Blessed Are You

              

                        February 17, 2019 Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

Jesus came down with the twelve apostles 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 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." Luke 6:17-26

Hope can get lost in hard times, and when we are hurting, we often don't see the

blessings around us. We live in a world of winning and wealth, where those who

are greedy and bloodthirsty are treated as heroes. So many believe they will be 

happy when they get rich, when they win the title, or when they have total 

control over their lives. Yet, we all know that letting go sets love free, and 

sharing what little we have makes our sad hearts joyful.

Jesus speaks to a crowd of people who have been treated as less than human. They

lived in an occupied land and were of no stature or wealth. They were the outcasts

of society. He told them that they were the beloved of God, even in their present

state. Even in the midst of great poverty and lack, they were considered blessed,

beloved and sacred to God. And we, too, need to hear this today. Even if the whole

world sees losers, God sees kin and knows us each by names.

Today, I ask God to help me be cognizant and grateful for all the blessings around

me. May we know are selves as blessed and beloved of God, and use what we have

to bless and love others.

Collect
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our
 prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you,
 give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may
 please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
 and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.