9/10/14

Gospel LK 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

Instant gratification. Faster download speeds. No wait times. Quick fixes. Short cuts. Entitlement. Freebies. Life is difficult and any sort of relief that we can catch is readily welcomed.  

We would rather be rich than poor. We would rather laugh than cry. We would rather be stuffed than hungry. We would rather be praised than made fun of. Jesus, even though He is telling us to be on guard against being rich, full, laughing and praised, isn’t saying that He would prefer we endure hardship.  

Instead, Jesus is encouraging us through those times in our lives that will undoubtedly bring us pain, sorrow, ridicule and heartache. He tells us that it is during those times that He will be with us. Furthermore, He is telling us that we are blessed if that is our life’s state!  

The world is filled with traps that can lead us astray – including wealth, fame, and pleasure. It is not that these things are bad, but they can easily steal our focus and become our life’s purpose. 

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and let us turn away from the glories of this world in favor of being blessed now and for eternity! 

Let us not be rich, or full, or famous. Let us be blessed.