Friends:
There are sublime pages of the gospel, and the discourse of the Beatitudes is one of them. But its true message is in a mythical language, and we have often interpreted it with the inertia of the centuries. It does not seem to be a comfort for the afflicted. It should not be an invitation to resign oneself to one’s own fate, and even less to choose the path of suffering.
I copy the proposal made by Friar Marcos, which seems to me very luminous: “It is preferable to be poor than to be rich at the expense of the poverty of others. It is preferable to weep than to make another weep. It is preferable to go hungry than to be the cause of others going hungry. Blessed are those not for being poor, but for not impoverishing another. Blessed are those, not for being oppressed, but for not being oppressors.”
We continue to remember the most interesting book that we will present in Barcelona, by one of the authors, José Arregi. It will be next February 20th. More information on the Bulletin Board. “Reform or abolish the papacy. A challenge for the future of the Catholic Church”, now available in bookstores and the online store.
Gospel and comments on the Gospel
Matthew 5, 1-12. Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain, and sat down. His disciples came to him.
Michael Munárriz: Impossible mission? We must choose between comfortably joining the back of the pack, or being the vanguard that sets the course.
José Luis Sicre: Eight doors to enter the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes tell us what kind of people can understand and accept the message of Jesus, incorporating themselves into the Christian community.
Enrique Martínez Lozano: Where do I put this joy? We see with increasing clarity that the pursuit of pleasure, as a priority objective, regardless of any other reference, inevitably leads to suffering and essential emptiness.
Fray Marcos: Despite crying, you can be happy if you don’t make others cry. Not beyond, but here.
Fidel Aizpurúa: How good it is that we are here! We are calm with our idea of a distant God, with our devotions that commit us little, with our faith that does not attract attention.
José Antonio Pagola: Listening closely to the Beatitudes. What do we hear today, the disciples of Jesus, if we approach him?
Inma Eibe: Be happy. The Beatitudes are the roadmap for every Christian, the foundation of our life project. Let us hope that when we hear them today, we can feel that it is to us that Jesus calls “blessed” and, if not, let us prepare to review our lives from them.
Selected articles for the week
**Johan Pacheco: León XIV: “We need to safeguard the gift of communication as the deepest truth of the human being.”** In his message for World Communications Day, he calls for an alliance to preserve human voices and faces against the risks of Artificial Intelligence.
**Jesús Martínez Gordo: Two Ways of Thinking Theologically in Modernity: Andrés Torres Queiruga and Olegario González de Cardedal**. The mystery of God will continue to be life, way and truth, at the same time as an inescapable mystery, of which, despite this, one can speak.
**José Manuel Vidal: The Clergy of Caracas Stand Firm: “Our Total Adherence to Monsignor Biord”**. The Church cannot remain silent in the face of what deprives the Venezuelan people of peace and hope.
Fundación la Caixa: 30.6% of young students in Catalonia have had suicidal thoughts. To reduce the risk of suicidal behaviors, it is key to strengthen social support, resilience, and healthy use of social networks at school, at home, and in the community.
Isabel Gómez Acebo: The river course of life. Water that is born and ends up becoming a river is a very valuable metaphor for spiritual life.
**Gerardo Villar: Reflections on a personal pastoral style**. I thank God because I have lived all the years with enthusiasm.
**Miguel Barluenga: Luis Marín: “First comes unity, but a plural Church must be assumed”**. Sometimes we have a Christ “too normative,” trapped by definitions, and he is a living person with whom I can and must relate.
**José Lorenzo: Jesús Fernández: “In Adamuz, God was present in so many hearts and hands that lifted up the wounded.”** The Bishop of Córdoba cannot erase the “indescribable sadness” he experienced accompanying the victims and families of the accident in Adamuz. Amidst the tragedy, he also perceived a “strong spiritual impact.”
**News of scope.** After an unprecedented civil mobilization, the Government will approve the extraordinary regularization of half a million migrants tomorrow.
For more participatory and current Eucharists
Soponias 2, 3 and 3, 12-13. Seek the Lord, you humble ones who fulfill his commands.
1 Corinthians 1, 26-31. Look at your assembly; there are not many wise in human affairs, nor many powerful, nor many aristocrats among you.
Florentino Ulibarri: Prayer of Anna. Here I am, Lord, on the threshold of your time, on the threshold of your house…
Vicky Irigaray: 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Let us be aware that the Beatitudes are not a law, nor a code, nor a moral norm; they are Gospel, joyful announcement of the fulfillment of the Kingdom.
Anaphore: The vocation of Jesus. We do not want to be content, Father and Mother, with praying to you every Sunday. Let our souls be moved by the sight of poor brothers and sisters and let help come from within us.
Benedictine Nuns of Montserrat. Domingo 4º del Tiempo Ordinario.
Multimedia material
All you have to do is open your eyes. By Anthony de Mello. If you want to be happy, you don’t need to make any kind of effort; you don’t even need good will or good wishes, but to understand clearly how you have been “programmed” exactly…
**God’s hand over me.** By Karol G. This song is a true hymn of hope and faith, expressing the search for guidance, protection, and strength in times of uncertainty. It invites reflection, hope, and comfort in difficult times and is perfect to listen to in moments of calm, meditation, or to reconnect with faith and inner peace.
Salomé Arricibita: Dichosos. The Beatitudes speak of us, of each one of us. They are not for others… they are for me and for you. God can only desire happiness for everyone. Understanding the Beatitudes is understanding that our happiness and our peace are in Him… no matter what happens, far beyond the circumstances of life, if we understand that it is not about possessing… but about loving, being, and always, being towards others.
**You arrived.** By Luis Guitarra. With enormous tenderness, hope, joy, and peace… this beautiful song opens our heart and our life, to let God and all those human beings in whom He dwells enter into it.
**Equipo Quiero Ver: Working for Peace**. Blessed are the meek and those who work for peace, because they make the heart of God present in daily coexistence. Today, in a world wounded by wars, polarization, and verbal violence, their serene and dialoguing attitude is a light that disarms and rebuilds. Being meek and peacemakers is not weakness: it is betting on reconciliation and caring for the dignity of every person, starting with those closest to us.
**Light that lives in me.** By Naurea Soma. When darkness tries to extinguish everything… the inner light always shines again. This is a song born from the soul, a reminder that strength always dwells within. Listen to this song with an open heart… and feel how the light expands and gains strength in your heart, reminding you that it was always there.
In the EFFA School we facilitate the link to the study material where all the talks and bibliography available are, for those who have not been able to see them or want to review any. The link to access the latest videos that have been uploaded may also be useful.
And, as I promised, the letters will end with these three links: the letter of the week, the letter of last week and letters from other weeks. When someone loses -or doesn’t receive- the email with the news, they can use an old letter to access the new one.
A hug,
Inma Calvo
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