"We are a community of disciples inspired by the Holy Spirit to be living witnesses for transformation in Christ to bring about a world of justice, human development and true peace."

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide
February 1, 2026 (Cycle A, Year II) – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: Being renewed in God’s righteousness leads us to know, love and serve Him.
Theme: We are renewed in God’s righteousness when we live the Beatitudes.
Promise: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt 5:12)

Reflection:
The theme for this Sunday proclaims: We are renewed in God’s righteousness when we live the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are sacred teachings in which Jesus declares blessedness upon His followers. They reveal the path to authentic happiness and holiness. One of the keys to becoming a true and faithful disciple of Christ is to root our lives in the ways and character of Jesus. The more we walk in Christ and allow our lives to be shaped by Him, the more we are transformed into His righteousness.

The readings remind us that our ultimate purpose is to experience the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes outline the attitudes and actions necessary for renewal in God’s righteousness. Together, they present a portrait of Christ-like living, pointing to the qualities expected of a disciple and the way of life we are called to embrace. Values truly matter to Christ – values that often stand in contrast to the priorities of the world. He calls us to embrace service rather than power, integrity rather than corruption, unity instead of division. The Beatitudes serve as a beacon of light amid the realities we face today: widespread corruption that has become endemic, truth distorted by propaganda and misinformation, leaders in conflict while the poor continue to suffer.

Jesus presents the Beatitudes not as burdens, but as promises. He teaches that in poverty we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, we trust in His providence; in sorrow, we discover true consolation; and in persecution, we find lasting joy. Through the lens of Jesus, blessed are the poor in spirit, the compassionate, the meek, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and those willing to endure insult and persecution for the sake of faith. Each Beatitude invites us to make a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, trusting His grace to lead us toward a holier and happier life.

The Beatitudes challenge us to respond concretely in our daily lives. They propose a way of life that calls us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for justice. They urge us to become disciples of compassion, purity of heart, and peace –within our families, our communities, and the wider society. Even when faced with misunderstanding, ridicule, or persecution, we are reminded that every act of mercy toward the needy, the sick, and the oppressed allows us to share with them a foretaste of the Kingdom’s promises.

Scripture reminds us that there are two ways: the way of life and the way of death. The way of life is the way of Jesus, the way of the Beatitudes that leads to eternal life. The challenge placed before us is simple yet demanding. The prophet Zephaniah, in the first reading, reminds us that it is the humble who take refuge in the Lord. In the struggles and pressures of daily life, we all need a place of refuge. That refuge is found not in power or success, but in Christ alone.

Finally, while the Beatitudes are often described as attitudes, they go far beyond inner dispositions. They demand action. They shape how we live, how we love, and how we respond to others. The Beatitudes are nothing less than a portrait of Jesus Himself. By choosing to live them, we measure whether we are truly walking in Christ. And if we are in Christ, we are assured that we will share in the promises He makes: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:12). Those who are renewed in God’s righteousness will inherit the joy of His Kingdom.

Prayer:
Loving Jesus, You have shown us on the path of righteousness through the gift of the Beatitudes. We believe that if we faithfully abide in them, we will experience peace, love, joy, and our reward will be great in heaven. Though living according to Your way is indeed a challenge, today we resolve – by your grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit – to walk in it, so that our lives may give You honor, glory, and praise. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in Your love.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. Which Beatitude(s) pose a challenge to you?
2. If you believe that following the Beatitudes will lead you to happiness and peace, what attitude or habit are you willing to surrender to the Lord?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 1, 2026 (Sun) – Zep 2:3; 3:12-13/ Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10/ 1 Cor 1:26-31/ Mt 5:1-12A
February 2, 2026 (Mon) – Mal 3:1-4/ Ps 24:7-10/ Heb 2:14-18/ Lk 2:22-40
February 3, 2026 (Tue) – 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30, 19:3/ Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/ Mk 5:21-43
February 4, 2026 (Wed) – 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17/ Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7/ Mk 6:1-6
February 5, 2026 (Thu) – 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12/ 1 Chr 29:10, 11, 12/ Mk 6:7-13
February 6, 2026 (Fri) – Sir 47:2-11/ Ps 18:31, 47, 50, 51/ Mk 6:14-29
February 7, 2026 (Sat) – 1Kgs 3:4-13/ Ps 119:9-14/ Mk 6:30-34

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

Weekly: Theme, Promise, Order, Direction and Prophesies (bldworld.org)