Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany February 16. 2025

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

I remember lining up in gym to be chosen for a team. I was most often last chosen or next to last. We live in a world where we focus on the winners, the powerful, the celebrities and the eye catching, flashy ones. It has always been this way, I guess. But Jesus came and turned all of that upside down. He hung out with the outcasts, the sinners and tax collectors. Today he wouldn't be found in the halls of power, but somewhere on the streets with the poor, hungry and weeping. Let us find Jesus again today at the end of the line, among the overlooked, the dispossessed and the lost. There our joy will be full!

Compassionate Creator, source of mercy

you fed the hungry and heal the sick

and hold those who are deep in grief.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people.

We all strive to be winners and fail

we fail to see the hungry and hurting

and we fail to share your love here.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people.

Teach us again to be gentle and humble

let our effort to win be transformed

as we love the stranger and rejected here.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people.

You promised blessing to the weeping

and bound up the wounds of the broken.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people.

You set the prisoners free to live again

and promised joy to those in exile.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people.

For you are the source of true greatness

which we find as we serve your beloved world.

Lord Jesus, bless us with hearts to serve all people. Amen.