February 17 // Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Responsorial Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20
Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

Today we hear Jesus’ Beatitudes, as Luke recorded them, and, also, some serious warnings.

Unlike the setting on the mountain in Matthew, Luke has Jesus standing on level ground with his hearers. He is one with them, as he teaches them.

When I read or hear the Beatitudes, I tend to think “that’s nice.” But I don’t always take them seriously. I should. We all should. When Jesus said that God’s Reign belongs to the poor, he really meant it! When he said that people who are hungry will be satisfied and people who are weeping will laugh, he meant it.

What Jesus was doing was challenging the standards and values of our world—of our nations, our societies, our cultures.

It’s not that there are no differences among human beings. We all have different gifts and talents. It’s that we see some people as more valuable than others. Those with wealth and power too often look down on their fellow human beings. But Jesus warned us that their status and power would not last.

And sometimes we see one another as enemies. We think that we must be prepared to kill them to protect ourselves. And if we are attacked, we will want to defend ourselves and our children. So wars go on and on.

Jesus identified himself with the powerless. And he said, without hesitation, that God’s reign would be theirs.

Are we willing to accept this? Are we willing to confess our total dependence on God?

( Be sure to see this weekend’s Assumption bulletin for Fr. George Heyman’s reflection on the Beatitudes and for a powerful statement from Pope Francis on war.)

Sheryl Zabel
Pastoral Minister, RCIA