Tough Words
Opening Prayer
God, You call me to see beyond this life. Help me to live in light of heaven.
Read LUKE 6:17-26
[17] He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, [18] who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, [19] and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. [20] Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. [21] Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. [22] Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. [23] “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. [24] “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. [25] Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. [26] Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does Jesus call blessed?Jesus, having appointed the twelve, begins to engage afresh with the crowds. They are eager to hear his teaching, but they also seek his healing for their physical and spiritual diseases. In your imagination be part of the crowd, and then hear the words Jesus addresses to the disciples–a series of blessings and woes, which at first sight seem harsh and difficult to understand.In the “blessings” (20-22) Jesus speaks of those who are poor, those who are hungry and who weep, and those who are rejected and exiled because they acknowledge him. In the “woes” (24-26) the opposite are highlighted–those who are rich and well fed, those who enjoy an easy life and those who are honored in society. The coming of Jesus’ kingdom meant a total reversal of accepted norms–turning the ways of the world on their head. This is his challenge for us today. We will need courage to turn from the things which the world says are important and to trust that, in the way of Jesus, we will find life, even though the calling may sound hard and difficult. This is all part of being a disciple of Jesus.
Apply
In light of these blessings and woes, where are you? Journal about this.
Closing prayer
Lord, give me courage to live in Your presence, and to let You challenge the way I think, the things I value and the way I live.
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