Gospel – Luke 6:17;20-26

Jesus came down with the twelve
and stood on a stretch of level ground
with a great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
And raising his eyes toward his disciples he 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.
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.”

Reflection on the Gospel

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

There is joy in discovery! Discovering a new favorite dish or restaurant; discovering a new, quicker commute route; discovering that missing sock behind the dyer… there is joy in these moments and ones like them.

Our reading of the Gospels invites opportunities for joy, through our personal prayer and reading, then too at Mass, our hearing the Gospel proclaimed, we encounter Jesus speaking in our hearts- to discover him more deeply, let that encounter change us, and to share that joy with others.

Today’s Gospel is no different. It offers the invitation of discovery, of joy. Yet, the ever-present temptation of things we are familiar with is to not give them the same focus, attention, care we’d give to something new, something we’re discovering for the first time.

In a message for World Youth Day in 2014, Pope Francis wrote, “the Beatitudes of Jesus are new and revolutionary. They present a model of happiness contrary to what is usually communicated,” he goes on to say, “Jesus challenges us, young friends, to take seriously his approach to life and to decide which path is right for us and leads to true joy.”

The Beatitudes present a model of happiness and a way of life that is in contrast to our usual societal portrayal. Happiness in the context of our Gospel has to do with deep faith and trust in God, as the center of our daily life. Saint John Baptist de La Salle wrote, “miracles of God’s providence take place every day.”

I’m sure we’ve each experienced these miracles in our own life. Do we recognize them? Do we offer prayers of gratitude for them? Do we live differently because of them?

In the little moments, a tear transforms to a laugh, a challenging situation works out for the best, a difficult conversation overflows with compassion. This is the transformative power of the Beatitudes and the Gospel.

Yes, this passage is pointing in a very direct way to the physical, social, material needs of each of us as well our brothers and sisters. Yes, this is pointing to a future heavenly reward, where we’ll “rejoice and leap for joy on that day!”

And, yes, we too know that the Kingdom of God is at hand…here…now.

As we see with eyes of faith, as we allow God into our lives to transform our hearts and minds, daily we can see “the miracles of God’s providence” in ourselves, in one another, and in our world.

In our increasingly polarized world, echoing our Holy Father, my prayer is that we each may continually discover the joy of the Gospel and pray that discovery transforms and “fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.”

Mr. Chris Swain
Director, Office of Lasallian Vocation Ministry, Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN)

Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.