Sunday Reflection – Feb. 13th, 2022.
Luke 6:17-26 is Luke’s version of Jesus’ ‘sermon on the Mount’ or ‘Beautitudes’ as we know them in Matthew’s gospel (5:1-11) and while it is a little different due mostly to the audience to whom they were writing for at the time, it however gives the same message.
I love how Luke’s gospel begins with saying, “Jesus came down with them and he stood on a level place (Luke 6:17).” Jesus right before this had been upon a mountain where he had been praying, and then chooses his twelve disciples whom he named as apostles. The coming down to a level place I believe speaks to who Jesus was, that he is not set apart from the world, but right there, in the midst of it with us. It’s an image we often speak to as how the church should be in the world, there with the people, serving in the midst of them, although more oft than not it seems we are set apart, secluded, behind our walls, rather then being out serving in the world.
When Jesus came down there was a great crowd of his disciples; and a whole multitude of people waiting for him below. It was not just for the jewish nations, but the Gentile too, and it was to all he ministered, sharing his word, healing and casting out unclean spirits.
“ All in the crowd it says, were trying to touch him, for power came from him and healed all of them.” I think about here the reading that comes later in Luke’s gospel “(8:43-48) when a woman who had suffered with hemorrhages for 12 years, reached in amongst the crowd, that she might touch Jesus and be healed, and Jesus had asked who had touched him for power had gone from him.” And so with a crowd this size, that they are referred to as a multitude, reaching in to touch Jesus and are being healed. There was no mistaking the source of his power, that it could only come from God. What a powerful image of the inbreaking of God’s kingdom power in the world, and the way the world is intended to be, with all receiving healing and wholeness. That is the world we are to work toward and hope for.
It is in the midst of this that Jesus looking to the disciples, gives his sermon, pronouncing those who are poor, hungry, weeping, despised or excluded as the blessed. Not that Jesus was saying that it was a blessing to be poor. If you were to ask anyone who finds it hard to make ends meet, to put food on the table, provide for their families, or as the many find themselves in the world without a roof over their head, none of them would likely say there was much blessing in the situations they find themselves in. Jesus wasn’t saying that either, but wanting those who were suffering to know that God sees, and God intends for all to be fed, and taken care off.
On the other side of that, to those with much, ‘the rich, the full, the laughing, or the privileged, Jesus issues a number of woes, or warnings, that they not become so self-assured in what they have, their wealth, their riches, their power, their privilege of having much that they, put these things over and above God, making for themselves idols of their own making.
And while Jesus names a number of those we might label as the rich or privileged in the world, and so that it is not I that he is talking about here. I think we should consider again that it could be, for it is not only the riches persons that have a problem with the lure that wealth might give, often too that problem can be found amongst those with the least in the world; and so these woes are meant to serve as a warning for all, to the ways we might exclude or separate ourselves from God, by placing what we think we need, or want, or must have or do, over and above God in our life. For a time will come, when no matter how much we might have in our bank accounts, or how many possessions we might own, or how much we have gained in prestige and power in the world, it cannot do for us what only God can. And so we need to prepare ourselves, our hearts now, so that when we do, we will know what it is to be truly blessed in being able to rest in the comfort and security of our all gracious and loving God.
Thank you for stopping by, I hope you find a bit of encouragement here when you do, and that you will pray for those in need in our world, and if you can reach out to do something good for someone, help someone in need, show a little kindness, offer a bit of gratitude for the good deeds of others, and always for all that you do give thanks to God.
Be blessed, take care.
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious and it does not cease to bear fruit, (Jeremiah 17:7-8)”
Ministry Musings 