The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 6:17-26

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Today’s gospel includes a listing of what are commonly called the beatitudes. In Luke’s gospel they might be a shorter form of the sermon on the mount found in Matthew.  Matthew’s gospel contains twice as many beatitudes than Luke offers. Or perhaps it is another sermon given by Jesus to difference group. Still, both have similar in tone.

I once heard a priest complain about having to preach about them because they were so contrary to what most people want to hear. On the surface, these beatitudes seem to bless being poor, hungry, sad and disliked. Might there be more?

So, we must dig a little deeper for the meaning of what Jesus was teaching. First, what did he mean by “poor?” I think its best to think about this by focusing on its opposite, being rich. In the time of Jesus being rich meant that one was self-sufficient. One did not need anyone’s help to survive. Being rich also made it easier for one to think that one was better than others. Or that one had no need for others. Not even God!

What about the blessedness of being hungry. Again, think about the opposite, being full. That’s possibly can lead to being satisfied, lazy and content. A hungry person keeps actively seeking needed nourishment.  Life is more challenging for the hungry whether that hunger be on mind or body. A hungry person must be active. Notice that I am speaking not just in material terms but in developing to possess the best attitude for living amore-fulfilling life. That’s why some will these teaching “be attitudes.” Ways of being.

The third beatitude in today’s gospel advising weeping. Its opposite is laughing. Again, let’s think about someone who never cries but laughs a lot because they consider life to be one long joke. Everything is funny, a joke, and not to be taken seriously. That’s the problem. Continuous laughers touch only the surface of life. They ignore the pain and suffering of others. Or even in themselves They fail to help those in need. They look the other way not seeing the magnitude of human suffering. They would try to help those in need.

And finally, there is the beatitude about being disliked by others if you live as Jesus recommends. Given what we might call the counter-cultural tenor of the three beatitudes already mentioned, it should not be surprising that some might object to their enactment. There is also the history of harm and even persecution suffered by those who seriously follow the teachings of Jesus. Life is filled with a conflict between what is broadly called “good and evil.” Then and now.

David M. Thomas, PhD