstrating it in their lifestyle as they lead others to heaven. In this way, we are the beneficiaries of God’s faithfulness. For the oppressed, the Lord secures justice; for the spiritually or materially hungry, God gives food (bread from heaven and His living Word). The doors of the kingdom of heaven are open to the poor in spirit -- those who recognize that, no matter how much they have materially, they are bankrupt unless Christ is at the center of their lives. Lasting Happiness: In our second reading, Paul explains four ways Christ is for us. 1) He is wisdom. When we listen to Him, we hear the truth. 2) He is righteousness. Through Him, we have a right relationship with God. 3) He is holy. As we walk with Him, we grow in faith, hope, and love. 4) He is our redemption. Jesus delivers us from past sin, present helplessness, and fear of the future. The Beatitudes: Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. In giving us the Beatitudes, Jesus doesn’t offer a new version of the Ten Comma n dme n t s ; instead, He extols the blessings (blessedness) of those who follow His way of life. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7) contains Jesus’s declarations of what kingdom living looks like. Therefore, the Beatitudes are more than new ways of framing what we must do and what we must not do to earn God’s favor; they are the very means by which we embrace and practice kingdom living while still here on earth. How great is that! Closing Comments and Questions: Linus, Lucy, and Charlie Brown were building sandcastles at the beach. They did so well that people gathered around them, marveling at the many beautiful sandcastles of different sizes and shapes. At noon, they left the beach for an hour to get food. When they returned to their spot to build more sandcastles, they were devastated to find not a single sandcastle in sight. The tide had come in and washed them all away. What are your sandcastles? What are you working feverishly to build that could be wiped out in an instant? In perspective, the sandcastle metaphor represents those things we build on our own strength and inspiration. It is necessary to build relationships with people, get a good education, build a career, care about your life and the lives of those we love, and provide food, shelter, and security. But building and maintaining all of these and other good things without having Jesus as the center of our life, guiding our decisions and actions, can be like building temporary castles in the sand. True happiness resides in those who deliberately choose to spend a greater part of their lives building a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which stores up treasures in heaven that no thief can steal. Oh, how truly and abundantly blessed are the poor in spirit (those who recognize they are living in deep poverty if the Holy Spirit is not directing and empowering their lives), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Tennessee. Visit his website: www. homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Responsorial Psalm: 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Spiritual poverty Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries
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