I know a parishioner who is a single mother with a special-needs daughter. Her partner left them upon discovering their child's condition. Later, someone fell in love with this parishioner, but the man told her that she could only be his mistress. Seeking advice from her friends and family, she found that they all said the same thing: "Maging practical", meaning she should accept the man’s offer. They urged her to consider her daughter’s situation. However, she told me something I will never forget: "Kahit magdildil kami ng asin, ayoko maging kabit." (Even if we have to survive on nothing but salt, I refuse to be a mistress.) Now, she earns a living by selling mangoes and biscuits to students outside the school. On weekends, she serves in her parish. She may not have much, but she has her dignity, her faith, and her unwavering hope in God.

This Sunday, the Gospel for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time is about the Beatitudes. For the world, the Beatitudes may seem impractical, illogical, and even nonsensical. In the eyes of society, the "blessed" or "mapapalad" are the rich, the comfortable, the powerful, and the famous. But in the Gospel, the blessed ones are the poor, the hungry, the lonely, and the persecuted.

Why are they considered blessed in the Beatitudes? First, they place their hope in the Lord. Our first reading says, “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” The Responsorial Psalm echoes this: “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”

This parishioner placed her confidence in God. Instead of clinging to material things, she placed her hope in a person—Jesus Christ—trusting that God would fulfill her deepest hopes. Her decision was not just an act of sacrifice but an act of faith, believing that God’s plan for her and her daughter would unfold in His perfect time.

Second, they are blessed because God is with them in their struggles. They may be poor, hungry, lonely, or persecuted, but they are never alone. Jesus is not only present with them but is also for them. In their trials, Jesus reveals His presence in ways that others may not understand.

There is a Filipino saying: "Sa bawat karamdaman, may nagpaparamdam." (In every hardship, someone makes their presence felt.) In this parishioner’s struggles, God made His presence known—through small blessings, through people who support her, and through the love she continues to receive from her daughter. This reminds us that true blessings are not always material. Sometimes, the greatest blessing is simply knowing that God is with us.

Third, they continue to hope, even without seeing immediate results. To hope when everything is going well is easy. But to continue hoping when things seem hopeless—that is true faith.

Like this parishioner, who has hope for her special-needs daughter, she refuses to declare her child as hopeless. She believes that God can work wonders. She does not know what the future holds, but she trusts in the One who holds the future.

Every Sunday, this special child gives me a hug. Imagine if this mother had given up—as her former partner did—then this child would not be here today to bring hope to those attending and celebrating Mass in their parish. Hope is contagious. When we refuse to give up, we inspire others to keep going.

The center of our hope is Jesus. He is our firm foundation when everything else is uncertain. He is the source of true joy even when the world tells us we should despair. The Beatitudes teach us that God’s definition of blessedness is different from the world’s. The world tells us we are blessed when we have money, status, and power. But Jesus tells us we are blessed when we have Him. Let us anchor our lives in the Lord, so that we too may hear these words: "Blessed are you who hope in the Lord."