Sunday, February 1, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Epiphany (Series Overview: Seeing Clearly)

Where Are We Headed This Week

This week invites us to reconsider what authority really looks like in the kingdom of God. In a world where power is often expressed through control, coercion, and self-promotion, Scripture offers a very different vision. God’s authority is revealed not through domination, but through humility, compassion, and love that seeks the good of others.

We are invited to see clearly across the readings. True authority is not about standing above others. It’s about standing with them, especially the vulnerable, the overlooked, and the broken.

A Deeper Look

Each passage this week confronts our assumptions about strength, success, and leadership. Micah reminds us that God has never been impressed by religious performance disconnected from justice, mercy, and humility. Psalm 15 asks who is truly fit to dwell in God’s presence. It is not those with power. It is those who live with integrity and care for others.

Paul pushes even further, insisting that God’s wisdom looks like foolishness to the world. The cross shows our deep misunderstanding of power. It reveals a God who chooses weakness, humility, and love as the means of redemption. In the Beatitudes, Jesus embodies this vision. He blesses those the world overlooks. He redefines what it means to live under God’s reign.

Together, these texts teach us that the authority of Jesus is grounded in compassion, not control. Seeing clearly means learning to trust that kind of power.

Biblical Texts This Week

• Monday, February 2, 2026 – Old Testament: Micah 6:1–8
• Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – Psalm: Psalm 15
• Wednesday, February 4, 2026 – Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31
• Sunday, February 1, 2026 – Gospel: Matthew 5:1–12

Weekly Practices

This week, practice noticing how power shows up in your life.

• Pay attention to moments where you feel tempted to control outcomes, people, or perceptions.
• Ask where compassion is a more faithful response than certainty or force.
• Each day, pray this simple prayer:
  “Jesus, help me see clearly. Teach me to trust your way of love.”