September 11, 2024, Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time-B

1 Corinthians 7:25-31

Psalm 45

Luke 6:20-26

“I tell your brothers, time is running out.” 1 Cor. 7:29

“Blessed are the poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.” Lk. 6:20

Lord, by the standards of the world being poor, hungry, persecuted and in mourning are not our goals in life.  Most of us strive to be as wealthy as we can be, eat regularly and avoid being hated and sad.  But by your standards, Lord, you call these blessings.  You turned around the accepted idea that only the rich and powerful were blessed by God and the poor and hungry were being ignored or punished by him.  Being poor, in your eyes, focuses our hearts on our only true and lasting security: and that is you.  You want us to be totally dependent upon God and not material wealth, earthly power or self-control over our lives.  Lord, I thank you for the good things you have placed in my life.  May I use them in ways that please you.  So, I pray for an attitude of one who is poor in that I trust in your love, mercy and goodness.  In whatever time I have remaining in this world give me a deep dependence on your will for me.   You depended upon your Father on the cross so help me to live as if everything depended on you.  Amen