Today's Holy Gospel. Wednesday, September 9th, "Listen, daughter, behold: incline your ear" ************************************Rosary at 10:00 PM

Jesus teaches us that true reward lies not in the approval of everyone, but in faithfulness to the values of God's Kingdom, even if that implies rejection.

The message today brings forth a direct reflection, almost like a whisper in our ear: "Oh, if everyone speaks well of you!" It sounds strange, doesn't it? We all like to be validated; we like to be told that we are on the right path. But Jesus, with his characteristic frankness, cautions us. It is not about being a spoilsport; it is about understanding that the announcement of God's Kingdom—its values of peace, justice, and solidarity—does not always align with the dominant currents of this world, its selfish interests, or appearances.

## The Price of Fidelity

The first reading, from the letter of **Saint Paul** to the Corinthians, speaks about the urgency of the moment and how to live within it. Paul, without giving a direct precept from the Lord regarding celibacy, offers his opinion: in times of "pressing distress," perhaps it is easier to remain unbound, without seeking separation if one is married, but also without seeking marriage if one is free. It is not that marriage is bad, mind you, but he warns that those who marry will suffer "tribulations of the flesh." The key is to live as if you possess nothing, as if nothing were mourned, as if nothing were bought; because "the representation of this world is ending." It is an invitation to detach oneself from the material and from circumstances, keeping one's gaze fixed on something more transcendent.

The Gospel, for its part, presents the famous Beatitudes. Jesus, looking up toward his disciples, declares blessed those who are poor, those who hunger, those who weep, and especially those whom the Son of Man is hated, excluded, and insulted. The reward, he tells us, will be great in heaven. It is a mirror of what the prophets suffered. And then, the contrast: "Woe to you who are rich, those who are full, those who laugh now!" The warning is clear: if your life is a path of roses, if everyone applauds you, perhaps it is because you are not challenging the structures that the Kingdom of God questions.

## The Mirror of Popularity

Consider this. If your discourse always seeks general approval, if you avoid any subject that might cause controversy, if your life is a peaceful haven where no one bothers you... are you truly living the values of the Gospel?
The announcement of God's Kingdom, with its call for justice, solidarity with the marginalized, and renunciation of selfishness, inevitably clashes with established interests, with the comfort of the majority. It is not that we seek conflict, but that fidelity to certain principles can lead us to it. Popularity, when generalized, can be a sign that we are diluting the message, that we have become complacent.

The psalm of today offers us a beautiful image: that of a most beautiful princess, dressed in pearls and brocade, entering before the king. It is a metaphor for the Church, of each one of us, called to present ourselves before God. But the path toward that encounter is not always easy. The world, with its envy and rejection, does not always welcome the peace and justice that the Kingdom promotes. And then, if we remain firm on that path, if we stand in solidarity with the "outcast" of this society of "Pharisaic appearances," will they continue to speak well of us? Probably not.

## True Wealth

The message is not meant to discourage, but to discern. It reminds us that true wealth lies not in material possessions, nor in the approval of the multitude, but in closeness to God and faithfulness to His teachings. It is a call to be courageous, not to antiestéticar being different, to defend justice and peace, even when it means going against the current. The reward is not here, in this fleeting world, but in heaven.

It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to please everyone. It gives us security; it avoids problems.
But Jesus invites us to a different perspective. He encourages us to prioritize truth, justice, and compassion over popularity. It is a path that requires effort, a daily struggle to remain firm in our principles, asking God for the necessary strength. Because ultimately, what matters is not how many speak well of us, but whether we are living according to the love and truth that He has revealed to us. And sometimes, that means not everyone will applaud us.