READ SCRIPTURE (Read Luke 6:17-26)
He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[a] on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
REFLECT ON THE READING
Jesus had just spent the night on a mountain in prayer before calling the twelve disciples. He came down the mountain with the twelve only to be met with a great multitude of people from all over – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor. They came because they needed to be healed. Jesus blesses those in the crowd who are poor, hungry, and weeping as well as those who are hated because of a connection to himself. For each of the blessings, there is a parallel in the woes. The beatitudes in Luke are words of paradox which seem to go against our common experiences of comfort and blessing. They echo themes of comfort and blessing, yet they challenge people and appear to exclude some from being blessed.
How is someone who is poor, hungry, mourning, or persecuted blessed today?
How has God ever disturbed you out of a comfort level?
How do you understand the call to follow Jesus?
PRAY
Gracious God, thank you blessing our lives. Continue to disturb us when we become complacent. Amen.
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