Reflection for Sunday 1st February, 2026

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Feast of St. Brigid (Matthew 5:1-12)

The first day of February is the Feast of St. Brigid, one of the three Patrons of Ireland, along with Saints Patrick and Columba. When the Feast falls on Sunday, the Mass Prayers are taken from the Feast of Brigid but the Readings are those of the Sunday. Since Brigid was known for hospitality, almsgiving, care of the sick, and compassion with all who were suffering, the text of the 8 Beatitudes is most appropriate.

Brigid lived 454-524, a time when Ireland was known as the Isle of Saints and Scholars. Barbarian tribes from Northern Europe had virtually crushed Christianity in Europe but the Irish missionaries restored the faith. Brigid did not travel with the missionaries but her reputation did. Her virtues were a model of life according to the Gospel.

St. Brigid's Cross. (Photo by Culnacreann, Wikipedia Creative Commons.)

Last Sunday the Gospel was about the mission of Jesus to restore the world to the kingdom of God. Today we start the Sermon on the Mount which summarizes the vision of Jesus for the world, beginning with the Beatitudes which may be regarded as a summary of the great Sermon. Ghandi’s favourite reading was the Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes. He was deeply impressed by the life of Jesus Christ but not by the lives of Christians.

Christian identity card

To quote Pope Francis: “Jesus explained with great simplicity what it means to be holy when he gave us the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are like a Christian identity card. So, if anyone asks: ‘What must I do to be a good Christian?’ the answer is clear. We must do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives.” Am I guided by the teaching of Jesus? Would my life impress Ghandi? If I was on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

My kind of people

The popular opinion at the time of Jesus held that God’s blessings were to be seen in prosperity, power, prestige, and popularity. Therefore, the poor and powerless, those who were handicapped, or the victims of misfortune were regarded as sinful and cursed by God. But Jesus gives a new concept of who are blessed by God.
True followers of Jesus do not worship material prosperity: they are humble and gentle. They mourn in repentance for past sins. They work for justice and peace. Because they are pure in heart they can see the presence of God. And they are courageous in the face of persecution.
Notice that the Beatitudes are spoken of in the present tense but the consolations belong to the future. Sharing in the passion of Jesus is the entry door to sharing in his resurrection.
“They shall see God.”