REFLECTIONS TODAY
Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” has a counterpart in Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (5:1—7:27). Luke’s introductory portion consists of four blessings and four woes. The theme of beatitudes and woes is one of Luke’s central themes. Those who are favored by God are not those whom the world accounts favored, but the poor and the lowly. They are the ones who reflect the image of Jesus who chose to be poor though he was rich (2 Cor 8:9), who was close to the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those who are misunderstood and persecuted on account of their faithfulness. Jesus “transfigured” the world by overturning its values of power, fame, and self-satisfaction and replacing them with self-sacrificing love, obedience, and humility. St. John Paul II says that “the world cannot be transfigured and offered to God without the spirit of the Beatitudes” (Vita Consecrata, 33). Consecrated persons who seek to mirror Christ’s way of life “strive to imbue everything with an evangelical spirit for the strengthening and growth of the Body of Christ” (VC, 32).
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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” has a counterpart in Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (5:1—7:27). Luke’s introductory portion consists of four blessings and four woes. The theme of beatitudes and woes is one of Luke’s central themes. Those who are favored by God are not those whom the world accounts favored, but the poor and the lowly. They are the ones who reflect the image of Jesus who chose to be poor though he was rich (2 Cor 8:9), who was close to the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and those who are misunderstood and persecuted on account of their faithfulness. Jesus “transfigured” the world by overturning its values of power, fame, and self-satisfaction and replacing them with self-sacrificing love, obedience, and humility. St. John Paul II says that “the world cannot be transfigured and offered to God without the spirit of the Beatitudes” (Vita Consecrata, 33). Consecrated persons who seek to mirror Christ’s way of life “strive to imbue everything with an evangelical spirit for the strengthening and growth of the Body of Christ” (VC, 32).
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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.