Epiphany 6 C

February 17, 2019

St. Luke 6:17-26 - NRSV

Jesus Teaches and Heals

17 He 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. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

Blessings and Woes

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
    for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[a] on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice 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.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have received your consolation.
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.

26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

Footnotes:

a.    Luke 6:22 Gk cast out your name as evil

A Poem a Sunday

Epiphany 6 C

Plain Justice

When encountering the Divine on the plain,

when we begin to experience God’s reign

society will never be the same:

Poverty is in the past.

Hunger is long gone.

Mourning and tears will not last,

Sorrow no longer a song.

The cost will be:

The powerful will snuff out

the prophetic voice

through

exclusion,

defiling,

defaming.

Killing the messenger

is the wrong choice

the message

will not be silenced.

The rich, the full,

their scornful laughter

will cease as empty

they make their way.

False prophets will champion

the privileged, crying:

“Peace!  Peace!  Peace!”

And the *Great Mandala

will never cease.

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpIh68Kh_-s

Copyright @2019 by Rev. Kenn Storck

May be used with permission

kennstorck@gmail.com