The Gospel
February 1, 2026
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 5:1-12a
A priest I know was once falsely accused of a terrible crime. The claim was wild and easily disproved, but for a while, it didn’t matter. In the atmosphere shaped by the abuse crisis of the early 2000s, the public assumption was guilty until proven innocent. His name was dragged through the mud, and his ministry placed on hold. I had the privilege — and the burden — of walking closely with him during that time.
He was angry. He was confused. He felt abandoned and deeply disoriented. The last thing on his mind was the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me … Rejoice and be glad” (Matthew 5:11-12). Rejoice? He felt anything but.
And yet… something holy slowly grew in him. Not overnight, and not without pain. But as the truth came to light and his name was cleared, I watched him become more Christlike — more patient, more compassionate, more detached from human approval.
Maybe you haven’t faced something so dramatic. But where do you feel judged? Misrepresented? Overlooked? Maybe someone else got the credit or the promotion. Maybe someone you love isn’t getting their due. In those moments, the Cross of Jesus is near. When we feel accused, that’s when we ask him for the grace not just to endure, but somehow, mysteriously, to rejoice and be glad.
— Father John Muir
©LPi