A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (6:20-26)
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
REFLECTION: My brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s Gospel gives us teachings, difficult to adhere to, at least for me; it defines who is truly blessed, proclaiming the poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted as blessed by God and destined for a great reward in heaven, while warning the rich, full, laughing, and praised, that their current worldly comfort will lead to sorrow. This is a great reversal to earthly standards of wealth and happiness, and it calls followers to live a life of faithfulness to God, embracing hardship for His sake, and finding joy in His kingdom rather than earthly possessions.
Jesus challenges us by reversing worldly values; the rich, the full, the laughing, and those people praised. Not because these are bad things, but rather, can be temporary possessions, that can lead people to forget God, disregard His will, and lead a person, to their eventual emptiness.
Jesus called His disciples then, as He calls all Christians today to live a selfless, God-honoring life, choosing the path of Jesus, even when it involves hardship. This is a call to radical discipleship. A radical love for God, and for others, and a willingness to sacrifice, for the sake of Jesus Words – the Gospels, and a desire to see God’s kingdom, come on earth as it is in heaven.
Putting it clearly, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the true message in this Gospel is; to seek a lasting joy, and reward in God’s kingdom, rather than clinging to temporary earthly joys, or worldly approval. Instead, focus on the Kingdom of God and you will receive His blessings.
Many Christians, including myself, struggle with the woes that Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel. Therefore, it may be helpful to sit down and focus on the blessings, we are experiencing at this time. This may give us some perspective, and we may come to realize, that even though life may not be what we would like it to be, we still receive many blessings every day. True, they may seem like small blessings: a smile, a phone call from a friend, the beauty of the sunset or a hug from someone you love, but they still are blessings.
So, when you are in the woes of life, look for beauty, laughter, or quietness, or ask God for a hug! Who knows you may be surprised what gift you may receive!
ACTION FOR THE DAY: Meditate with today’s Gospel and do a self-reflection of your relationship with wealth, comfort, and reputation; Is it always seeking to align, with the values of God’s Kingdom?
Then, I invite you to consider; what are the things of true value in your life? What do you count as the true blessings in life?
Finish all that, by writing a prayer, to help you look at people and at life, from the viewpoint of Jesus, and not seek consolation in ‘things’ and in experiences of ‘the good life’ now.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
