1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Sunday 29th January 2017 4th Sunday in OT Matthew 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples.
Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy are those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

4. Literal meaning Where? Matthew 5 – up the hill
When? After the message of repentance and call of disciples
What? The first teaching of Jesus: the Sermon on the Mount
Who? Jesus, joined by his disciples (and the crowds?)
How? Jesus begins his teaching with the beatitudes
Why? a completely new teaching set in continuity with the past

5. Jesus: the new Moses God’s word proclaimed from the mountain
Moses passes on the Word vs Jesus gives/is the Word
8 beatitudes for 10 commandments
to do (or not to do) vs to be
promised blessing: life (here in Moses, hereafter in Jesus)

6. hungers and thirsts for what is right merciful pure in heart
1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.
4. Honour your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
9. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour's goods.
Poor in spirit
gentle
mourns
hungers and thirsts for what is right
merciful
pure in heart
peacemaker
persecuted in the cause of right

7. Finding God: Jesus Poor in spirit gentle mourns
hungers and thirsts for what is right
merciful
pure in heart
peacemaker
persecuted in the cause of right

8. Finding the human person: I am blessed when I am…
Poor in spirit
gentle
mourning
hungry and thirsty for what is right
merciful
pure in heart
peacemaker
persecuted in the cause of right

9. Finding the Church: the Saints
Poor in spirit
gentle
mourns
hungers and thirsts for what is right
merciful
pure in heart
peacemaker
persecuted in the cause of right

11. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia!

12. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word