Message from Fr. D. Ryan Saunders

St. David Catholic Parish

Dear Saint David Family,

This Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time brings us to one of the most beautiful and challenging passages in all of Scripture: the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew. We see Jesus go up the mountain, sit down, and teach not with power as the world understands it, but with authority rooted in love, humility, and truth. “Blessed are the poor in spirit… blessed are the meek… blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” These words turn our expectations on their head. In a culture that often prizes success, wealth, strength, and self-promotion, Jesus proclaims that true happiness true blessedness is found in dependence on God, mercy toward others, purity of heart, and courage in the face of suffering.

The Beatitudes are not simply gentle sayings meant to comfort us; they are a bold call to live our faith courageously. They challenge us to resist the temptation to blend in quietly or to reduce our faith to something private and convenient. Instead, Jesus invites us to live differently to be peacemakers in a divided world, to stand for justice when it is unpopular, and to remain faithful even when our beliefs are questioned or misunderstood. Living out the Beatitudes in the 21st century is not an easy task. We face rapid cultural change, growing polarization, and real pressures on family life, faith, and community. Yet Jesus does not promise an easy path He promises that those who follow Him with trust and perseverance will never walk alone. “Blessed are you,” He says, even when you are challenged, criticized, or weary for doing what is right.

As members of Saint David Catholic Church, we are called to live the Beatitudes not just individually, but together supporting one another, praying for one another, and witnessing to Christ through our compassion, integrity, and hope. When we do, the world sees not just our words, but the living presence of Christ among us. May this Gospel strengthen us to live our faith with courage, humility, and joy. And may the Beatitudes shape our hearts so that, even amid the challenges of our time, we remain rooted in Christ and confident in His promise.

With prayers for you and your families,

In Christ

Fr. D. Ryan Saunders