Cycle C, C12, Children's Liturgy Devotional, Children's Sermon, Children's Homily,Catholic, Christian,Good News C12, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 6:17,20-26

Cycle C

Good News C12

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Bible Gateway New International Version Luke 6:17,20-26

Beatitude means complete happiness. In Luke’s Gospel today he tells us 4 ways Jesus gives us to find complete happiness…4 ways to get to heaven.

If you are happy without God, chances are you won’t get into heaven. Have you ever noticed how in your mind you think, “If I get a new bike, I’ll be happy. You get the new bike and yet you are not completely happy. You think “If I get tickets to go to the championship ball game and our team wins, I’ll be happy.” You get tickets for the big game and your team wins, but you still feel this emptiness inside. Every day of your life, you search for something else that will make you absolutely, positively, completely happy. The truth is your heart will not be completely happy until you are with God who made you.

The saying that it is hard for the rich to get into heaven has always puzzled me. I believe there is a great chance for rich people to get closer to God by helping others. What Jesus meant by that was that if you are so rich that you think you don’t need God, that you got your riches by yourself, you did everything by yourself…then watch out. But if you are rich in money and you give all your credit to God and his people you will be rich in the spirit of God, then you will be doubly blessed.

The famous prayer of St. Augustine still rings true today, "O Lord, you have created our hearts, and our hearts will never find rest, till they rest in you". Make sure that you put God into all of your searches. Ask God to help you discover the love, forgiveness, and compassion you need for your earthly adventures so that you can truly enjoy the heavenly adventures with God. Recognize your God now so that he will open the heavenly gates for you...that will be the time when you will be very blessed and very happy!

Here is my version of the beatitudes and woes from today’s Gospel. I hope they help you understand it.

…Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, who realize that you are nothing and have nothing without God because you will be rich in the kingdom of God.
…Blessed are you who are hungry for God and his help,
for they will be satisfied in heaven.
…Blessed are you who are weeping because their sins have hurt God,
for they will laugh in heaven.
…Blessed are you who are hated and mistreated because you believe in Jesus Christ, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

…Woe to you who are so rich you think you don’t need God, for you have received your reward.
…Woe to you who are filled with yourself - “me” this and me that and nothing about God and his people, for you will be hungry forever.
…Woe to you who laugh at the thought of needing God to help you, who laugh at the hurts and problems of God’s people for you will be full of woe at the end of time.

Say the “Our Father” and give praise and thanksgiving for everything that God has done for you. Thank him for your talents, your skills, your family, your friends. Ask him to help you make strengths out of your weaknesses. Just ask. God will show you how.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”