Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 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 on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on 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. Luke 6:12-26
Jesus was speaking to a great crowd when they hear the beatitudes. We call it that now, but they were overwhelmed and dumbfounded by what he was saying. Along with blessings come warnings or woes. It is the poor, the hungry, the hungry, the excluded, the hated and reviled, and the outcasts who are the blessed ones. The rich, the powerful, the well fed, the famous are the ones who will receive judgement. That turns their world upside down, and it turns our world upside down. While all the focus is on the rich and powerful today, Jesus blessing the outcasts, the one deported and the unhoused on the streets.
Gracious Creator, you put your blessings on the leasr
you teach us your love by surrounding us in community
and you draw close to all those who are weary and sad.
The rich and powerful hate those they deem weak
getting rid of all safety nets, compassionate care
spouting off that they are doing the works of God.
Bless us, Lord, today, so we might see you here
amidst the suffering who still tend to the least
and with those who seek your freedom through love. Amen.
