01/02/2026
In his homily, Fr. Venjie reminded us that our primary disposition is to give ourselves and what we have to God, and we are continually reminded of our calling to be peacemakers. When we speak of the Kingdom of God, we speak of being poor in spirit. Being poor, in a physical sense, refers to the inability to meet one’s daily personal needs, which often pushes a person to strive to improve their life.
However, Christ speaks more deeply of being poor in spirit—recognizing that in our own capacity, we cannot act, perform, or bear fruit without God. This requires a humble acknowledgment and acceptance that we truly need Him.
On the other hand, blessedness, therefore, is rooted in humility, a humility that always leads us back to God wherever life may take us. As we strive through the grace of God, we are invited to reflect on whether we have become independent or remain dependent on the Lord, especially in times of need.
In this spirit, we offer the fruits of our labor, saying, “Lord, I give because You have been generous to me, and I offer these because I trust You all the more,” for we are also invited to stand among the poor, relying fully on God.
