Who Is In Control Here?

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 1, 2026:
​Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 146

​R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or 
R. Alleluia!

It is the Lord who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. 

​R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or 
R. Alleluia!

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous and watches over the strangers. 

​R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or 
R. Alleluia!

The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. 

​R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or 
R. Alleluia!

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Any time I read the verse “Blessed are the poor in spirit” I always google the meaning. There is something in me that refuses to believe I understand these words! So, as I prayed about this reflection on Psalm 146, I considered why I always second-guess my understanding of this phrase. 

“Poor in spirit” means I am totally dependent upon God for eternal life. This reality of dependence goes against the worldly idea that I am supposed to be a strong, independent person. The world wants me to believe that being dependent (which should not equate to taking advantage of another) is bad and should be avoided at all cost. 

I see this whenever I really need help, when I realize how badly I feel about asking for it. I experience chronic migraines and they impact my ability to do many things, which can be very inconvenient and frustrating. Often I will grudgingly ask one of the other Sisters in my convent to take my turn at cooking supper or I will make plans for something and then cancel at the last minute because of a migraine, and I usually feel terrible about it. This brings on negative feelings of being a failure or incapable. But this is my pride speaking, and I cannot let it be the voice I listen to and follow. In reality, I need to realize that even in my pain and limitations, God is at work; God is loving me and loving my neighbour through me. God is not limited by my limitations.

I am weak; I am a sinner and I have MANY limitations. But holding on to the truth that my salvation is from God, is dependent upon God, and is not mine to control is essential! If I read the rest of this psalm I see the way that God is at work and that I can be an instrument/vessel of His work, but I am not the one who heals; saves; etc. These actions come from the Lord. I am dependent upon Him for salvation, and I need to pray for the grace to remain ever more dependent upon Him. 

When I am frustrated because I don’t feel as if I’m in control and independent, I am slowly coming to learn that that’s because I am not created to be in control and independent. I mean, surrendering those things so I gain heaven seems like a small price to pay, right?




Sister Teresa MacDonald

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