Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time

Lectio

   Luke 6:20–26

Meditatio

“Raising his eyes toward his disciples [Jesus] said.…”

   The Beatitudes as related by Luke sound different from the more familiar ones in the Gospel of Matthew. Luke’s are explicitly directed at the disciples. Matthew’s seem less personal, although the context shows that there, too, the disciples are the primary audience. In Luke’s list, the disciples are praised for the sacrifices they’re making and are called to sacrifice even more, sharing in the sufferings of the Master. This Lucan version of the Beatitudes must be consoling to anyone who has been marginalized. People who are better off, on the other hand, may justifiably squirm when confronted with the woes. (It’s helpful to note that the woes are warnings, not predictions or curses.)

   After presenting the four woes, which are unique to his Gospel, Luke offers an antidote—the same challenge to “go beyond” that we find in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ followers are not to cling to the letter of the law but to live by its spirit, the twofold commandment to love God and neighbor. Both Luke and Matthew tell us that Jesus urged his followers to be impartially generous toward both the good and the bad, in imitation of the Father in heaven.

   They fit together well—the Beatitudes and the twofold Great Commandment of love, lived in the freedom of God’s responsible children. Since the Lord doesn’t let himself be outdone in generosity, his people often begin to enjoy the reward of the Beatitudes even on this earth. I once heard of a teenager who took the motto JOY—Jesus, Others, Yourself. It seems that he picked up on this very point. Both the Beatitudes and the woes lead to a moment of decision. Are we resolved to live the Beatitudes as Jesus did, and love God and neighbor with generous hearts? If so, let’s prepare for joy!

Oratio

   Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so often I find in the teachings of Jesus that you’ve turned everything upside down! You say joy comes from poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution! How can it be? Yet, I do recall times of privation when I was strangely happy. This had to be your grace, my God. Where else can such consolations have come from? Help me to learn the logic of the Gospel, which stands the world on its head.

Contemplatio

   JOY—Jesus, Others, Yourself.

__

ORDINARY GRACE Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections (By the Daughters of St. Paul)