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4th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year A
 
Brothers and Sisters, welcome to halftime. Yes, that is right, we are at halftime in our liturgical year and now is the time to reflect on the first half and make the  adjustments for the second half as we stick to the game plan. And this week’s readings give us of the game plan of life in The Beatitudes, and when we follow this game plan, we know our reward will be great in  heaven.

 
Here we are in the 4th Week of Ordinary Time, or halftime. The first half of the game was Advent and Christmas and the second half of the game is just about to begin with Lent and Easter. These four quarters offer us an opportunity to not only make straight the way of the Lord for his Incarnation, but also to prepare to carry the cross and rise again in salvific glory.

 
As in any game, we need to have a game plan, and today’s Gospel reminds us of that game plan. Matthew today gives us The Beatitudes, sometimes also called the Sermon on the Mount. In the  Beatitudes, Jesus gives us the game plan to live a good life of service to others, a peaceful disposition, and a pure and merciful heart. Pope Francis has described The Beatitudes as the ‘identity card’ of Christians because they outline the life of Jesus as an example for us.

 
In our Gospel for today, Jesus, our coach, has given us the game plan of life to lead a life of service to others, love of thy neighbor and love of God. As Pope Francis further stated, the Beatitudes are broken down into three parts: blessed are they, the situation the blessed find themselves in, and the Because, or the reason for the Beatitude. This game plan gives us a situation we might find  ourselves in, a reason why we must live this way of life and a reward for doing so. Thus, in each of these Beatitudes, we find a game plan for life. Christ our Teacher and Head Coach is reminding us today, during his halftime speech, that we need to follow this game plan to win the game of life.

 
Thus, the question for us, the players, is whether we are following this game plan. We knew going into the Advent season that we needed to reconnect to our faith in a certain way, or reconnect to a lost friend, or perhaps something else that would help the meek and poor in spirit or those who mourn. Perhaps we started to attend Adoration or say a daily rosary, or a daily good deed task for someone, but then again, life happens and we gave up a touchdown or two. It happens the best of us, even me. I say I want to do more but life, work and family get me off my game plan. That daily rosary is now a couple times a week. That phone call I made to a lost friend that went unanswered and I never tried again.

 
Now, as we begin the second half and approach Lent, now is the time to refocus on the mission. Now is the time to get back to the game plan of life, the Beatitudes. Now is the time to give it up to God and let him lead the way. As Pope Leo XIV has stated that “we must move aside so that Christ may remain, to make ourselves small so that He may be known and glorified.” God Bless you and all hands in this circle as we say Peter and Paul on three, one, two, three Go Peter and Paul.
 
AMDG
 
Deacon Lou Presenza