Bless and Woe
Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 6:20-26 - Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus 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.
But 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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
In the “Sermon on the Plain” (as it is called) Jesus gives a similar message to what He gives in the “Sermon on the Mount.” In both sermons, Jesus speaks first of the poor. Here in St. Luke’s Gospel Jesus mentions “the poor,” and in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus mentions “the poor in spirit.” Much of what Jesus is saying in both of these can be summed up by understanding poverty as a state of lacking the things we need. God has special care for those who are without.
Why does Jesus say that we are blessed when we lack the things we need? For one thing, Jesus Himself chooses to be poor. He shows us that having few possessions is an exemplary way to live. But there is more to this. Those who are poor see that they must rely on another to fill their needs. The poor can see more clearly that, actually, everyone is in poverty—everyone is in need. We are all sinful, weak, and incapable of healing ourselves. Often the wealthy, because they have no material needs, can forget that they still need to rely on God, spiritually. So, the poor are blessed because they can more easily learn that we all truly need the help of God. We must be very careful (“woe to” us!) that our material possessions and the comfort they bring us don’t blind us from seeing our need for God.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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