Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

"Blessed are you poor,

For yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,

For you shall be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

For you shall laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you,

And when they exclude you,

And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,

For the Son of Man's sake.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!

For indeed your reward is great in heaven,

For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich,

For you have received your consolation.

Woe to you who are full,

For you shall hunger.

Woe to you who laugh now,

For you shall mourn and weep.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

- Luke 6:12-26

In yesterday's reading, we read of Jesus being tested by scribes and Pharisees on the question of the Sabbath-rest. He and His apostles took grain (corn) to eat as they walked through a field, and this the experts considered work. But Jesus pointed out that the Scripture teaches also about David and his men being given the showbread to eat. Jesus taught, "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." Then a man with a withered hand was in the synagogue while Jesus taught on yet another Sabbath, and the Pharisees and scribes are prepared to find an accusation regarding this issue of the Sabbath-rest. Jesus said, ""I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" He healed the man's hand, and the experts respond with rage. Now they begin to plot against Him in earnest.

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. My study bible points out that Jesus spends "all night" in prayer to God before choosing His twelve Apostles. Once the scribes and Pharisees begin to plot what they can do to Him, He chooses these Twelve (from among His disciples) who will be trained to continue His mission in the world. We have already read (in Luke's Gospel) about experiences with Matthew (Levi) and Simon Peter and James and John Zebedee, even about Peter's family in Capernaum. But in today's reading, they are chosen as Apostles.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Isn't it interesting, how Jesus' power works? In this case, we read, "power went out from Him and healed them all." As the authorities begin to plot against Him, now His power is expressed even to multitudes as He stands and teaches. He has prayed all night; it is as if this is a new dispensation, a new chapter beginning with the appointment of the Apostles who will also be "sent out" with power.

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." We note that Jesus now speaks to His disciples, those who follow Him as Teacher. My study bible points out that this is similar in content to the Beatitudes of Matthew's Gospel. This passage in Luke is called the Sermon on the Plain, as He "stood on a level place." My study bible notes, "Jesus taught many of the same things over a period of three years in a setting of hills, plains, the lakeshore and the cities, and we have His teachings in various versions." Of course, we understand this language in its spiritual context: they are His disciples and they seek spiritual sustenance, spiritual reality, and what He has to offer them as disciples -- His Way.

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." Luke, says my study bible, "also reports four 'woes' in addition to his four Beatitudes" (or Blessings). Again, we must take the language in its spiritual context. How are we filled? How are they rich, the ones to whom this woe will come? With what are they filled and wealthy? Why do they laugh, and for what are they praised? We must see this language in its reality, and its stark contrast that asks us, too, "What do we seek?" and "With what shall we be filled?" Again, we understand the healings to be couched in the story of some form of spiritual battleground (those "tormented with unclean spirits"), a separation of the true and the false, of false image and true substance.

This healing Gospel is a powerful teaching on the truly spiritual. What and whose power do we seek for ourselves? How are people "tormented" with that which is false, a form of slavery, a false promise? It is important that we understand that Jesus' teachings in yesterday's reading about healing on the Sabbath are also reflected in today's. God's love and care is about being truly filled, true sustenance and help for our well-being. To seek that grace and mercy is to truly find something that fills and heals, true wealth -- and not that of a temporary sense that will in the end enslave and betray us. Let us consider then, what this means in our daily lives. What do we really seek? Do we want something that will stand the test of any form of persecution and hardship? That will still be there to fill us when we are weak and hungry, or to sustain us in sorrow and pain - and loneliness or abandonment? This is what we think about today. With what do we seek to be filled? What do we really need?