Gospel

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

The prosperity gospel was a big part of the Old Testament. During this time people were told, if you follow the law, everything goes well for you. But the truth is, that Jesus wants to reveal is, if you follow him, if you do the work he's calling you to, the sign that you're engaged in it is the experience of feeling poor and hungry and sad and feeling neglected by the people around us.

That’s when God works, most especially within us, to open us to wisdom that we don't yet see. It's a beautiful promise that God is there when we are at our lowest and lifts us higher than we ever had been before.

Closing Prayer

Father, when things are not going the way we hoped, we often doubt your presence. Free us from that. Help us to trust in you in all things. When things are good and when things are not good, let us always believe that you are there, working through whatever it is to bring us more into the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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