Gospel for February 1 2026 – Matthew 5:1-12a
Gospel Reflections for February 1 2026
The School of happiness begins…
Jesus sits down to teach His followers in today’s Gospel.
That was the ancient way. Teachers stand today in front of a class, but in His day, they sat down and students stood. Either way, Our Lord has some helpful behaviors for you.
He starts with a famous list of blessings that begin His famous Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is not really a single speech, but a collection of several key ideas from hundreds of sermons He delivered around the Sea of Galilee. It is a wise collection. Each Blessing mentioned can be food for thought for a lifetime.
The word Blessing comes from the Hebrew word that means happy. That makes sense. The way of the Lord leads to a life that is fulfilled, at peace, and profoundly satisfied. Any other way you choose just cannot provide that lasting happiness that only comes from God, who after all, created you, and truly knows what makes you happy and what doesn’t.
The blessings even come to you in bad times when you face serious challenges. Our faith is useless …unless it is useful, and so it must especially help during times when you face suffering or trauma. Our Lord offers precisely that wisdom that will keep you happy in good times and in bad. Those are the best lessons of all!
Soon, in the Season of Lent, The University Series (theuniversityseries.org) will begin, our adult education program that connects our faith with real life. The word “education” comes from two Latin words, “E” which means “out” and “ducere” which means “to lead.”
The way of the Lord leads you out of dark unknowing into the light of wisdom. Yet wisdom and knowledge are different.
While knowledge is knowing a lot of things, wisdom is knowing just the right things, and the right things for a happy life.
Over the years, I have met people with advanced degrees who are very sad and unhappy because of the bad choices they make. They have much knowledge …but little wisdom or faith. They need to be led out of darkness into the light that only the wisdom of Our Lord can bring.
You can start to receive that wisdom yourself in the beautiful Sermon on the Mount, and in the over 40 sessions of The University Series
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Hi Fr. Dave: I am always enlightened by your insights and guidance. We now live in Florida which makes it impossible to attend the University series as we once did. Has there ever been a discussion about recording some of the University series and posting on your page or UTube? Just a thought. God bless, Argyle
I am sure you are enjoying Florida! We tried video taping courses in the past for a few years and it was very hard to properly train volunteers to keep the right focus and scene composition, especially if there was a PowerPoint presentation as well. We also felt that the extra effort to get in your car, drive to a parish, and find a seat in the Hall added to the “personal investment” of the attendee thereby adding to their experience. Those are the main reasons we have kept it an “In-person” experience. However, I certainly understand your desire to see some of the classes.
Beautiful thoughts our Father Dave!! You are leading us out of the dark to the precious wisdom of our Jesus’ loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the University series!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!