Luke 6:17-26 (NRSV)
Read Luke 6:17-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. Verse 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. Verse 19And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Verse 20Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Verse 21"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Verse 22"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Verse 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. Verse 24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Verse 25"Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Verse 26"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
Devotion
One of the criteria for apocalyptic writing is that it paints everything in black and white. Something is either good or it is evil. There is no gray. And so it is with Jesus' sayings of blessing and woe: "Blessed are you who are poor." "Woe to you who are rich." Most of us in the United States fall into the rich group. I dare say everyone who reads this is rich.
A faithful member of the stewardship committee from a well-to-do church once confided in me, "It would make my job a lot easier if our pastor said more nice things about the rich. We keep hearing how great the poor are and how bad the rich are. Why does the pastor do that?" I did not answer, but I have not forgotten the question. By making it apocalyptic, black or white, Jesus calls us to examine our lives.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, this apocalyptic writing scares me. I am troubled with unclean spirits. I long to touch you today so that your power will make me whole. Amen.