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- An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - February 1, 2026
“Seek Justice, Seek Humility”
For the next three weeks, just before Lent begins, we will be hearing from Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. Today, we hear Jesus preach on what God considers worthy of blessing—and it is not the high and mighty, the wealthy, the powerful, or the boastful. God chooses the lowly to bring down the high and mighty. He chooses the weak to bring down the strong; the humble to bring down the proud.
In our first reading (Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13), we hear the prophesy of Zephaniah of the terrible day of the Lord, when all the nations would be punished for their wrongdoing. But, the Lord promised that He “will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord.” So, Zephaniah’s admonition to the people of Israel was to “seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.”
In our Epistle reading (1 Corinthians 1:26-31), St. Paul explains the wisdom and power of God’s calling, which is to be found, paradoxically, where one would least expect. God chooses the foolish (by the world’s standards), the weak and the lowly. God chooses us in Christ! “It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,” So, we should never boast in ourselves; "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 5:1-12), we hear the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which began with eight Beatitudes or blessings. They are a declaration of God’s grace on groups of people whom the world would consider the foolish, weak, and lowly. This is a radical departure from what had been considered meriting God’s blessings. It is the “remnant” God promised in Zephaniah’s prophesy that he “will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly.”
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the countercultural nature of Jesus and His ministry. It is the lowly, the meek and humble of heart who will inherit the kingdom of heaven. So, we would do well to follow the admonition of Zephaniah, “seek justice, seek humility.“