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.”
Sermon
My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's Gospel passage presents us with a radical and counter-cultural message from Jesus. In the Beatitudes, Jesus turns our conventional wisdom upside down and challenges us to see the world from a different perspective.
To those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted, Jesus says, "Blessed are you." These are not the ones we typically consider blessed. But Jesus sees the world differently. He sees that those who are marginalized and oppressed are precisely the ones who are closest to the Kingdom of God.
On the other hand, Jesus says, "Woe to you who are rich, filled, laughing, and well-spoken of." These are the ones we typically consider successful and blessed. But Jesus warns us that our earthly success and comfort can be a barrier to true happiness and fulfillment.
The Beatitudes are not just a list of blessings and woes, but a call to radical discipleship. Jesus is calling us to follow him on a path that is marked by humility, compassion, and sacrifice.
May we be inspired by Jesus' words to re-examine our priorities and values. May we be willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus on the path of radical discipleship.
Prayer
Let us pray: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty, merciful, and loving God, we come before you, inspired by Jesus' radical message in the Beatitudes. We ask for the grace to see the world from your perspective, to recognize the blessedness of those who are marginalized and oppressed.
Help us to re-examine our priorities and values, to recognize the danger of earthly success and comfort. Give us the courage to take up our cross and follow Jesus on the path of radical discipleship.
May we be marked by humility and compassion, may we be willing to sacrifice our own interests for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Forgive us for our complacency and comfort, for our failure to see the world from your perspective.
May we be inspired by the Beatitudes to live a life that is counter-cultural, a life that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.
We pray for the Church, that we may be a community of people who are willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus on the path of radical discipleship.
In Jesus' most holy name we pray, Amen.
Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJ