As we celebrate the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus wants us to focus on the things that really matter. The thing that should matter the most is that we are all blessed in God's eyes. In Christ Jesus, everybody is somebody to God.
  
We often think that happiness means having money and many possessions.  The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke tell us that we will not find happiness in possessions but in God's unchanging hands that will lead us through life. The Gospel challenges us and suggests that the lasting happiness of eternal life can be found in focusing on how we can change to live a more authentic life. 
 
One author reminds us that "The Beatitudes are often described as a framework for Christian living. Our vocation as Christians is not to be first in this world but rather to be first in the eyes of God. Luke's Gospels say that those who are poor, hungry, weeping, or persecuted are called blessed. Those often thought to have been forgotten by God are called blessed. 

We are all reminded to become more conscious of those in need and who suffer.  This is a way of life that many often overlook. Even those who have a lot are called to remember that there was a time that you didn't have and someone helped you. Possessions frequently fail to deliver on their promise. The ultimate problem is thinking that money, success, and possessions are the source of our eternal happiness.

We must count our blessings even when we are in tears, excluded, rejected, and treated with contempt. We must know that God has called us blessed. However, in our society, we are more likely to consider ourselves blessed when we do not constantly worry about money or food and when others treat us respectfully. St. Luke says there is a reversal in our lives when we listen with our hearts to the cries of people experiencing poverty.

The Gospel tells us, "Blessed are you, holy are you. Rejoice and be glad." Through the eyes of faith, we see the need for justice and compassion to rest us all who struggle and search for what is right.  The Gospel calls us all into the right relationship with the other, emphasizing our interconnectedness and shared responsibility.