Steeped in God

Luke 6:17-26

Jesus’ time spent in prayer is transformative. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ deep prayer life, showing that being steeped in God’s presence shapes one’s vision of the world. Just as dye saturates an Easter egg, prayer changes a person’s heart, aligning it with God’s values. Jesus, after spending a night in prayer, descends to the people, full of divine power, ready to heal and teach. His beatitudes and woes challenge worldly values, declaring that the poor, the hungry, and the grieving are blessed in God's kingdom, while the rich and the satisfied must be wary.

This teaching follows the prophetic tradition, where Jesus, like the prophets before Him, calls out the discrepancy between God's vision and the world’s reality. Society values power, wealth, and status, but Jesus flips these priorities, lifting up the lowly and cautioning those who seek greatness. Even in Mary’s Magnificat and Paul’s writings, we see this same theme: true life is not found in riches or self-exaltation but in humility, generosity, and a Christ-like mindset. Seeking God's kingdom means letting go of worldly attachments and living by God’s standards of love, justice, and service.

Ultimately, Jesus’ words challenge us to reevaluate what we truly seek. Do we chase after worldly success, or do we empty ourselves to be filled with Christ? Spiritual author Henri Nouwen reminds us that we need the poor, not just to help them, but to receive the blessing they offer—the presence of God's kingdom in their lives. Jesus calls us to steep ourselves in God’s reality, letting go of pride and possessions to embrace a life of true abundance in Him.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.